Mike
I personally find the process of creating a digital model and being able to print it just as satisfying as scratchbuilding, especially if I need more than one of the same thing.
And it's amazing what you think of to print once you've started- who would have thought of printing hobnailed boot soles for French fusiliers? For them I've made Shakos, muskets (I downloaded that...), pockets, shoulder tabs and cuff details, random water-bottles and canteens and I've just started on hands (also downloaded for free) and all of them multiples, saving me an age of time scratchbuilding.
I have done multiple refinements on the truck body mockup I was working on, as the model when rendered triggers thoughts on how to improve the model / simplify for printing.
Silly little tweaks that will make major differences
Also messing with microsofts own 3d Builder , I use the viewer a lot , but the builder is a great simple shape construction program, no frills , but does what it does well
Just had a read through your blog and all the replies, very interesting, both informative and logical.
Question - Do I really need a 3D printer??? Answer - not yet, Logic - I do not have enough items/parts I need printing so the cost at the moment would be a waste.
Solution - download one of the many CAD programs and use the tutorials, get the experience first and go from there.
As Dave Ward stated - how many people have jumped in at the deep end and now have an extra piece of furniture as a display item like a vase....
Will keep watching and reading...
Mike.
Personal opinion based on buying this printer.
1. hold off on buying the latest version for a few months, In retrospect with the niggles so far I would have been better off buying the Mars 4 pro, over the Mars 4 Ultra, as the wifi on Ultra is let down by the slicing software interactions with it at present.
The Mars 4 Pro has same resolution, no wifi, plastic body not metal base , but is £50 approx cheaper = 2 1/2 bottles of resin, and it uses the older fep/nfep which though shorter lifespan than the new ACF , has less niggles over timing and affecting some surface details
2. some of the things I wanted to print are just too small and delicate when printed ( at present ) to be easy to work with.
3. Moving to clear resin which prints faster may be a major upgrade.
For dorama pieces, the FDM printers are probably a better idea, a much larger print area, and no chemicals to deal with.
Do I regret buying it - no.
It has given me my mojo back, and as soon as the opticians make my new prescription up ( I am using my long distance glasses to use a computer screen @ less than a metre and everything beyond 2 metres starts to blur ) I may be able to see well enough to get back to some modelling, using the printer to make mods, and to make other things too.
) and he was happy to give it a try.
