I'm going to have a go at this Rapid Prototyping lark.

I've decided to start simple, with a Sponson & Battlecannon conversion kit for the Forgeworld Leman Russ, in order to make it compatable with the E:A rules.

Here's what I've done so far:

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Looks good so far. And a much needed conversion bit I might add

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Sofa General

Nobody expects the Inquisition!!!
http://theepiclounge.wordpress.com/

looks good E&C

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http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii249/kev101/

can i ask a dumb question?
how is it you guys make these sketches, or whatever you call them? is this something that can be done on a home computer (assuming i had any artistic talent)? or this some type of drafting computer?
sorry if this is a bit off topic. looks great so far and agreed it a useful piece.

It can be done on any PC. A good video card helps, but isn't absolutely necessary. The main cost is the price of the 3D software. The are a few free packages, but I don't know how good they are. regardless of price, most software has a steep learning curve (figuring out the commands that will produce the shape you want).

I use Autocad, because I have access to it at work. It's a pretty terrible package for artistic 3D work (and even technical 3D work) but it gets the job done and I am familiar with it. I think 3D studio max is pretty popular, but there are loads of others. Inventor, Pro/E, Catia, etc. are all more engineering/design slanted, while 3d Studio, Blender, etc are more artsy.


At the most basic level, most of the stuff isn't too hard to draw. Draw a cross section, extrude it to the right length, ad nauseam. Some bits are a bit more complex, but not by too much. Having a part in your hand to measure and copy makes it even easier, which means making a real-world mock-up quite useful.

Just a normal home computer, and some 3D program that can output in STL format. I use MoI (www.moi3d.com).

Speaking of which, E&C, what program did you use?

Rhino.

It's ok if some objects overlap isn't it?

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I second that, I would love to kit out my forgeworld Russes with Sponsons, they look kinda naked without them

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Rocking it since 1975....damn, I am old

Another stupid question, but how do you make real stuff from the 3d stls?
and have you made a repository somewhere of finished stuff you guys do?

You will need to boolean union all of the pieces together into a single solid.

Ah that should be easy then.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

We use 3D print services. We upload the file and some money, they own the machines and do the printing, then they ship the finished thingy.

I recommend PrintAPart in the US - excellent resolution, about $10 per cubic centimeter.

again e&c i'm sorry for getting way off your original topic. but otterman when you say $10 a cubic cm do you mean for the mold or for each piece?

For the print / piece. You have to learn molding for yourself.

thanks, that's what i thought.
now back to your regularly scheduled program....