The cost for entry and support of the Patreon artists is between $5-10 per month. In this case, the “Lord of the Print” Patreon is a group of 3 digital artists for 2D and 3D artwork. In return for your financial support (through the subscription), you may receive rewards as a thank you. This particular model comes from the “Lord of the Print” Patreon.įor those that don’t know, Patreon is a subscription to particular artists who you want to support. Lord of the Print Patreon 3D sculpts for resin 3D printing Now, I can do have multiple chances for the same or less cost to get my painted miniatures just the way I want it. The point here is that I have more than a single chance to paint a 60$ display model.
Paint 3d prints for free#
The largest cost is only the initial purchase of the 3D printer and the cost of the 3D printable file (unless you find what you want for free in an open-source database like Thingiverse). The physical cost to print a model is less than $2 of resin. The great thing about 3D printing is that it has alleviated this fear of failure while painting a miniature. Wanting the model to look the best with the least chance of failure, I often end up painting safely, with maybe a little experimentation happening on a smaller element of the model. This is largely because I feel my mini painting has to fit a certain army color scheme or maybe because I know that I spent 45-70$ on the sculpt. Often when painting, I am stuck in the mindset of “not ruining” a model. So, what is the real reason I think 3D printing is worth it? I’m not destroying a hugely expensive model I purchased. For me, that means not being afraid to try new things with my painting approach on the mini. The value comes from “learning” and “growing”. Add to that the disposable materials to clean prints, etc., paper towels, alcohol to wash off the uncured resin, and other perishables.īut, if you think about it, the value in 3D printing miniatures isn’t in pure monetary terms. Of course, it’s not as simple as that, because I use electrical power to run the printer.
So, in general, I can make as many mistakes painting a large of small scaled miniatures, because the cost to trash it is worth it for “the learning experience”. How economical is resin 3D printing miniatures, really?Įxcluding the cost of a 3D printer, a high quality 75mm 3D print costs about $12 (e.g., $10 for the 3D printable file, and 2$ for the resin). Here are 3 examples of the best resin 3D printers for printing miniatures and gaming models: Whether you’re 3D printing display pieces, models for your next RPG DnD adventure, or Warhammer 40k wargaming table, 3D printers are are a great tool in any hobbyist’s arsenal. Is 3D printing tabletop miniatures for painting worth it?Īs a miniature painter, I have no regret with going this route with 3D printers. Most of my miniature hobby history has been army painting for various games (Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmachine/Hordes), but this changed recently when I bought my first resin 3D printer, the Epax X1 (other affordable resin 3D printers include the Anycubic Photon).
RELATED: 3D PRINT AND PAINT A WARHAMMER 40K TANK But, like many, I am much more satisfied with a carefree approach when embarking on miniature painting projects. In general, I tend to seek a systematic approach for working with miniatures, including painting them. I am a recent recipient of a PhD in physics and fascinated by the intersection of my hobbies and my career. How did you start your 3D printing and miniature painting hobby?Īlthough I’ve only begun to seek new techniques, feedback, and improvements in the last 5 years, I’ve been a miniature hobbyist for more than 16 years. Dolbashian painted this 3D printed model. I love the finishing of the MDF wood with the laser burn, but I would love to see it painted black and with touches of silver and other colors.Read on for a unique perspective into resin 3D miniature printing, and how Dr. Here are some ideas to inspire you! Star Wars TIE InterceptorĪre your kids Star Wars fans? Or maybe you’re the fan yourself and you want to have an excuse to have this TIE Interceptor that can be mounted just with glue and a few sheets of laser-cut wood. Using laser technology, we can turn many ideas into reality, for example, personalized games, ideal for making gifts. Are you looking forward to making any of these items?.