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Greetings ladies and gentlemen.

I been recently thinking about producing some alternative bits/models and terrain pieces and sell them on ebay. If things would pic up I did considered registering a company.

I do know 3D pipeline and work process needed for the video games production, but not for the physical casting.

Let's say, I would like to cast this gun:


( Just an recent model I did, to use as an example.)

What would be processes to get a sprue of 20 of thees, and get then casted like 10 of thees sprues.
I know that 3D printing is good only for the prototyping and testing, it's both too slow and too expensive. Also the results are not the highest quality.

I wanted to ask does anyone is familiar with production method? Do I need some dedicated 3D software like CAD or just Maya/Zbrush would be suitable?
Do I need to model models on the sprue or it would be handled by the casting company?
Also where I could potentially cast something like that for me? I was looking for a plastic casting companies around me, however they were working only in large industrial quantities. I did found some 3D printing services for artists by artists but again they were targeting making singular and large models.
I know that to start a company I need to invest money but I did expected it to be in slightly more reasonable.

I don;t have much idea about thees processes and most info I found on the internet was about 3D printing

One last question.
What are actual requirements to work in GW as Trainee Miniature Designer? What skills are needed and what should be show in the portfolio, is this job focused around physical sculpting only or 3D modelling as well? I know that it's required to spend plenty of money on their models and also be passionate about their products as Khorne zerker about spilling blood left and right.
Yes I can see that it says sculpt, but again that's quite broad.

Thanks for attention kind people, looking forward to hear from you.

You need to prep the model for 3D printing, which for most places involves converting it to STL format and also removing/changing any details that will not cleanly print.

Then you find a printing place and have it printed. Don't bother with a craft/cheap 3D printer. The cheapest would be shapeways or one of its competitors, use one of the frosted detail settings. However, if you've got a complex miniature you'll need to pay a lot more and go with a contract 3D printer like Moddler.

After that, just search online for resin casting tutorials. They're all over the place. Resin will be the cheapest way to get started, but also the most time consuming. Metal is a step up, but costlier to get started.

 Whiskered wrote:

What would be processes to get a sprue of 20 of thees, and get then casted like 10 of thees sprues.


... I was looking for a plastic casting companies around me, however they were working only in large industrial quantities.

First thing first: You wouldn't produce in plastic to make 10 of them. Because of the cost of making the mould, plastic production is for casting in the thousands.

Otherwise, you're looking at casting in resin or metal. Initial setup costs are much lower, and the sculpting requirements are much more forgiving... Models for plastic production have to be specifically sculpted to work in metal moulds (so no undercuts, unless you find someone who has sliding core machines... more cost, more specialised setup).


So your best bet would be to have a prototype printed, and then go looking for resin casters. For getting started, many of the small companies selling resin models or parts will also do bespoke casting on the side, so they're probably the best place to start... I think it was MaxMini that cast some custom space marine helmets I had sculpted in resin for me, and they did a good job.

Thanks lads for giving me some directions.
I have done some research on what you have said.

It seams that I could get everything to work below £100

To get some first attempts I just need few decorated bases and some resin. So I could start experimenting with quality and the process.

I have checked out resin types and I must ask. What kind of hardness is the best to cast thees? I was thin king about getting some small polyurethane resin and try out the results with bases. If things go right I will make something more complex.

I need to find now some sensible 3D printing service in the Uk. I did checked shapeways but the shipping cost were just silly. I am okay with their prining prices. This gun would cost from them roughly 5.50$ which is okay but over 15.60$ shipping, which is not okay.

So I managed to recover my old sculptey and practice a little bit.
no tools just a needle 20 min for both