"First Replacement of a 3D print for technology" Topic

The 3 Marders on the left are the new replacements FDM prints, the 3 old on the right are Laser Sintered. The old ones are about 12 years old and still in excellent condition. Note these have been handled lots of time (regularly probably 30 times a yea)r for 12 years, no damage to paint or the model.

So why change, Technology? the old version has no Turret locking feature. This means the turret can fall off easily. Even in an expensive case, turrets can fall off and get lost. This happened recently, also finding the turrets having fallen of is a real pain and wastes club time. So instead of printing a spare turret, I printed a new model the new ones have the locking feature.
Interestingly the FDM versions have sharper features than the laser sinterd ones.

The shade difftence is proably as the older models were spray painted black, the newer ones were not. All models are painted in Tamiy NATO Green, brown and Black so paint may or may not be an issue 12 years or so apart.

Are there any lines from the printing process?

Are the new models as sturdy/fragile as the old ones?

What scale are these?

They are both nice looking models.

Bill, These are what they look like on the table, If you can see no limnes then it's not an issue. I have not inspected them at such a close range as to see if the lines sho up through the paint.

Perhaps not as strong as laser sintered but I have lots of FDM prints of tanks. In a unique case I did physically brak a gun, the first in about 12 years a few months ago. So they are strong enough, not a good as a steel pin,

but I did have cast models and they were fragile and guns bent regularly.

79PA Thanks

ThunderAZ 1/144.

liquid resin prints rarely have lines.

Bill, I realise my answer on lines was a bit of a cop out. So a more considered answer. I measured the distance from the table edge. The front of the vehicles are 23 inch in. I am 5ft 10" and the table is 34 inch from the floor. I stood as I would in a game at the table edge and stared long and hard at the miniatures, far longer than I would in a game. I could see no lines. I hope this quantitative answer is of more use.