hey guys, ive just gotten into the hobby of model making. although, i have a question.

[drugsarebad420]

what are your opinions on 3d printing custom parts for models?

[stitchdup]

Its fun when it works, infuriating when it fails. And the options are nerly limitless if you can draw but still pretty good if you buy files

[MeatMan]

I love it, but it does take a bit of time away from building.

Here's some of what I've designed for printing for my current & future builds.

[Zippi]

Welcome to the forum Samuel.

[James2]

Welcome to the styrene addicts meeting my name is...

 After you master the basics anything that will enhance and improve your modeling experience is worth doing. the best advice you could have is just have fun!

[Bainford]

Welcome to the forum, Samuel. I think you'll find 3D printing is becoming a large part of our hobby, and I believe we're only scratching the surface so far. The quality of 3D printed parts is very high, easily rivaling kit parts. Have a look around the forum and you will find several discussions on 3D printing, and good advice from those who have mastered it.

Edited February 22, 2023 by Bainford
druthers

[PappyD340]

Welcome to the forum Samuel!

[drugsarebad420]

  On 2/22/2023 at 11:52 AM, Zippi said:

Welcome to the forum Samuel.

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thanks!

[drugsarebad420]

  On 2/22/2023 at 1:17 PM, Bainford said:

Welcome to the forum, Samuel. I think you'll find 3D printing is becoming a large part of our hobby, and I believe we're only scratching the surface so far. The quality of 3D printed parts is very high, easily rivaling kit parts. Have a look around the forum and you will find several discussions on 3D printing, and good advice from those who have mastered it.

Expand  

i dont know why but i thought there would be a bunch of purists who would be heavly against 3d printing parts because it "takes away from what the model was ment to be". but im suprised that so many people in this hobby 3d print their own parts, i hope i can get my hads on one so i can make myself a turbocharger kit to put on an mpc cobra trike (if my local hobby store has one in stock) 

[drugsarebad420]

  On 2/22/2023 at 2:52 AM, MeatMan said:

I love it, but it does take a bit of time away from building.

Here's some of what I've designed for printing for my current & future builds.

Expand  

impressive!

[Horrorshow]

Welcome to the forum 

[slusher]

Welcome aboard, Samuel!

Edited February 25, 2023 by slusher
Typo

[Ace-Garageguy]

Some of the models produced using 3D printing are staggeringly good...but the best of the best I've personally seen come from builders who had already mastered the traditional techniques, and added 3D to their existing toolbox.

In truth, even if you can print perfectly accurate miniatures, you're still going to have to have many of the old-school skills involved with fitting (clean assembly) and finishing (paint).

There are some parts that 3D printing isn't well suited for too, like clear windows. Again, fabrication and fitting, and possibly mold-making and vacuum forming, will be required to produce top-tier work.

There are enough 3D-experienced folks on this board now that you can sidestep much of the discovery part of the learning curve if you research and think and pay attention to process details.

[Chariots of Fire]

I've had a few tires and wheels done in 3D just to get patterns done.  Then the rest is casting multiples from there.  3D printing has its place just like everything else in the hobby.  Being a scratch builder, I use just about anything that fits the need.

[Street Rod]

Welcome to the forum, Samuel!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Welcome Samuel! 

[Metaldrumm]

The parts look great and are a nice addition to any model but when you start building your whole car with 3d parts i feel it takes away from the builder scratching building parts and becoming a more skilled builder its a fine line .I guess accenting  your car with 3d parts would be a good way to go imho!

[Bills72sj]

Welcome to the forum Samuel.

3D printing is becoming more and more common. A while back I was going to get one but, while I have the cash, I do not have the space. I have purchased 3D parts from ebay, Shapeways and got some scale wheels for my 1:1 right here from the forum. As time goes on. sooner or later someone will build a file for whatever our heart desires.