I am currently working on a project involving a 1/72-scale 3D printed ‘Tangi’ (a vehicle based on the Land Rover One-Ten, and used by the RUC in the 1990s). To accompany this, I plan to include some RUC figures, but am unable to find anything suitable out there. I am aware that various figures are available from 3D printing companies, but nothing specific for my needs. Does anyone know of a company in the UK that would be able to print to my own specifications?
Thanks,
Paul
I am intensely curious, too, especially to know in any country. I don’t have a 3D printing capability and am considering buying ready to print model files, but have no idea about sources. I would like to know experiences as well.
Tks/Paul
Based on what I have seen - no one offers custom figure digital sculpting of military figures AND 3D printing service together. I have been CADding and 3D printing in my 3rd year now - sold a lot of STLs and 3D prints in more limited ways. Got about 240 followers on cults3D site. All the 3D models of petition2God・Cults Been a member of numerous 3D printing groups for scale models on FB but have not come across a company or artist who does both for the military figures. If someone claims to do both - it was a scammer. Who knows? Maybe there’s someone out there if you’re willing to pay. Too many cheap @$$es who do not value time involved in the CAD work or 3D printing.
I can only think of one professional artist who may be willing to digital sculpt to the customer’s specifics. I warn you - it’s not going to be cheap. Contact info:
https://www.cgtrader.com/designers/epmodeling
I don’t think he offers 3D printing however. Only the STLs.
Good luck.
All good points and observations. So far if STL file sales are confined to modelers or other parties interested in just a printed item with no connection to modeling, who’s being left out if they don’t have a personal 3D printer? That could suggest the cost of buying one STL file (or zip) to print has an entry cost of the file plus the printer, materials and software if required to print……at the present.
There was a guy/company out there that scanned real folks in uniform and offered printed models of them in various scales. IIRC they started out with pilot figures to accompany model aircraft, but branched out into other figs. Cannot remember who they are, but a thorough Google may pop them up. They might be willing to create the figs you want…
Thanks for your helpful responses. Hopefully I will find a solution at some point.
Paul
Are thinking about ReedOak? I know at least pilot was done that way.
@Dioramartin had a company that did that but local to him. Maybe he can give some insight to what type of company he searched for.
Yeah, ReedOak was the one!
Well on Ryan’s introduction let me say this about that;
The OP is looking for a UK company that would custom print to his specifications. While there are some companies like Reedoak who offer their own range of figures there’s nothing close to his own requirements, so I think that ship has sailed.
I have no knowledge of the current state of development of custom-designed 3D figures.
Tom above mentioned figure-scanning. My own experience over a year ago here in Oz with this was frustrating, expensive and ultimately abortive but mainly because the guys offering the service hadn’t got their sht together but pretended they had.
I wanted two individual figures in fancy-dress-hired 1940’s civilian suits in around 8 different poses each at 1:35 scale – the two assassins in my Operation Anthropoid diorama. So my son & I hired period suits & hats, drove 2 hours north and stood stock still on a slowly revolving pedestal for 3 minutes per pose while one of the guys used a hand-held scanner on us. Their software kept failing, this is a sample (this is all I got plus one decent figure of myself) of what we got on screen & after some digital tinkering the printed result;
It was all so promising. Anyhow, unless Paul’s got access to a well-fitting RUC period uniform and willing to dress up, find more professional guys than mine not too far away, and has fairly deep pockets ‘cos it won’t be cheap (I was looking at approx. US$40 per figure including my own costs), I’m not sure that what he wants is possible – yet.
