From what I've seen these look impressive, has anyone bought from them? How do they fair in reality?

The renders may look good but actual prints usually have layer lines on them even in FUD and HDA.
FUD is brittle while HDA is more soft and flexible or almost as brittle depending on how well it was cured.

Good for custom minis but not really for an entire army.

I have not bought any ... yet ... but from what I understand, for various other sources, Echoco is correct. And I'm still not 100% which type I would buy, FUD or ? I want detail but I don't want brittle/fragile. Especially with Infantry models ... So I too am open to suggestions ...
I you look at the pic of a finished Shapeways model a "Krokodil", a WWII German proposed AT AFV, I was thinking about getting(?). You can kind'a see what Echoco it talking about ...
I still have old Forge World Epic resin pieces like their Grey Knights, IG AFVs and Tau. And the early resin they used was NOT game or user friendly at all. I have done my Grey Knights, and had to put Banners/Poles as "movement sticks" to avoid touching them. As the detail is great but it is Waaaay TOO brittle and fragile to be used for a game, IMO ... [Another reason I still have a little "upset" with GW/FW in general !!!!]

I plan on using plastic "U" shaped rods to reinforce the small weapons on the Epic FW AFVs, etc. In an attempt to make them more "survivable" to touch ...

But IMO the price of Shapeways is the biggest reason for my reluctance. I don't want to buy anything that "expensive" and it is too brittle/fragile ...

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Yeah you'll want to use some ultra fine 2000 grit sandpaper on them to remove striations first (doesn't require very much). Look in my plog linked in my signature for plenty of 3D printed stuff therein. The issue with not doing an army isn't quality; It's price. It's a technique used to created masters for eventual casting generally or for unique centerpiece models, not rank and file unless you have serious $$$$

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And damn, I quite liked the look of some of them, especially the Hunter and Stalker.

So ... again ... for 6mm Infantry ... what is the best choice for detail & "survivability" ? FUD it appears ?

E.g. :

https://www.shapeways.com/product/PWJAM ... d=57995219

https://www.shapeways.com/product/GY6XQ ... d=59500022

In both cases it appears, FUD maybe the only choice ... for a number of reasons ... with price also being an overriding factor ...

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

FXD might be better though?

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Thanks ... good to know !

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Details? Yes.
Cost? No
Are either brittle? Well subjective but imho, No.

_________________
He's a lawyer and a super-villian. That's like having a shark with a bazooka!

-I HAVE NO POINT
-Penal Legion-Fan list
-Help me make Whitescars not suck!