tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post802256064354407256..comments2024-03-29T06:05:14.320+00:00Comments on Wargaming Miscellany: Marc Pavone's experiments with 3D printing: Food for thought?Robert (Bob) Corderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-21887541077110797962023-02-05T14:18:53.464+00:002023-02-05T14:18:53.464+00:00RyanRecker,
Thank you very much for the cost brea...RyanRecker,<br /><br />Thank you very much for the cost breakdown. I found it very helpful and it certainly makes buying a 3D printer even more appealing.<br /><br />I’ve tried finding someone local who owns a 3D printer, but so far my search has been to no avail.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-11782158526979968232023-02-05T04:01:07.601+00:002023-02-05T04:01:07.601+00:00Bob,
I just ran some quick numbers on material co...Bob,<br /><br />I just ran some quick numbers on material costs. A block of 6 infantry figures scaled to 25mm (to top of head), in my colonial range, mounted on a 30mm square has an estimated cost of $0.18. Cavalry would use more plastic and have more plastic used in supporting overhangs but would certainly be less than $.50 per stand of 3 troopers. <br />A $10 investment would easily pay for the material cost of 2 armies suitable for the Portable Wargame. The printer itself is more of an investment. They are coming down in price, but can still be relatively finicky.<br />Although it primarily gets used for wargaming/board gaming pieces, I have used the printer to make some replacement parts for aging farm equipment, custom baby monitor mounts, home decor, and some woodworking jigs. Excluding the wargaming/board gaming efforts, It still probably hasn't paid for itself yet. <br />Unless you're looking for another hobby, I'd try to find a local hobbyist who can print off a few things for you. Their machine is probably sitting idle more than not.RyanReckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18189883786406565957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-35916542952911746832023-02-04T20:39:23.089+00:002023-02-04T20:39:23.089+00:00Mr. Pavone,
Thank you for the very extensive feed...Mr. Pavone,<br /><br />Thank you for the very extensive feedback. I’ll certainly be taking your advice to heart and have been looking at somewhere I can see a 3D printer in action.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-89853525769357956862023-02-04T15:00:49.374+00:002023-02-04T15:00:49.374+00:00Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. I thought ...Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. I thought I'd drop in 24 hours later to answer questions and address comments:<br />@Archduke Piccolo - The software allows you to copy/paste objects on the virtual printer bed so mass production is quite simple. All I have to do is scale them, copy/paste and arrange them on the printer bed. I could even add a base in the software so there's no need to glue anything to a base. I can print 3 37mm hexes at a time and that runs about 15~30 minutes depending on the complexity of the print.<br />I also took copious, detailed notes on paper so I can change elements of the figure relatively easy, even if I'm rebuilding from scratch.<br />@Maudlin Jack Tar and @ Jennifer - Cavalry, artillery and even, maybe, some flatiron ships are my next projects. I think I'll work on the cavalry and artillery as flats though. When making 3d prints you have to be very careful of "overhangs" during the print. They require support or some clever positioning on the bed to minimize them. The gun barrel of an artillery piece is a prime example. A horse may very well be too much for me to design for now. Thankfully I have 3 sets of Risk! that come with very nice, generic figures. I have used the artillery and cavalry from those as generic soldiers. <br />@Bob - Get the best printer you can afford. Ours came as a Christmas gift for our 11 year old boys. They like printing pre-designed items but they haven't gotten into designing their own toys yet. The software you use is important to what you will be able to design. I have to look more into using the free Microsoft 3d design software bundled with Windows. It seems a step above the ToyBox software. Definitely look into finding "hacker" or "maker" spaces near you. They will often have good quality 3d printers you can rent time on and they'll have people who can give really good advice and guidance when printing. I like the websites Hero Forge for fantasy miniature creation and Cults3d for free 3d printer files for things I can't design myself just yet.<br />Mr. Pavonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286558267156792637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-85777079679658157132023-02-04T08:37:41.990+00:002023-02-04T08:37:41.990+00:00Jennifer,
Thanks for the tips about where to find...Jennifer,<br /><br />Thanks for the tips about where to find existing designs that I can download and use.<br /><br />I have checked our local libraries and unfortunately none of them do 3D printing. The do lots of activities including IT and computer skills courses, but no 3D design work.<br /><br />I hope that your War of the Pacific ships turn out all right. I assume that they were designed by David Manley, who is the doyen of British naval wargaming and a professional naval architect to boot.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-61400569978738992802023-02-04T02:24:09.316+00:002023-02-04T02:24:09.316+00:00I like these! I haven't done any designing of ...I like these! I haven't done any designing of my own, but there are plenty of models available on Thingiverse and WargamesVault that I can print in the teen tech lab at the library. Check your own public library; there are many these days with 3D printers for use. I'm hoping to have a couple War of the Pacific ships printed next week.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669958718617450721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-32951380198680785322023-02-03T23:09:25.540+00:002023-02-03T23:09:25.540+00:00Maudlin Jack Tar,
They remind me of the sort of f...Maudlin Jack Tar,<br /><br />They remind me of the sort of figures one sometimes seems in children’s books from the nineteenth century, and would be ideal for imagi-nations set in that period. I hope that Marc will produce some guns and cavalry in due course. I’d love to see what designs he comes up with!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-68146365083797691612023-02-03T23:04:45.576+00:002023-02-03T23:04:45.576+00:00RyanRecker,
I agree that 3D printing is a real ga...RyanRecker,<br /><br />I agree that 3D printing is a real game changer, especially for those wargamers who don’t necessarily want highly detailed figures. Years ago, I used loads of 15mm Peter Laing figures that were less detailed that the ones that Marc Pavone has designed and printed.<br /><br />I have to look into the cost of buying and running a 3D printer and producing - for example - a hundred 15mm figures, but I suspect that it is less than the cost of buying the equivalent number of metal castings by quite some margin.<br /><br />I like the sound of your $10 PW figures and terrain idea, and I’ll be paying your blog a visit later today to see what your armies look like.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-44856495800412340872023-02-03T14:50:53.611+00:002023-02-03T14:50:53.611+00:00The Infantry figures in the second figure picture ...The Infantry figures in the second figure picture are great - I would use those for PW as they are; just need cavalry and artillery, plus a set in blue plastic! Great work Marc, and thanks for sharing these images Bob.Maudlin Jack Tarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02812453753286494021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-58511674100901821582023-02-03T14:21:36.320+00:002023-02-03T14:21:36.320+00:00This is another great example of how 3D printing c...This is another great example of how 3D printing can really help the wargaming world. It's amazing how simple shapes can be put together to create very clear and evocative products. I've been working on mostly colonial units at my blog. I also have some hoplite/early Roman republic, Vikings/Saxon, 18th Century, and ACW units designed. Each stand costs me pennies. A complete set of armies and some basic terrain for The Portable Wargame could easily be had for $10 in material cost. You'd still want/need to pain them and the detail wouldn't match metal castings or injection molded plastic, but you could have a semi-custom range that you could easily expand as necessary.<br /> (https://compactwargaming.blogspot.com) RyanReckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18189883786406565957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-28759918353032302902023-02-03T10:06:49.729+00:002023-02-03T10:06:49.729+00:00Martin S.,
I think that his incremental approach ...Martin S.,<br /><br />I think that his incremental approach to developing his 3D designs is the right way to go, and it’s inspired me to give serious thought to buying a simple 3D printer. If I do, I’ll certainly share my progress online.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-4587142240756148372023-02-03T10:03:14.586+00:002023-02-03T10:03:14.586+00:00Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
I’m no expert, but I unde...Archduke Piccolo (Ion),<br /><br />I’m no expert, but I understand that it is possible to set up larger printers to print a number of figures at the same time if they are joined together by a simple, removable lattice that seems to resemble the sprue found in most plastic kits.<br /><br />Simple 3D printed figures and guns would be ideal crews for your Colonial sailing vessels.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-42352348198986585862023-02-03T09:29:07.582+00:002023-02-03T09:29:07.582+00:00Most impressive - I’m amazed at what Mark achieved...Most impressive - I’m amazed at what Mark achieved there, Bob, starting with basic hexes and ending with full BUAs and perfectly serviceable model figures, too!! Thanks for sharing that 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼.Martin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14024522364068862164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-24520116073432231862023-02-03T09:08:07.240+00:002023-02-03T09:08:07.240+00:00Bob -
Qualitatively these productions look fine to...Bob -<br />Qualitatively these productions look fine to me. The soldiery I really like, though how 'mass produceable' they are mighht determine how worthwhile would be that project. <br /><br />I was looking at my 'Darkest Aithiops' East Africa sailboats today and wondering about what I could do for deck crew and gun crews - purely symbolic, of course. May something along these lines might be the caper!<br />Cheers,<br />IonArchduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.com