3D Print Test: Damaged WWII Building in France

[Krynn72]

So, I made this in zbrush, exported to maya, exported to some weird app, exported to a file, and uploaded the file to a 3D printing service who printed it and shipped to to me. Got delivered today. I was just trying to test out the service and see how detailed they could print, and I've gotta say, I'm fairly impressed. I expected the little tiny bullet holes to just not show up whatsoever, but they're there, as faint as they are. I'll be painting it up for use in the Flames of War game I play, and once thats done I might open up an online store where people can buy stuff like this that I plan to make. Its kind of expensive though, this one thing cost me like 35 bucks (including international shipping). Still its awesome. Anyways, pics:


First two pics are of the model as seen on my PC:

And the result:
CLICK FOR FULLSIZE

 

[Solaris]

That's really cool. What's the service?

 

[Krynn72]

www.shapeways.com

 

[Vegeta897]

Woah, cool!

I didn't know this technology was available as a service to all.

 

[MJ12]

Cool, I got a few items from Shapeways and was mostly impressed. Did you end up trying to lightly sand away any of the texture? The process they use makes the surface very gritty, so I'd imagine it might look odd once you paint it.
I guess you might not want to on that piece, but if you ever printed something that is meant to look like smooth metal, it might be awkward.

 

[Krynn72]

Yeah, anything that needs to be smooth would be a pain with this material, though I imagine sanding would work alright. They're offering a new material for ultra details that is a bit smoother, but its too expensive for my broke self. For this model though, the gritty texture actually works out fine, since the building would be made out of concrete-ish stuff or whatever. The windows would look weird, but I have a gloss varnish that I'd apply to them anyways, which will smooth out the area and make it shiny.

 

[morgs]

Hey that's really neat, looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[Ennui]

Holy shit, that's awesome. Way cooler than the shitty buildings my friends and I used to make out of styrofoam for our 40k battles.

 

[Dan]

At work they have 2 of these 3d printers. Mostly they get used by engineering undergrads to make little sculptures. The plastic "paint" is ridiculously expensive.

 

[Stormy]

That is badass, How much detail do you think they can get out of those printers?

 

[Stormy]

BTW, how much did that cost you??

 

[Krynn72]

35 USD with international shipping. As for the detail, I think that this is at the limit. As you can possibly see, the bullet holes barely show up, and the rocks of the chimney arent very pronounced so I think this is it. Although they do offer a material specifically for miniatures like this, capable of making fine details as small as 0.1mm. This material is only accurate to 0.2mm. The other material is more expensive though.

 

[Stormy]

Got to wonder how much money could be made making models like this to sell. You could perhaps use the print to create a mold and then churn out more at a cheaper price perhaps. Who knows.

 

[CptStern]

man couldnt you have printed something more useful like a shiv or fleshlight?


that's pretty cool. although to make it even more authentic the french should be running away or surrendering

 

[Krynn72]

So I teamed up with a guy named Carlos who runs www.sentinelminiaturepainting.com and we're now making buildings to sell. So far we have two done, and I've got this massive church ready to have the master print done, plus some walls and whatever. So yeah. Pics:


3 Story Building:

2 Story Cafe:

And ze church:

Ze church also gets a video!

 

[Higlac]

Those look nice, are you going to do any sort of bombed-out versions?

 

[Krynn72]

Its something I've been contemplating. Especially with the 3 story building, it'd be easy to make "hot-swappable" destroyed sections that fit in with the normal version. I could also make damaged roofs for the others, or make a destroyed church tower bit since most of it is separate from the main section. Damn. Thats a good idea. Shit yeah I'm making a destroyed church tower!

But yeah, I think at some point I'll be making swappable bits, like new roofing styles so people can change up the looks of buildings they have multiple copies of already, etc. That sort of stuff will come after we expand our available line though.

 

[Raziaar]

That church is sexy Krynn.

 

[Vegeta897]

Very nice work, and grats on your promising business prospects and shit.

 

[Krynn72]

A guy who bought the church started posting WIP shots of his painting. Looks awesome already.

 

[morgs]

That's some really good painting.

 

[Krynn72]

Got my personal-use shipment in late last week. Painted up this here cafe building. Its the first building I've ever painted, and I think it turned out pretty good. Also, this church is way bigger than even I imagined. ****ing thing weighs like three pounds with its solid resin rooftop. Need to buy some more suitable paints to start working on it though. Dont really want to use this same grey color on it.

 

[Higlac]

Nicechar