Grimstonefire:
So a very controversial subject with IP and copyright issues being ignored left right and centre… But purely as a topic of conversation that I in no way condone what do you think of these?
http://www.thingiverse.com
Search for "warhammer"
A mixed bag I think, but very interesting to see what everyday people are able to achieve.
I’m aware of the forum rules regarding this issue, but the rule relates to posting links to things for sale, which these Things are not (I don’t think).
Dînadan:
I don’t think they’re for sale, but I think it looks like you can download the files to print your own. 
Abecedar:
Some of the figures look great and some a bit naf. Not something I worry about because I’m not going to buy that sort of stoff.
I have never seen or handled a “printed” item and am just curious as to the breakability? of it compared to the resin / plastic /metal models.
Actually was more intrigued by the terrain
MadHatter:
Some of the figures look great and some a bit naf. Not something I worry about because I'm not going to buy that sort of stoff.Hard plastic, "tupperware feel" from cheaper 3d prints. In their yearly report last year GW adressed 3d printing as no threat since the process is to costly and not so good quality wise. Printing other plastic components is much more interesting!
I have never seen or handled a "printed" item and am just curious as to the breakability? of it compared to the resin / plastic /metal models.
Actually was more intrigued by the terrain
Abecedar
sam585:
I think in another 5 years, 3d printed models will be of the same quality. In which case I can see a lot of interesting alternatives to GW models.
Some of the 40k stuff is really bad, but it is almost to the level.
Baggronor:
The better ones are using Z-Brush and if you can get your head around that software I think you deserve all the free models you can print :~
Suspect there will be more and more of this stuff in a few years and it’ll be the independents who suffer more than GW as a result - they rely on forum-hopping geeky older customers on the internet almost exclusively but those are the people most likely to actually buy a printer and start utilising these sites.
snowblizz:
I’ve seen some 3D printed bitz and they are absolutely on par with GW’s moulded stuff, I have no idea what machines have been used there, but it looks miles off. But of course there’s a lot of variability in material and accuracy. Was looking at a review and it seemed rendering took an awful lot of time and I have to wonder… since this computer is like a supercomputer compared to 3D rendering 15 years ago why aren’t they used? Basically going from something like 25 microns to 10 microns or whatever, meant 10 minutes became 3 hours or more. And then came the printing time? So GW is correct we aren’t there yet. 5 years and people should probably be able to do it semi-professionally. Don’t think it will ever really replace mass creating though.
cornixt:
Rendering time isn’t a big deal. It’s when “good enough quality + cheap enough” reaches the tipping point for more of their customers. GW is already losing tons of market share to smaller miniature manufacturers, and they haven’t exactly encouraged brand loyalty.
torn:
I know zealot miniatures, and warlord with a lot of the antares stuff, are designing their models in 3d software, 3d printing them and then making the molds to cast from the 3d prints. Probably cheaper and quicker and you only have to do 1 really high quality expensive print of every model.
Doombeard:
I’d guess that gw are already using Zbrush by now. If you look at their jobs applications they ask for junior design team members to not necessarily have any sculpting skills but be good at learning new software.
You can get 3d scanner things for ipads which are probably kinda crappy which is what a lot of those guys on that website are probably doing. Scanning stuff on their ipads and then using a cheap 3d printer.
It would be pretty easy to scan admirals hobgoblin heads, resize them, print them, make a mould, sell them, use the profits/money to fund the website.