RP isnt the cheapest.
The tradeoffs are as follows (IMO)
RP- done by shapeways
*SWF is fairly cheap but lacks detail and is bumpy,
*Detail material gives better detials but if you look closely you see the layers along the z axis.
Ive looked into RP through sites outside of shapways that give better detail (my main concern over cost since I want to paint them to look nice) but SW is the cheapest around unless you order in huge quantities elsewhere. If I understand it properly SW lowers their costs by waiting till they have a batch of many different orders from across the world and they run a single print when a tray is full.
Cast in Resin. is cheap and the way a lot of garage casters go but consumes molds between 10 and 50 uses, possibly more if they are skilled. So while each casting costs pennies the mold, often 10-100 dollars depending on volume, adds to the cost.
Cast in Pewter. Same mold costs as resin but molds generally last a lot longer for skilled casters. Pewter costs more per volume but generally still less than Rapid prototyping.
Both castsings require a master to be made which costs more for the more expensive masters.
THus to get models at the cost you expect based on commercial companies who sell resin or pewter you have a large startup cost but its diluted over volume. Im unwilling to eat these costs to get the resin or pewter, even though Id prefer pewter so I went with RP. You pay more for less but it can be done in one-offs. And as so few will ever be sold I think its the way to go. Im in this to get models on my shelf that I can paint. Hence my website thirdfatecreations.com check out the gallery. I would be shocked if more than 30 ships get sold to other people through shapeways in a given year. Thus far it looks like that may be an overestimate.
additionally, Im working with someone to get "high quality/detail pewter" models made cheaply, but they are only made cheaply if someone "sponsors" the high quality mastering and molding. Ill post images and links when he has the test batch available. But frankly the number of people who want wing commander miniatures are so few I think print-on-demand RP is the way to go.
I had looked into paying a sculptor to sculpt and cast but that was even more expensive. and I only want 1-2 of each so very not worth it.
So to recap
RP pay dollars by volume, but its print on demand.
RP then Casting. requires roughly 50->hundreds of USD to cover the startup, then pennies per volume. Thus requires a generous benefactor to eat the startup or volume sales to do so.
Sculpting then casting. more like hundreds to thousands for a skilled sculptor.
random plug, my favorite skilled scupltor at present is this guy.
https://sites.google.com/site/behrlewhubbuchiiisculptor
If I had the money to throw away Id have hid make my models as he does an exquisite job. But for now Ill have to suffer through my 3d modeling skills and rapid prototyping.
