"STL File Prices" Topic

"Worth" is a term with a lot of baggage. The Labor Theory of Value is useless here, as everywhere. You can find some great gaming models around the internet for free. You can find some for $2 USD-5. You can find some folks that think their models are worth $15. USD Some people want to sell you their file for $400 USD, but that includes a commercial license – you can sell prints.

It's early days, this will sort itself out in time. But I'm curious what other people think. Yes, partially because I have some ideas, but I'm also genuinely curious.

The models take hours to make, and you can only count on selling a handful. Your market is the intersection of people with 3D printers and people interested in your model. So by LTV pricing a model at $15 USD or $50 USD fits. There's little chance of that flying, though.

PLA costs next to nothing for wargame models, so if you're buying an STL file of the USS Iowa instead of buying a cast pewter model one could argue that the STL file could cost the same as the model, and since you'll only ever need two of BB-61 you're getting half price. STL files for DDs could be more expensive, since you're going to print more of them to justify the price. I don't buy this model either.

In all cases I have to give my speech again: I'm not paying for anything without seeing a photograph of the printed model. Anything will render on the screen. Some models don't print easily or they don't look good once printed.

So far I haven't paid for any gaming-related STLs. I think I might pay $2 USD-5 for a well done model that I know I'm going to use in a game, provided I'd expect to need 6-10 different models to print everything I'd need. I can imagine paying $10 USD for something extraordinary, but it would have to be extraordinary.

I agree that STL vendors need to show a printed product, ideally both FDM and DLP/SLA prints. Somethings print well on an FDM printer but won't translate well to resin. But, since resin really does provide a significant improvement in quality it's my default choice for miniatures and I'll leave FDM for terrain.

My thoughts are some people like making the models for the joy of it and are happy to make the files free on somewhere like Thingiverse. I've tried making some Russo-Japanese War ships (https://www.thingiverse.com/halfmanhalfsquidman/designs) available and let me tell you the time to learn the software, find references, in my case rip files from existing 3d models and translate them into something printable, and then print multiple test prints is a lot of time and effort. I quit months ago because it was becoming more of a pain in my ass then fun. Though I might go back and pick it back up if the RJW bug bites me again. Then there are guys like M_Bergman, Captain_Ahab_62, and TigerAce1945 who put in a lot of work for the community for no real gain of there own.

I think in the long run printers are going to need to cough up some coin. Lets take a look at Ghukek's stuff on CGtrader. cgtrader.com/ghukek

Some of these bundles are pretty pricey, and an individual ship comes out to around 7 bucks. About half what you'd pay for a GHQ model. What you get out of it is multiple prints, multiple scales and you're own time back. To me the value proposition is clearly there. In this case I think ghukek has priced things pretty fairly and a 5-10 dollar an stl range is what we should expect going forward.

There is also the patreon model where I subscribe to the Artisans Guild. 10 bucks a month gets me a few customizable, very high-quality figures (and the commercial license is only like 30 bucks not 400), not every month gets me something I'm really interested in but the figures are a ton of fun to paint and there are enough variations in the designs that I can build several sides for a skirmish game like Dragon Rampant fairly easily. The advantage for the stl producer is they have hundreds of subscribers paying 10-30 bucks a month and have been able to build a substantial income stream.

My big concern is you get what you pay for and the market is being undercut by Thingiverse which is discouraging the people who have the skills and time with the 3d design software from producing quality historical figures for those of use with printers.

Its an interesting question. I did a 1/144 scale LUCHS's. Most certainly I would not give it away. What I did do is pass it to AOTRS Shipyards on Shape ways (my son but no commecial link) to make it available as a print from Shapeways or direct from him as an FDM print. We did talk about selling the STL file but the worry is losing control and somebody stealing the model making a master and selling it off. Alex of Shapeways has had the odd model, as have other on Shapeways, ordered and then found for sale as castings from China. An STL file is more portable.

Proably the best estimate is to look at Kickstarters for terrain where several buildings can cost £40.00 GBP To be honest I don't consider buildings as bigger task as an AFV so the cost should probably be higher. As usual the problem is volume.

We Maneouvre Group pay about £50.00 GBP to 60 for obscure models in STL at 1/144 scale(engineering vehicles being a particular need). This is well below cost in man hours for the research and CADFDS modelling, but we get the STL for personal use only and the designer gets to sell additional models to, hopefully recoup the additional cost.

So an STL is worth what you are prepared to pay. For us that's £60.00 GBP for a model not in production elsewhere.

Good question. As my wife just released her second campaign, I can give you some glance from the other side of the problem.
As with creating html-sites creating STLs is something that anybody can do – which means that worldwide you will almost always find someone who does it cheaper then you do. Unless you have a large customerbase (as some vendors do) or go viral by chance (as the actual amazons campaign – sex sells) you will not be able to live from it.

One might consider the world a large place to find customers, but as you already state: you need the intersection of those interested in the topic and able to handle a 3d printer – then you need to find an area that is not already covered by free or cheaper models – and then you need to get their attention.

Watching those STL campaigns that went not viral the number of backers often is in the two-digit range. As the customers increase in numbers, so do the creators.

That said: pricing…
If you work a full day on such a product, you need roughly $200 USD to live from this (so if a distributer cuts out 30%, you need some $300 USD value in a shop – or $250 USD on KS). Each and any day. Good files can take longer, though they can also yield considerably more. More often then not, files may not sell at all. As we found out it is far more work to sell and present your files then to create them – making a good printout can be quite a challenge, unless you also specialize into printers. Most designers do not, and default results from printers are often not really advertisings – while "optimized" results are not really better then renderings for the average customer, as they cannot achieve them.

If you take a look at our current campaign we do offer houses, and thought of selling these by the piece via "drivethru" or other retailers – but that would make a Kickstarter rather a fake. As a price for a single set we thought of $2 USD-5, but were unsure wether these would sell. The walls & towers you can see in some pictures will probably never be released, as I can see no market for them that covers the efforts that went into these files.

Luckily my wife does not depend on that income, as most of her work is in a different area.

BTW: We actually cited your demand for print-images in our campaign. If you want we can name you as the author :-)

Puster please PM with Kickstarter link, since posting Kickstarter links is no longer allowed. Thank you

It is (or was shortly) in the news section of this site. Or search for "medieval STL" on KS.

I think showing printed product is a must. As to price? I agree with Halfmanhalfsquidman – you get what you pay for and the value exchange will vary. I have no problem paying $5 USD-10 for an STL file of good design that is easy to dial in for one of my printers. It saves me time and I can print as many of the model as I want for my needs.

Martin Root Canal, that is just buying somebody's "Panther" STL to print your own. They may sell a lot of those files. Prices like that would never cover more unique models like engineering vehicles.

The problem with the "good sellers" like Panthers is that you will find acceptable files for free. Well, not a problem if you want to print, but if you want to find something that finds buyers and live from it.
You CAN do better files, but printing rarely does justify the additional details. At this point I DO thank all those who make the files for themself and distribute them for free!

On that note: I am trying to find a printable file for my 15mm Canadians, the C15TA, but cannot find it even for money :-(
The same for a Sherman BARV for our clubs Normandy table. My personal limit to pay for such files would be around $10 USD, though – perhaps 20 if they are exceptionally good.

Pulster,
At that point you are really hoping somebody is going to do it more or less for free. Again its never going to be a big seller as there were few used in the real world and many war gamer's don't even use rules that require that level of complexity. I consider my £50.00 GBP models a bargain.

I think that many prices are pretty expensive. There is a Vauban fort on WGV that is $30 USD+. It is a good looking fort. I'd rather pay $5 USD perpiece and get the pieces I want since I would be playing a game where I only need the front and part of the sides anyway.

I think $3 USD-$5 per miniature is not terrible, especially if you will be printing many. FDG miniatures are quite reasonable for $5 USD or so for several poses of rank and file models such as Orcs and Goblins.

At that point you are really hoping somebody is going to do it more or less for free.

Thats at the heart of our problem.
I am willing to pay, but not so much that I can order them custom made for me.

On the makers side, models that are prominent are often already existing for free or do have a hefty competition, while niche files do not yield enough customers. The best bet for me to get my C15TA is to hope that somebody with the skills want one, too. With somr 4000 built units – the majority of them deployed before wars end – there should be a representation, if only to build the postwar Dutch forces ;-)
That said – what do you think are the chances if I go me a quote for a vehicle (lets say §300) and then to a crowdfunding site where I offer to let them produce if we reach $400. USD Nobody will do that for $10 USD without seeing the file (and not for a single vehicle), and you wont find 80 people with that interest.

I sell an entire range of figures for $15. USD

forwardmarchstudios.com

There is a hundred thousand different items a person can produce, it all takes time, effort, capitol, and so on. It doesnt matter what it is, how high of quality it is, if you cant find a buyer, if you cant get the price your asking, you have nothing.

There are a lot of STL's people are offering I would not buy at any price, and a few STL's I would only buy at a low price.

Most people have more mini's then they can ever paint. Many STL people are trying to sell, they have never even tryed printing them, let alone painting one of what they are trying to sell, and take hours of work just getting the STL supported so it can print, YET… Everyone want a premium price for an almost unusable product.

Once people have a working file, they then have to spend their own time/money just to print the thing.

Many STL's people are trying to sell, almost with out exception, the person buying the stl would only have a need to print one of, or at most two, because the creature is something that would only be used as a boss monster, or something. Hardly anyone is producing STL's of ordinary creatures/monsters/ soldiers ect that would fill the rank and file of a army.

People might pay a little money for something that they want to produce 10 or 100 of for a army, so the cost of the STL can be distributed over many miniatures, but to pay a high premium for a one shot? when you can find an adequate for free? Cant see a long term business in that.

Sell your STL's for a 1 dollar, and maybe a lot of people will buy it, and some will print it. Try to sell your STL's for a high price, and your likely to go out of business.

Also many people think just because they made a great effort to sell make something, they are owed a great amount of money if they sell it. Not so. Millions of people spend decade practicing and learning a musical instrument, spending thousands of dollars, in the pursuit, yet they go give a free performance in the park. not for money, but because they are artist, and want people to be able to appreciate what they can do. They want people to hear their music, as music is nothing if not heard. If you spend 5 or 10 or even 100 hours creating a fantastic STL, Put it on thingiverse or sell it for a dollar each, so the world can see and appreciate what you have created. it does no good locked up on your hard drive where nobody can see or use it.

Most of these STL's people are trying to sell, are for thing that someone who is a Dungeonmaster would buy, Most DM's (GM's) are not being a DM for profit, but for the pure enjoyment of a few others (who may or may not even appreciate what he is trying to create for them) Its a lot of time and work, ever so much time is required to be a DM in prep as it takes for someone to create a STL. That is why, there are people producing useful products for DM's to use, and are sharing them for free on sites like Thingiverse, because they love their game, and want other people to get the most enjoyment out of it also, hense, they create and the share.

I think you need to get a bit real. Hero Forge charges $7.99 USD for a file. They do let you chose what you want and its a bit configurable but they do sell quite a lot. So for rare unit items minimum of $8.00 USD for a single STL looks sensible and inline with the market where the items are relatively popular (not mass market by any menas). If there are folk that sell injection moulded or give you a file for free that is exactly what you wanted fine.