"This might sound crazy but..." Topic

I get the appeal of WoFun but I would like to see a true 3D paper figure. One that is indistinguishable from a metal or plastic figure. I would guess a high quality cardboard figure. That would be a gamechanger.

Paper seems to be gaining more and more appeal for me.

Avoiding the hassle and support/care/feeding of the miniature scene is, for me, gaining strength.

with the 6mm paper napoleonics i am making, i have tried well been experimenting with trying t make something more than just 2d – mixed results it has, working at that size. I will keep pushing on with the attempts though the blocks approach at that scale is gain priority, and it at least gives . but at a larger scale i think one could work some more impressively 3d paper figures

Why would it be a game changer?

I think the assumption is it would be cheaper and already "painted."

I think in 10 years color 3D printing will be the real revolution…..

Has anyone else seen the painted wooden blocks sometimes used for officer training in the Napoleonic Wars? I've pretty much got my armies now, but for big games, if I had to start from scratch I'd be looking for a paper skin I could glue to a small wooden rectangle to look like 6mm troops--fast, sturdy and cheap.

For smaller, more intimate battles, there is no substitute for the 30mm casting we now call 28mm.

I've seen a really neat 3D printer that stacks up bits of paper to create an object. it prints the outline of each layer in various colors, then cuts out the layer and glues it to the stack. The result is essentially a nicely colored figure. It works much better than it sounds like it would work. It runs about $30 USDK and is mostly used for product mark ups or architectural models.

But with that kind of budget you can just pay someone to paint your minis.

From around 1880 to the mid 20th century in Austria and Germany there used to be some manufacturers (Elastolin, Hausser) that made toy soldiers and the like from composition paper, paper mache, sawdust, glue etc.
With the spread of plastics in the 1950s of course it quickly became unprofitable.
In good condition, these figures are now very sought after and valuable collectibles.
Especially because they became very fragile over time.

79thPA,

I am assuming it would be cheaper to make and therefore be much less expensive to buy. If they are pre-printed like on current flat paper figures, so no painting. Then yes for me at least it would be a game changer.

@robert, well i hope that my 6mm approach could be adaptable to being glued to wooden blocks :)

I build my paper building around a wood block of the footprint size just so they stay put and wind of a door open want to blow them away.

What you can 3D print today is the worst technology you will ever use. I expect home color 3D printing in 8K someday.

Better than nothing I suppose, but not really my cup of tea.

3-D paper mache' printing? That would be interesting…