3D Prints are Modelers' Dreams Come True

sndwv has been following all the latest advances in 3D printing, but he's also come to find a new appreciation for some of the pioneering attempts from a couple years ago. He's recently ordered these "vintage" designs from 2010 and 2011, and they hold up very well.

Here's is one of Dream Foundry's Excaliburs printed in glossy sterling silver. The price and material constraints limit your options to smaller, lower-detailed ships, but I think it looks absolutely amazing. I have a couple of other 'experiments' on the way in plated stainless steel, which is cheaper but also much less detailed.

Attached are pics of three of Atropos907' s carriers in gloss gold and bronze plated stainless steel. Wouldn't recommend the gold color (matter of taste), but overall detail is quite good (excepting small details like gun turrets), smoother in person, and esp. the bronze ships look really nice, exactly the 'desk model'-look I was aiming for. Will probably mount these on a small wooden display stand.

Astro Commander's Wing Commander prototypes are still available at the Dream Foundry. Most of the fighters are about the size of a coin, although the capships are a bit bigger. They're also unpainted, although a few different options for component material are available. But if you've got some talent with a brush, these models make an absolutely fantastic fleet for large scale tabletop gaming. You can check out some photos of these ships in action here.