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Finding minis for 3d printing is also quite difficult.

In this hobby people are obviously looking for minis for their 40k armies.
You can't just search "Ultramarines Space Marines" and bam, there's a whole load of awesome 3d sculpts for you to print.
They're all under weird names like "omega space soldiers" from one person, then "ultra void marines" from the next guy.

Multiple times I have gone searching for something, spending several hours, and come up empty handed. Then several months later by sheer happenstance I'll find exactly what I wanted, often too late as I've pursued other means.

Or, I could visit the GW site and go "yeah I'll take those".

 flaherty wrote:
...fewer than number than inveterate hoarders who see discount boxes as a permission structure to buy into new armies, expand existing forces, etc.

That is not a pile of shame, that is my collection...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

KillerAngel wrote:
If I had to put my scalper hat on (and I have no idea what their overhead, margins, or expected return on investment is)...

For general speciality retail 50% of sale price is ok, 55% is pushing it. Less for virtual shops, but even then they may well be seriously undervaluing their time compared to just working in a shop...

I think GW must still be casting some things in metal. For example, the Dark Angels Grand Master Azrael was out of stock for a while, and now it's back. And it is metal. So presumably they must have made some.

 endlesswaltz123 wrote:

 Jidmah wrote:
How is the technology not "there yet"? We have multiple players who print everything they use for 40k. Especially for guard players 3D printing is vastly superior to buying citadel models unless you are looking for some of the iconic vehicles.

I've bought quite a few high level bits here and there that are 3D printed. They do not come near GW level of plastic for the most intricate of detail as of yet, so no, the technology is not there, yet.

Just to add to this, find me a person who can print a model on par with Be'lakor (or even just recast Be'lakor on a 3D printer) to the exact same standard of quality as GW and crucially, without an obscene level of cleaning of the model (anything more than cleaning mould lines from the plastic model, so an hour) and I will apologise and admit I am wrong.

This is spot on.

I think the likely way this will go is Forgeworld beginning to offer .STL files of the Titans. Printing Titan scale pieces avoids a lot of the small detail issues that are a limitation of SLA printers. Forgeworld customers are used to fixing air bubbles, sawing off resin gates, straightening warped parts, etc. so the extra work to clean 3-D models won't seem like as big a deal. In many ways, 3D printing Titans would lead to higher quality results!

And while they have high prices, the Titans are a relatively low volume seller. I'm pretty confident that the value to GW's stock in announcing that they're adopting 3-D printing as part of their workflow would be greater than the contribution margin they get from that product line.

I see this has stopped being a conversation about GW's new pre-order plan and has turned into yet another retread of the same "3D printing's going to kill GW stone dead. Any minute now!" thread that I've been reading on forums like this for 20+ years.

 Nazrak wrote:
I see this has stopped being a conversation about GW's new pre-order plan and has turned into yet another retread of the same "3D printing's going to kill GW stone dead. Any minute now!" thread that I've been reading on forums like this for 20+ years.

Actually my point was more of that people buy GW models because they like what they are offering, while armies with ancient or bad models (eldar, IG) already flock to 3D printing and get better results.

But I seem to have stung a bee nest of people with a hard-on for hating on 3D printing so I lost interest in the discussion and didn't bother to explain.

 kodos wrote:
buy the file and print an army is the same as buy a master and cast an army
both is cheaper than buying from GW, but both need time and experience and as soon as you go into "mass" production time is the critical point

I've been casting models for years, and just got a resin 3D printer, and already the 3D printer is monumentally easier to set up and less labor-intensive than casting anything.

It may not be 100% plug-and-play yet, but at this point there is way less of a learning curve to 3D printing than to traditional casting, so I don't think equivocating the two is valid.

I don't hate 3D printing in the least - I just don't see it as necessarily the thing that's going to topple GW. At least not without a lot of advance and it might be that some elements remain inherent problems unless you start spending really serious money on top end machines and resins (ergo by which point the saving is lost)

 catbarf wrote:

 kodos wrote:
buy the file and print an army is the same as buy a master and cast an army
both is cheaper than buying from GW, but both need time and experience and as soon as you go into "mass" production time is the critical point

I've been casting models for years, and just got a resin 3D printer, and already the 3D printer is monumentally easier to set up and less labor-intensive than casting anything.
It may not be 100% plug-and-play yet, but at this point there is way less of a learning curve to 3D printing than to traditional casting, so I don't think equivocating the two is valid.

3D printing is easier for sure on the basic labour as you can cast more models in a single part than with casting and also less space needed
yet you need to do more work in the model design which is partly done by others if you buy the files but than there can be the issue that those are not ready to print for your printer and material

it is still a hobby on its own and not just a supply for gaming aids everyone can do for cheap

it is not there yet to replace HIPS, and I doubt it ever will

 Overread wrote:

 kirotheavenger wrote:
They still sell Finecast, and apparently even 1 or 2 metals, on regular order.
I assume the metals are just backstock that hasn't yet shifted!

I'm sure GW isn't sitting on thousands of unsold skaven metals. They have just kept the metal casting machine around and its profitable on the small scale (by GW standards) to keep those metals in the system for popular armies that didn't transition to finecast.

There was a rumour years ago that GW got rid of all their metal casting equipment (and according to some: metal miniatures too), which has been incredibly persistent despite having been proven wrong numerous times since.

Not only are made-to-order figures regularly metal (typically if that was the last material they were available in before being discontinued), various products in especially the Middle-earth line have returned to regular stock, in metal, after years of being sold out and completely unavailable. I think it's safe to assume they didn't just happen to find a pile of brand-new blisters in a dusty box in a dark corner of the warehouse every time that happens. They're not alone either. Steel Legion minis are still available as metal too. As is an Ork Warboss, and until very recently DeffKoptas (now out of stock/production).

 Overread wrote:
I don't hate 3D printing in the least - I just don't see it as necessarily the thing that's going to topple GW. At least not without a lot of advance and it might be that some elements remain inherent problems unless you start spending really serious money on top end machines and resins (ergo by which point the saving is lost)

The only thing to topple GW is GW.

As for the printers, I have both a PLA (ENDER3) for terrain and an Anycubic Photon Mono for miniatures. the Ender3 was less than $200 over a year ago and the Anycubic with a wash station/ curing machine and a KG of Resin was $325. 99% of the files I have are free. I use a 10+ year old desktop that isn't good for anything else, but still can run these programs fine. I am not a computer person at all, I have very little video gaming experience, but the programs are very intuitive. The new scanners that are out are going to make copying models insanely easy. While the good ones are still really expensive, the technology prices keep dropping quickly. The Ender3 that I bought on sale for $200 last year is constantly on sale for $159 and the Anycubic photon Monos are always on sale as well.

GW can adapt to the 3d printing, or they can be hindered by it. By the time they get a new model to the public it is a very short time till there is a 3d version of it which is very similar if not a direct scan of it. Painted up, most gamers would not be able to tell you which is which. There are scans of the Titans out there already, I have seen them at my local shop next to a FW version and I couldn't tell the difference until they told me which was which.

GW can wind up like Kodak, having all the best technology and sculptors, but they are pricing themselves out of the market. How much do the sprues cost? The production runs are so low because they are pumping out so many different items at such a fast pace. I don't know the solution to their future, I don't spend that much time on it. Made to order SOUNDS like A solution, but I don't think it will be the right one. Not being able to order consistently from my local shop because they cannot guarantee orders is not a good way to represent your brand. I personally don't mind waiting a couple months to get some things as I am not one to buy everything as soon as it comes out, but when I want to buy it I really want it on the shelf. I will not buy an inflated priced copy from a scalper though.

 Coenus Scaldingus wrote:

Not only are made-to-order figures regularly metal (typically if that was the last material they were available in before being discontinued), various products in especially the Middle-earth line have returned to regular stock, in metal, after years of being sold out and completely unavailable.

Though it does seem a bit random what material they come back as. Like, Durburz the goblin king came back as metal but the moria goblin drum came back as resin and I'm pretty sure they both went OOP around the same time.

Honestly, this "3d printing revolution will kill GW" stuff is really laypeoples opinion that don't really understand the technology, processes, economies of scale, industry, etc. Its an opinion that almost universally comes from *consumers* who bought a 3d printer and are using it to print stuff they found online, rather than *professionals* who actually work in the 3d printing, tabletop, and manufacturing industries.

As someone who checks all three of those boxes, anyone who approaches the topic from that standpoint immediately strikes me as somewhere between extremely naive and horrendously stupid. Thats a "followers opinion", just like Nickelback being a terrible band, pineapple not belonging on pizza, etc. Its a trendy thing for people to latch onto and say and repeat without ever putting any real amount of thought or effort into trying to understand why or how, and enough people do so that it has become a self-reinforcing belief. People can make comparisons to Kodak, Blockbuster, etc. until they are blue in the face but those comparisons fail to understand the differing dynamics in the various scenarios and the underlying technological currents that paved the way for those things to occur and the obstacles that exist for 3d printing to do the same to GW (or really any other business in the industry).

Even if the technology suddenly became what everyone seems to think it might become (it won't - theres numerous hard physical limitations to the various technologies involved that make that desired reality essentially impossible, though there is still dramatic room for improvement), it wouldn't really impact GWs business any more than recasting, alternative mini/bits casters, competing wargames/rpgs, or video games have (which is to say - not much in the grand scheme of things).

The only way things turn out differently is basically if theres a major culture shift in views towards piracy and an incredible weaking of IP protections - otherwise the boundaries of IP are shoring up GWs moat. Otherwise, Althammer 40k minis will never become as accessible or as accepted as GWs own minis are in the market, the "cult of the new" will keep people with 3D printers suckling at the teet of this weeks newest releases and preorders from GW, etc. etc. etc.

 Theophony wrote:

GW can wind up like Kodak, having all the best technology and sculptors, but they are pricing themselves out of the market.

They aren't. A cursory look at the other companies in the same market shows they don't particularly stand out. It might feel bad if you're trying to put together a 2000 point army, but on a model/box basis, they're not particularly exceptional. People are commenting on the $15 character minis in the D&D thread (vs GW prices for single characters), but ignoring the 5 for $50 orc box. PP, SW, Wyrd, they're on GW's price range- part of the same market.


That doesn't including single figure RPG minis, but those have been dramatically lower than the wargames market for decades (see Reaper minis).

Voss wrote:
It might feel bad if you're trying to put together a 2000 point army, but on a model/box basis, they're not particularly exceptional.

That's kinda the point, at least historically with GW models you're expected to buy many to build an army. The more models you need the cheaper they should get because with injection moulded plastic models, the cost of pumping out a few extra sprues is next to nothing.

The cost of an individual model needs to recoup the development costs, setting up the tooling, distribution and so on. Once those things are in place, the cost of actually manufacturing a model is next to nothing. If a typical force only consists of 20 models, those costs need to be divided over 20 models. If a typical force consists of 100 models, then the cost per model should reduce.

this is an old point, GW has model prices for a skirmish game, the rules are written on a single model bases for a skirmish game
but they advertise mass battle games

now having the mix between skirmish, RPG and mass battle is what makes the big GW games unique on the market, there are all sort of problems coming with it, and the pricing is one of them

but GW also wants to be the premium brand, and while they are ahead 5-10 years in plastic model technology with their models being 20 years on the market other companies can and have closed the gab (if you are 5 years behind, you make better models than GW in those ranges that are 6 years or older, which is also a reason why we see new Marines and Stormcast all the time, the Poster boys need to show the latest technology and cannot be the models that are behind other companies, while no one cares if Mantic or WGA make better Imperial Guard models)

3D printing works because the premium GW price is high enough
as soon as there is a change to that, either because less models are needed, a shift in pricing for mass battles, or GW doing stupid things and stop being the dominating brand than 3D printing is not the cheap alternative any more

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

 Coenus Scaldingus wrote:

Not only are made-to-order figures regularly metal (typically if that was the last material they were available in before being discontinued), various products in especially the Middle-earth line have returned to regular stock, in metal, after years of being sold out and completely unavailable.

Though it does seem a bit random what material they come back as. Like, Durburz the goblin king came back as metal but the moria goblin drum came back as resin and I'm pretty sure they both went OOP around the same time.

Normally just depends on the last material they were available in before - I don't think Durburz ever "transitioned", while the drum probably became Finecast at some point, included in one of the "command" boxes with a captain and shaman probably? Or was Durburz ever resin too? I barely kept track at the time, and the passing of time hasn't helped...

There are a few exceptions though... Boromir (in heavy armour) definitely became Finecast, yet is listed as metal now in the new 3-pack. Most newly repackaged ones are an eclectic mixture however, like Gandalf the Grey, or the new Ringwraith packs which mix resin and metal casts (again, because only some of these sculpts ever became resin, and only those came back in resin). What I wouldn't give for them to all return in metal though; would buy a truckload of High Elf spearmen and probably start a Fiefdoms army with immediate effect. Anyway...

People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

 frankelee wrote:
People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

So can you just buy printer,plug in, install software with just "yes yes yes" level installation, open file, press button to print copy, have it with zero configuration needed and have 3d print with no more cleaning up to do than with plastic mould line removal and exact same detail quality?

No need to tinker with printer settings etc?

tneva82 wrote:

 frankelee wrote:
People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

So can you just buy printer,plug in, install software with just "yes yes yes" level installation, open file, press button to print copy, have it with zero configuration needed and have 3d print with no more cleaning up to do than with plastic mould line removal and exact same detail quality?

No need to tinker with printer settings etc?

I mean, I can only speak for myself, I'm kinda bright, have experience working in labs where some precision and forethought is required, so that may not be everyone, but yeah. 3D printers mostly come all put together, your average bit of office furniture requires more work to get put together for use. Using a slicer and filling in 3 to 4 boxes with numbers that people on the internet will happily give you so your resin prints come out just right, really isn't that hard. And cleaning them up is actually faster than removing mold lines. It's a different process yes, because they're a different form of production, but again, maybe it's over some people's heads, but rinsing models in alcohol for 20 seconds then pulling off supports is pretty easy for the vast majority of people.

I was actually speaking to the quality and the ability of 3D printers to reproduce GW models. Are they the exact same quality to a microscope? No. Are they the exact same quality to your human eye if you're forced into a blind "taste test"? Yes. Could someone get one of GW's stl files, print it off, slip it into their army they use at the game store, and completely fool you and all your friends? Of course. Could a Phrozen Sonic Mini make any of GW's fancy models? Easily. None of that is really even up for debate in the 3D printing world.

Now, it's not for everybody. Not everybody knows how to cook even though kitchens are pretty standard in homes and it's not hard to boil water or fry something. But will this technology, which is nonetheless very easy to use and produces high quality miniatures, put tremendous pressures on mini manufacturers with boutique prices? It's beyond question it will. Doesn't take 100% of Games Workshop fans to adopt it, it probably will require something more like 10% to absolutely change their world.

 frankelee wrote:
At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

GW = going into a restaurant ordering a full course dinner
3D printing = making a full course dinner at home with a microwave

just because there are people who can make the perfect dinner with it that is better and cheaper than what the restaurant offers, does not mean everyone can buy a microwave doing the same by pressing start

 frankelee wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

 frankelee wrote:
People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

So can you just buy printer,plug in, install software with just "yes yes yes" level installation, open file, press button to print copy, have it with zero configuration needed and have 3d print with no more cleaning up to do than with plastic mould line removal and exact same detail quality?

No need to tinker with printer settings etc?

I mean, I can only speak for myself, I'm kinda bright, have experience working in labs where some precision and forethought is required, so that may not be everyone, but yeah. 3D printers mostly come all put together, your average bit of office furniture requires more work to get put together for use. Using a slicer and filling in 3 to 4 boxes with numbers that people on the internet will happily give you so your resin prints come out just right, really isn't that hard. And cleaning them up is actually faster than removing mold lines. It's a different process yes, because they're a different form of production, but again, maybe it's over some people's heads, but rinsing models in alcohol for 20 seconds then pulling off supports is pretty easy for the vast majority of people.

Thing is you've skipped a few key steps. Those online numbers only work as a starting point. Indeed if you want those easier/faster to clean supports you'll be using more lighter and thinner heavies in general which means your exposure has to be spot on otherwise you'll risk increased failure. So now you've got a few calibration prints to make

Along the way you'll hit issues - its too hot or too cold; the heating isn't the right sort of heating; the humidity*; the specific mix of the bottle of resin you're using; the printer you're using

Some resins, such as ZMud do require a different setup of supports, adding more light ones, in order to print reliably. Water washable resins are often weaker for hollowed prints (again requiring more support to avoid tearing/warping). Some printers give more force on the pull and can require some adjustment. Heck the Sonic Mini 4K has a raft of issues due to its Z axis being a bit weaker than it should be (they've actually released an upgrade/fix kit for it which is online now from them or going to distribution and being sold in a few months).

Not to mention settings found online vary from someone who HAS done testing and has a solid work process to someone who just printed something and plugged in some values they found/got a gut instinct for. You have to understand what kind of raft setup you want; if you're going to use fast or slow lift speeds; about the lift-speed deadzone (between >50 and <180-240).


So yes in theory they are simple, but they are also complex.Another issue is that a lot of fails look the same or similar. Even to the experienced it can be hard to tell with some fails so you have to basically check-list things to doublecheck what might be the cause even down to a slight element of chance (its not true chance, but its variables that don't repeat reliably and might be one-offs).


*this appears to be a variable but I've not really read of anyone doing any reliable testing

The only person that ever told me he was bright was incredibly drunk at the time he said it.

JWBS wrote:
The only person that ever told me he was bright was incredibly drunk at the time he said it.

If you're not old enough to know alcohol brings out the truth, then there's nothing I can do for you mate. You've just got to get out there and live some more.

 Overread wrote:

 frankelee wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

 frankelee wrote:
People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

So can you just buy printer,plug in, install software with just "yes yes yes" level installation, open file, press button to print copy, have it with zero configuration needed and have 3d print with no more cleaning up to do than with plastic mould line removal and exact same detail quality?

No need to tinker with printer settings etc?

I mean, I can only speak for myself, I'm kinda bright, have experience working in labs where some precision and forethought is required, so that may not be everyone, but yeah. 3D printers mostly come all put together, your average bit of office furniture requires more work to get put together for use. Using a slicer and filling in 3 to 4 boxes with numbers that people on the internet will happily give you so your resin prints come out just right, really isn't that hard. And cleaning them up is actually faster than removing mold lines. It's a different process yes, because they're a different form of production, but again, maybe it's over some people's heads, but rinsing models in alcohol for 20 seconds then pulling off supports is pretty easy for the vast majority of people.

Thing is you've skipped a few key steps. Those online numbers only work as a starting point. Indeed if you want those easier/faster to clean supports you'll be using more lighter and thinner heavies in general which means your exposure has to be spot on otherwise you'll risk increased failure. So now you've got a few calibration prints to make

Along the way you'll hit issues - its too hot or too cold; the heating isn't the right sort of heating; the humidity*; the specific mix of the bottle of resin you're using; the printer you're using

Some resins, such as ZMud do require a different setup of supports, adding more light ones, in order to print reliably. Water washable resins are often weaker for hollowed prints (again requiring more support to avoid tearing/warping). Some printers give more force on the pull and can require some adjustment. Heck the Sonic Mini 4K has a raft of issues due to its Z axis being a bit weaker than it should be (they've actually released an upgrade/fix kit for it which is online now from them or going to distribution and being sold in a few months).

Not to mention settings found online vary from someone who HAS done testing and has a solid work process to someone who just printed something and plugged in some values they found/got a gut instinct for. You have to understand what kind of raft setup you want; if you're going to use fast or slow lift speeds; about the lift-speed deadzone (between >50 and <180-240).


So yes in theory they are simple, but they are also complex.Another issue is that a lot of fails look the same or similar. Even to the experienced it can be hard to tell with some fails so you have to basically check-list things to doublecheck what might be the cause even down to a slight element of chance (its not true chance, but its variables that don't repeat reliably and might be one-offs).


*this appears to be a variable but I've not really read of anyone doing any reliable testing

Yeah. I know you went through all that earnestly, but who are you trying to convince? Sure, you can pixel bitch around to find potential problems, everybody doing 3D printing has dealt with them, they're not that hard.

You know if you try to put together a GW mini you've got to look in the instruction booklet to know what pieces to put together, but one time a guy in Cardiff bought a box and it was missing the booklet! So that's the end for him. And did you know you have to clip them off the sprues, but what if you clip it and it goes flying across the room and you can't find it, well there you go, your purchase is ruined, your foray into Warhammer is over. And then as you put the model together you've got to be able to think in 3 dimensions, not everybody can do that, so there goes half the market. And then to actually hold the model together you've got to use glue, so that requires a trip to the specialty shop. And then if you try to use glue you can get your fingers stuck together, well that'll end your mini making day, won't it? And then after you have the model put together, all those joint lines ruin the whole thing. They look like garbage, the whole mini looks like garbage. And if you want to solve that problem you'll need green stuff, good look finding that if the world is currently suffering a shortage of it. And if you have some you've got to knead it together before it'll even work, how do you do that?

Guys, get real.

tneva82 wrote:

 frankelee wrote:
People still on the "technology is just not there yet" with 3D printing bust me up. Obviously, no matter what expertise they claim to have while on the internet, they aren't familiar with it.

At the end of the day GW is mom's home cooking to some people, and nothing else is going to satisfy. And when you're spending that much on little plastic men you've got to emotionally justify it somehow.

So can you just buy printer,plug in, install software with just "yes yes yes" level installation, open file, press button to print copy, have it with zero configuration needed and have 3d print with no more cleaning up to do than with plastic mould line removal and exact same detail quality?

No need to tinker with printer settings etc?

With my Photon mono...basically yes.

Clean up is a bit more than GW plastic, but not more than FW resin. Give it a soak (Sure I'm using IPA instead of soapy water, but really) and then sit it in some nice light to dry and harden up. Not more difficult than cleaning mold lines or drilling bolter barrels. Funny enough, some of the models I have printed have the bolter barrels already hollowed out.

Stop trying to make 3D printing sound like a full time profession that you have to go to school and get a degree in. There are some parts which take time to learn, but just like painting and learning how to do it correctly it takes time and experience.

Here (on the right) is my first resin print from my Anycubic Photon Mono. I did not run a start up, I did not print their test prints that come preloaded, I plugged it in added resin and hit start.

The model on the left was the exact same model printed with my Ender3 PLA printer. Obviously you can see the detail levels are different, the resin ones are much better. Like most of my projects, I have not finished painting it, but here it is with some Contrast paints applied.

I'd put that up against any models made by GW. Plus it is all one piece, no mold lines to file and fill. it snapped off it's supports without tools and I didn't have to sand down the burrs from the sprue. While it is a patreon model from Titan-Forge, they take the time to pre-support all their newer models and have them ready to print AND also give you the files unsupported incase you want to do other things or use not standard settings.

Let's get back to the topic of GW made to Order now. Thanks.

 frankelee wrote:
Guys, get real.

with the average GW customer being unable to build models without a booklet, no matter how easy it looks like for others
(I just bought the Mantic GCPS Mule out of curiosity because lot online reviews complained that it is nearly impossible to build because there is no booklet in the box, took me 10 minutes including removing mold lines and test fit without glue)

for those people this is a different hobby, easy to build, paint and play
3D printing is already too much work and too complicated to replace HIPS for GW's the main target group

3D printing will replace papercraft, classic foam terrain building and lasercut/mdf terrain in the long run (outside the niche were you need to advantage of other materials as base)

but models for the average wargamer?, only if the requested size and time period is not available as otherwise it is cheaper to buy the models
and for the average GW customer, way to complicated and time consuming

Building models without using the booklet is the superior way of building.

 frankelee wrote:

JWBS wrote:
The only person that ever told me he was bright was incredibly drunk at the time he said it.

If you're not old enough to know alcohol brings out the truth, then there's nothing I can do for you mate. You've just got to get out there and live some more.

Person who jumps on a thread to throw around some not-so-veiled insults and believes In vino veritas describes themselves as "kinda bright".....

And quoting Latin at him says, what, exactly?