Napoleonic miniature printing - is it the future?

[@richardhogg2600]

War games Atlantic is a MyMiniFactory tribe

[@richardhogg2600]

Thanks for the tip Off tho….found it in 30 seconds

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

You're absolutely correct. I'll pin this comment

[@richardhogg2600]

@@NapoleonicWargaming just subscribed…still early bird for 10 dollars per month

[@richardhogg2600]

Thanks for the tip off!

[@PsiBurr]

As I live in rural NZ, 3D printing is an absolute godsend particularly with shipping costs!

[@clive3490]

ANOTHER printing bonus. As well as rescaling figs as Tim mentions, you can also Mirror them in the 3d software. Especially usefull for horses to give you twice as many poses. This only works if the figure is symetrical though

[@johndally7994]

Very interesting to see where the hobby is going. With everything gained something is lost. Some of these would fit in a Dwarf army from LOTR given the proportions of their heads and hands to the rest of their bodies. I'm too old to learn a new technology, so I hope these developments don't undercut the production of quality figures from traditional makers too much.

[@-Benedict]

The trouble is, some of us feel like we've done well if we manage to turn a computer on.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Haha, you'd be surprised. They're getting easier to use all the time

[@mobileandhostile7895]

@Benedict - THAT 😂

[@jwchampagne1]

If I may add a plug? Rafal Polkowski has already Kickstarted a very handsome set of Grand Duchy of Warsaw Poles in 28mm, both infantry and cavalry, and his next army is Austria (also in 28mm). I'm not sure what time period this will cover, as the campaign hasn't begun yet, but it could be a monumental project once you factor in the add-ons.

[@TwisstedSage]

All very interesting but (A) $500 dollars, British equivalent, is pretty near my yearly budget for wargaming which doesn’t even take into account all the resin & the NINE MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE!? ! ? There’s also the cleanup which looks a nightmare from the photos & videos I’ve seen. I’d just as soon pay for someone to print them out for me if I could find someone this side of the pond to do so. Looking forward to the next “Epic” video. Get well sooner!

[@pianowargames7903]

Again a great video, and thank you very much for the kind mention, once again I was very delighted! I definitly think 3D printing is an important part of the future of our hobby. But I hope some day soon a printer that does not need resin will come out, something that´s easier to use and safer. That would make it much easier for many people to get started and perhaps also spread the hobby further!

[@BootsontheTable]

We talk a lot about this on our stream, my feeling is 3D is great for terrain and large units but won’t become truly mainstream until they are plug and play. They are cheap, but you also need to factor in the cost of your time, the Stls, electricity, failed prints, etc etc. maybe not the price of a Perry metal figure, but still a bit more than the few pence always claimed!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That is true. I think they're at their absolute best when you have a plate set up for say 30 French line infantry. You've done all the prep, set up got it working, and then you just press print 10 times over a weekend and suddenly you've got a whole army for maybe £50

[@jadegreen438]

It'd be cool in the future if you can make a video on where to get the best high-quality historical Miniatures in STL form. Also I'm 25 I think I'm probably the youngest historical war game or there is the most likely there's someone younger than me

[@Rusty_Gold85]

I might have one here in Adelaide perhaps . Most of our group are youngish , I would be the "eldest" at 57

[@Another_opinion_]

@@Rusty_Gold85 where about in Adelaide? I'm interesting in giving tabletop wargaming a try. Are you aware of any group South of the city? Cheers

[@clive3490]

Was wondering when you were going to do Resins, Tim. :) One other advantage for printing, if you have IT skills, is you can design your own Stuff. I have some files for French Artillery Limbers and they allways look a bit daft when they are standing behind a gunline with the lid open and they are empty. So I used an online CAD called Tinkercad and came up with some Loads to fill my Limbers! For my WWII stuff I have been creating ammunition boxes in various states, closed, open, empty, empty with packaging pieces included. Tinkercad is a bit limitited though and not usefull for complex figures. Another program is Blender which is probably the program used by most digital sculpters, but it is extremely complex.

[@andybrown9427]

Rafal Poklowski and Piano Wargames are fantastic sculpts.😎

[@mobileandhostile7895]

⭐️ the Piano sculpts are absolutely superb but if and when I buy them I will be more than happy to pay someone else to print them for me….aside the initial set up costs there is the constant updating that means the printer will be old hat in no time….most of all though it’s the fumes from printing…don’t want to be anywhere near them ⭐️ great discussion though - thanks 👍

[@RalphAstley]

I use my 3D printer mainly to print buildings and this to me is its biggest advantage as models of some buildings just don't exist in the physical world so it is impossible to obtain them at all. For instance Najewitz Modellbau does just about every Napoleonic battlefield's specific building you can think of. Conversely many historical periods I wargame don't seem to feature heavily in STL files (colonials for instance). I think I prefer the aesthetics of metal and plastic figures over resin 3D prints anyway. Poses are limited unless supports are employed and supports can be difficult to remove from smaller scale figures such as 6mm. Also a model designed on computer can sometimes be difficult to paint as the 'sculptor' hasn't had to reach all the parts of the model with a tool; if he had you can be confident that you can reach the same part with a paintbrush. I agree with you about the benefits of kickstarters for STL files, I just wish there were more innovative ideas and fewer attempts to duplicate conventional figure sculpting. For instance I would love to see files for the same figure or character in different poses; a western figure sat, standing, firing a variety of weapons, prone, wounded, dead, on horseback etc. Same idea could be employed for personalities such as Napoleon.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Two things- plus good video Thanks ! One was do you know someone who is making French and British Limbers Stl's ? Wouldnt mind either 28's or Epic/13.5's for them. Two I did an excel sheet thats on a few FB Nap-ie sites for all 28mm companies in either metal or plastic for all armies. I havnt got time but it would be good if anyone out there wants to do a Excel sheet on all companies making STL files on all armies

[@gromit368]

Im thinking that the set up costs of equipment and supplies for 3D resin printing combined with the general phaffing that comes with that might deter a few people and significantly add to the cost argument. We may just want to pay for the convenience of having someone else print/cast the miniatures. I says this without any research or understanding, so shoot me down at will please.

[@blecao]

I think one of the main adavantages migth be that it cheap out a lot the armies on the run Im young im 19 i have friends that know and would want to play warhammer but the amount that it cost is insanely higth, we study in relation with IT wso a printer migh be a good solution buy one betwen a few and print your armies from there being more than one cut the costs of the printer and allow several people to use it so it get the money back easily

[@shauntaylor9251]

Just given in and ordered a Mars 2 Pro and washer/curer set up . Now all i've got to do is to learn how to use it

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It's a process, but once you've got it weighed off, you'll never look back!

[@danielrodriguezgallardo1770]

I bought some of the Marco Campagna's stl for my french and austrian armies. Definitely worth it if you like Calpe Miniatures' style of modelling

[@darrenrees3284]

In Lychee slicer you can scale to any size.

[@dougcarmichael8782]

Great video! I'm painting/building up a couple Napoleonic armies based on Warlord Epic. I'm currently on the second starter boxes for both my British and French armies... I order some 3D printed figures to (British stovepipe shakos for my Hanoverians) fill out my British 3rd and 5th Divisions... Plus to beef-up the number of British skirmishing riflemen... I hope that in the future that someone provides for Epic scale printing of both the British and French caissons and some smaller (4 horse) pulling teams.

[@mesmocurioso]

Great video! I'm glad I found it. What about some "regular" new STL reviews?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Check the live streams for review style commentary! You asked in another video about 3D printing files for wargames. My absolute number 1 is Piano Miniatures. I honestly think he's revolutionising napoleonics with the quality of his sculpts, his posing, his choice of nations to release. He would be my first port of call. Joint Second are David Vazquez Fernandez and Rafal Polkowski (both are on kickstarter and myminifactory). These are also superb. I'd say both have improved more than Piano, but are starting from a lower base, and so are just a tad under. That said, be under no illusion, their latest sets are absolutely gorgeous. After that there are various manufacturers that can be found on myminifactory and wargames3d, but for me, the 3 I've mentioned above are absolutely the gold standard, even beating out the Perry and certainly Warlord for quality

[@mesmocurioso]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Thanks a lot! I already decided to buy the Piano Wurttenburgs and will check on the others also.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@mesmocurioso you won't be disappointed!

[@jonathanowen9917]

Great prognostication! I think there are pros and cons to the whole 3D printing, but I am glad for all the options that it gives us now as wargamers and modders. What printer did you get and do you have a preferred material?

[@lukebaird8643]

The Piano Miniatures campaign sold me on 3D printing. I'm just worried I might pick up a printer that will not do justice to Lucas's sculpts. Do you have any advice on that front?

[@dbc330]

The Holy Grail will be when the 3D printing can also print the minis in full uniform

[@MrBlasz]

Henry Turner does a 6mm 15 mm line for naploeonics

[@olafsson6431]

battalion of napoleons when

[@PaulJohn01]

OP ! 😁😁😁😁

[@friedrich2.615]

What printer do you use? Do you have advice for getting into 3d tabletop printing

[@Corvinuswargaming1444]

Printed miniatures might be dominant in historical gaming eventually but the prices for them are generally affordable, so for now the incentive to print isn’t as high

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

100% agree

[@joeokabayashi8669]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I'm hoping 3D printing will lead to legions of cottage printers for those of us who probably wont own a printer for quite some time, if at all.

[@shauntaylor9251]

@@joeokabayashi8669 Same here , someone should set up printing the minis under license for those of us who would like the minis but have no interest in getting a printer and all that that entails

[@user-rm9qs4hz1p]

Been interesting in 3d printing and may bite the bullet. After seeing the Austrian models too.

[@UlsterAndy]

Just got myself 12 marmurlukes from gerdio40 lovely model's 28mm something different for the table. Lancers, grd lt Cavalry

[@richiehall3042]

Have you a link for your 30K files please?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

cults3d.com/en/users/Damsa_Prints_Stuff/creations

[@OW...]

Some good info. So much i would disagree with, and or discuss with you. What we were told would happen many years ago has never happened, some one i assume has stepped in and said no... I recall watching a wrench being scanned and printed. I watched a handgun being scanned and printed. So our natural assumption would be that we would take a foundry napoleonic figure, scan it and print as many as we want. Alas thats not the way 3D printing has gone. Its all about files, and buying files. Its as if a middle man has stepped in. By the way i'm in my 70's ;)

[@darrenrees3284]

Yes it is, look at the price of AB 18mm £0.75 a foot, cost of printing pennys

[@davidcollins2648]

Whoo! Got my weekly napoleonic fix. Thanks Tim! Those confederation states figures look awesome (Piano?). That was a goal of his wasn't it? I want his Wurtemburgers but in 20mm.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

The great thing about printing is that if you like the sculpts, but play 20mm, just print them at 80% (that's a random number!) There are guides online that show what the scaling should be

[@lochmoigh1]

Yes. I printed 4 battalions with skirmishers in just ovezr 2 hours st 10mm

[@rioploon]

It isn't the future. It is the present. I've been printing for several years now. The rest of the world will eventually catch up. :)

[@pfcsantiago8852]

Easy enough to set up but can't be bothered.

[@bonysminiatures3123]

would it put perrys etc etc out of business?

[@coffeemaiden7915]

Careful sir, for James Workshop may come to break your kneecaps for printing stuff instead of buying their expensive plastic

[@regwirth3004]

Is not that Napoleonic Gaming is for old guys, it's just something that as gamers mature, they grow into.🧐

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

need better closeups!

[@khankrum1]

A 3D Printer is of no use to me. I use 15mm scale armies!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

You can easily print 15mm! In fact, I've just printed my third battalion of Greatcoated Russians in Warlord Epic scale!