A Whole Lot of Printing Going On!

-

August has traditionally been the peak holiday month in the UK. With schools breaking up in late July and not returning until early September, much of the country takes the opportunity to head off in search of a change of scenery and a well-earned break. Unsurprisingly, that annual migration tends to result in a noticeable lull in gaming activity, with fewer opportunities to get regular games to the table.

The quieter gaming calendar does, however, create time for other hobby pursuits. The seemingly endless run of heatwaves we've experienced this summer hasn't exactly been ideal for painting miniatures. While the hot, dry weather has been perfect for undercoating and varnishing, sitting down for extended painting sessions has been far less enjoyable. Instead, I've found myself investing more time in my newest hobby: 3D printing.

It feels as though I've owned my 3D printer for much longer than I actually have, but in reality it's only been a couple of months. My Bambu Lab A1 Mini has certainly lived up to its reputation for being beginner-friendly, but I've quickly discovered that successful 3D printing involves far more than simply pressing 'Print'. Learning how to fine-tune settings, optimise print profiles, and adjust support structures for different models has opened up an entirely new side of the hobby, one that's every bit as rewarding as it is occasionally frustrating.

Thankfully, my early printing efforts have found a very appreciative audience amongst my fellow gamers. After all, it's hard to turn down free terrain pieces, even when they're carrying the odd minor imperfection or tell-tale printing artefact. Those early prints have helped me experiment and learn, while also steadily expanding the scenery collections of certain people!

With fewer gaming sessions competing for my attention, I've spent a good deal of time exploring Bambu MakerWorld, the ever-growing repository of free community-created models. In particular, I've become a fan of the work produced by Soruze, who has designed a vast range of terrain pieces with Necromunda clearly in mind. By selecting the more generic industrial pieces and avoiding the more overtly gothic elements and skull-adorned designs, I've been able to build up an impressive collection of versatile sci-fi scatter terrain suitable for a wide range of settings.


Alongside these industrial pieces, I've also printed several models inspired by a certain galaxy far, far away. While their origins are fairly obvious to genre fans, the designs are generic enough to work comfortably in almost any science fiction or cyberpunk game. The result is a growing collection of terrain that can seamlessly move between systems, whether it's representing the underhive of a hive city, a remote frontier colony, or the neon-lit streets of a dystopian megacity.


It's been a different kind of hobby month than usual, with less dice rolling and more experimentation, but it's been immensely satisfying. Not only have I learned a great deal about 3D printing, but I've also managed to significantly expand my terrain collection, ensuring that when everyone returns from their summer holidays, there will be plenty of new scenery on the table to explore.




Location: Southampton, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beast in the Woods

-
Image
The deputy shifted his weight as the black government sedan rolled to a stop at the edge of the dirt road, headlights cutting through the mist around the old Montgomery Estate. A tall, sharply dressed man stepped out first. A woman followed - red hair, structured bob, oversized 90s suit. They approached with steady confidence. “Agent Davids, FBI,” the man said, flashing a badge.   “Agent Gillian,” the woman added. The deputy nodded. “Something’s not right out here. Lights, chanting… a smell I can’t explain.” “Occult signs?” Gillian murmured.   “Possibly,” Davids replied. “Show us.” They headed into the silent woods - too silent - until a grinding, wheezing noise froze them in place. They reached a clearing. A blue police box stood there. Beside it: a man in a tweed jacket and bow tie, and a woman with wild blonde curls in a white leather jacket and boots. “I definitely packed a fez,” the man muttered.   “You always say that,” the woman replied. “Hands where...
Read more

The Slow Train from the Far East

-
Image
The wind howls through the dust-choked streets of Lester’s Gulch , rattling loose shutters and rolling tumbleweed past abandoned storefronts. Then, with a wheezing groan, a blue police box materialises in the centre of town. The door swings open. “Wicked!” cries Ace , leaning out into the blazing sun. “Looks like we’re in the Wild West, Professor!” Behind her, the  Seventh Doctor adjusted his hat and peered over her shoulder. “American Wild West, late nineteenth century by the look of it… though something’s not quite right.” Ace grins. “What is it?” The Doctor’s eyes narrow. “What do you notice?” She scans the street again. Her smile fades. “It’s quiet… No gunfire. No horses. No livestock. Not even a piano from the saloon.” “Exactly,” the Doctor replies softly. “Come along, Ace. Let’s take a look around.” Windows are boarded. Doors are barred. The saloon stands silent. Lester’s Gulch is not a town at peace - it’s a town holding its breath. At last, movement. A knot of grim-...
Read more

First game of 'Exploit Zero - Mission Critical'

-
Image
Expolit Zero - Mission Critical by Patrick Todoroff is a set of miniature wargaming rules designed for small-scale, fast-paced sci-fi skirmishes.  Designed for two players, the game is intended for use with various sci-fi settings between elite three-person teams - known as Direct Action Units (DAUs). Each player commands a DAU comprising a Ronin (ranged specialist), a Razor (melee expert), and a Specialist (medic/hacker). Players engage in missions with hidden objectives, meaning each team may pursue different goals within the same environment. The game employs a streamlined action system where each operative has access to three dice - a D6, D8, and D10 - allocated to perform actions such as movement, attacks, or hacking attempts. Successes are typically achieved on rolls of 4 or higher. Also, a free movement action is allowed as well and this can be substituted for other actions. The game incorporates stealth deployment, allowing units to remain concealed until specific act...
Read more