New Starship Models From Foreven Shipyards!

[Narl]

We have a few new ships available, including the 400-ton Aeogz-class Vargr Corsair and a pair of Rampart Fighters!

Our currently available ships include the following:
Free Trader
Far Trader
Subsidized Merchant
Scout/Courier
Seeker
Patrol Corvette
Close Escort
Vargr Corsair
Launch
Gig
Rampart Fighter

You can see all of them on our Shapeways page:
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/foreven-shipyards

Thanks!

 

[steve98052]

Are these cast, or 3D printed? If the latter, could they be printed at a larger scale for added cost? Or a fleet of smaller models?

Double linear scale would mean eight times the print filament and print time, which makes really expensive miniatures, and might push a 3D model past the printer's level of detail, but part of the cost is the 3D model designer's time, so the price might not be strictly the printer time and materials.

 

[Narl]

They are 3D printed by Shapeways and only available at the 1:1000 scale. You are correct about the cost going up greatly with size, and making them smaller would be problematic at this scale. And it wouldn't really save all that much money since there is a minimum cost regardless of volume of material.

The material we offer them in is quite detailed. Better than you get from a cast miniature in my opinion and far beyond what you would get on a home 3D printer without spending many thousands of dollars.

The primary reason though that we offer them on Shapeways is that they will always be available, which has not been the case at all with past Traveller ship miniatures!

 

[steve98052]

I see that the price doesn't scale linearly. A pair of fighters, 10 dtons each, are $7, or 35 cents per dton. Your largest model, the 400 dton subsidized merchant, is $18, or 4.5 cents per dton.

I looked again, and I see you're using the high detail plastic. That does sound like it would be nicer than a cast figure.

Another ship that I would guess could be popular is the modular cutter, and maybe extra modules.

I'm not sure what I would like; it depends on what kind of campaign I have next time I round up a group.

 

[Geir]

I ordered a patrol cruiser just to see.
Here is a comparison to an old RAFM metal version from a quarter century ago.

Hope that worked...
Upside down? Whatever.

Anyway, nice detail. Not sure I care for the translucent that much, so I guess I should paint it.
Since I'm a compulsive Traveller collector, I'll need to go order the rest...

 

[Narl]

I see that the price doesn't scale linearly. A pair of fighters, 10 dtons each, are $7, or 35 cents per dton. Your largest model, the 400 dton subsidized merchant, is $18, or 4.5 cents per dton.

I looked again, and I see you're using the high detail plastic. That does sound like it would be nicer than a cast figure.

Another ship that I would guess could be popular is the modular cutter, and maybe extra modules.

I'm not sure what I would like; it depends on what kind of campaign I have next time I round up a group.

The pricing for Shapeways printing isn't strictly by volume, especially when it comes to the small craft. They have a base price and factor in linear dimensions as well.

The Modular Cutter is being worked on!

 

[Narl]

Anyway, nice detail. Not sure I care for the translucent that much, so I guess I should paint it.
Since I'm a compulsive Traveller collector, I'll need to go order the rest...

If you just paint them grey, and then do a black wash, the detail will really show and they will look good on the table. No painting skills needed!

 

[steve98052]

The pricing for Shapeways printing isn't strictly by volume, especially when it comes to the small craft. They have a base price and factor in linear dimensions as well.

That makes sense. I got quotes on some upload and cut CNC models, and the prices were complicated (and much too high for my needs). Maybe I'll try to replicate my model for Shapeways and see if their price makes more sense than CNC.

For 3D printing, I would expect the price to include time in the machine (with a cost factor based on the size of the machine used), cost of materials, labor for the person who inspects it out of the machine, shipping and handling for fulfillment, and designer's profit.

I figured that you sell the fighters in pairs because their cost for two is only marginally more than for one, or even the same if that's their minimum cost.

Thanks for sharing your expertise.

The Modular Cutter is being worked on!

Cool!