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Well, I've not got any experience with green stuff but I want custom parts for a Nid army.

I do however make 3d models, and have found a website that can do 3D prints with details down to 0.2 mm

So I'm giving it a try!

Here's the 3d sculpt for a warrior/shrike bone sword arm so far, what do you guys think?

Nice, make sure you do a pair and have them in two separate sizes (tyrant and warrior size).

What do they charge for that kind of service?

I’ve not heard of anyone using a 3D printer yet but lots of companies use CAD models and computer aided milling machines to make their models. If the printer doesn’t produce the quality you want you could find a service that would mill a mold instead.

You’ve obviously got some CAD talent. Keep us posted on the cost and results; I’m very interested to see how this turns out.

The pommel seems a tad bit too small.

Carnage43 wrote:What do they charge for that kind of service?

And who are they? Details please.

Don't really need to make a pair, being 3d I can just mirror the mesh.

At the moment I'm looking at having this made by http://www.shapeways.com/ cost will be dependant on the amount of material used to make the model once its done.

To be honest I know little about moulds and CAD, I've learnt 3d almost purely for the games industry (I'm a Games Art student)

Thanks for pointing out the pommel, it's been tweaked as well as the other side of the arm being sculpted.

Anything else people would like to point out about the sculpt?

those are pretty neat. What do the backsides of the hands look like?

So I am no expert on the subject, but from what I’ve read miniature makers usually go with computer aided milling machines for two reasons.

One, the finish on a lot of 3d printing isn’t smooth are clean enough for miniatures.
Two, it is hard to get miniature quality detail on a 28mm sized figure.

Both of these are easily achievable on a decent CAM machine. But CAM machines are very expensive to buy and run, and usually take more specialized design software (from what I’ve read, I don’t really do this stuff regularly).

I was looking at that website and those prices seem so reasonable it would defiantly be worth trying it out. They even have some predesigned minis, it might be worth buying one and comparing the finished product to the rendering before doing anything big.

I think the models look great but you could use just a wee bit more elbow joint space. The way they are now the guy will only have about a 10 degree range of motion before the upper and lower arm shells are banging against each other.

Other than that admittedly minor nag they look great.

I'd also add hilts to the swords that extend below the hands.

Sorry im not a fan of it , i think the muscle needs to be defined way more.

ATM it almost look like its wearing a layer of clothing.

other then enlarging the joints i would say it looks great.


i don't think the pommels need to be larger then they are as the weapon is part of the creatures body.

A CAD milling machine might work better, but unfortunately I don't have access to one, nor have I found a site of a similar nature to shapeways that uses a milling machine.

As the for the sculpt, I'll increase the size of the joint. The pommel will most likely stay the same, and the muscle definition is unlikely to be increased as it is currently in line with the GW nids.

i think yiou need to model the hand parts bigger so tehy look handish...basically you could just enlarge the hands/blades to get them more realistic

*yawn* .....Sleepy

Hands / swords scaled up, joints changed, poly count optimised for shapeways.


...will try submitting in the morning unless anyone thinks there anything really wrong with these

Well it's all been uploaded!

http://www.shapeways.com/model/129340/tyranid_warrior_bonesword_right_arm.html
http://www.shapeways.com/model/129334/tyranid_warrior_bonesword_left_arm.html

...Now, i'm going to place an order and see what there like when they get here.

Then.. Maybe spores, a Harpy or Doom

What did they end up costing?

Jack

I want to know how this turns out, I got friends that can do 3d computer modeling.

They cost just under $3 an arm, and if they work out I might make them publicly available through that site, although that depends if there's any demand.

.... Actually I'd happily make a few bits and pieces if this works out and people wanted them, I could always do with a bit more money to buy baked beans while I'm at uni

I can't wait for you to get your bits so you can give a detailed report on the experience as well as the quality of the product. Hope everything turns out the way you want it.

I'm interested in knowing what they said the turn around time will be. Did they do a fee for setup and then a fee per piece?

I have to admit that I'm skeptical and really want to see close up pictures of the final product to compare with the images. Pessimistically, those arms don't look particularly challenging to produce--no gross asymmetries, no long narrow curvy bits, etc.

any way they could do legs to a certain futuristic warrior that functions like and has a name similer to the U.S.M.C?

Hey this is very interesting, please mantain us informed; I need new parts for a Chaos Dreadnought and some Plague Marines...

Well in theory they can print anything more than 0.7 mm thick that you can create in 3d.

As for turn around, the site says 10 days, il let you know how long it takes.

My order has apparently just gone into production.

..so hopefully will have the arms soon.

Keep us posted, especially with pics when you get em!

They still remind me of lego arms...

Well!

I was distracted from this project due to a series of placement interviews.

The arms arrived a few weeks ago, they're not as detailed as I would have liked, but they are acceptable to me.

I will try and paint a pair up in the next week or so and take some pics (The material does not photograph well!)

Excellent, can't wait to see the results. I'm definitely interested in making some terrain at the minimum with shapeways.