SHAPEWAYS Units

Imperious Leader

Is the plastic strong like AA pieces or fragile and prone to breaking?

Tall Paul

IL and others,

@Imperious:

Is the plastic strong like AA pieces or fragile and prone to breaking?

––It’s stiff and sturdy with no problems. The only thing I can say is that I always order my units to be made with the most detailed, and hence exspensive, plastic option available. I’ve seen pics on the web of some Shapeways units that had a very coarse surface. I’m certain they were less exspensive, but I didn’t like the way they looked at all. Nevertheless I believe that since these units are basically carved out of a hunk of plastic by computer control, they have to be durable.

“Tall Paul”

sgtwiltan

They are not carved like CNC pieces but rather soldered layer by layer. They use a plastic powder that gets lasered almost like a layer cake similar to the way toner is heated and bonded to paper in a printer. It’s called 3d printing because the “ink” is the plastic layer and a laser melts it to the previous layer to build up as a 3 dimensional “print” rather than just the 2 dimensions that we see on paper.

jluna1273

Damn, that is just amazing that we can now design pretty much any type of unit for this game now. I might need to check these out. Any pics of painted pieces to post yet?

Tall Paul

Guys,

@sgtwiltan:

They are not carved like CNC pieces but rather soldered layer by layer. They use a plastic powder that gets lasered almost like a layer cake similar to the way toner is heated and bonded to paper in a printer. It’s called 3d printing because the “ink” is the plastic layer and a laser melts it to the previous layer to build up as a 3 dimensional “print” rather than just the 2 dimensions that we see on paper.

––Thanks for the detailed explanation, Wil. I knew I wasn’t representing the ‘process’ correctly, but I thought I answered his Q. That’s really COOL! I’m always interested in learning from other people, especially here on A&A.Org

“Tall Paul”

Tall Paul

jluna,

@jluna1273:

Damn, that is just amazing that we can now design pretty much any type of unit for this game now. I might need to check these out. Any pics of painted pieces to post yet?

––My only suggestion to you is that whatever you order make sure you specify them using the most detailed plastic available. I’m TOTALLY HAPPY with my outcome and honestly I’m blown away at the level of detail! And I’m a somewhat “picky” individual.
----So far I’ve received the American B-29, B-10, A-20, P-26, the British Beaufighter, and the Japanese J1N1 ‘Gekko’ which I will use as a NEW TYPE,….Long-Range Fighter.
----All of this started after I bought some of the HBG Minor Factories which I’m totally happy with!
Let me know how your experience turns out. I’d almost guarantee you’ll be happy!

“Tall Paul”

jwo1984

how is the scale of the b29’s? are they similar to the OOB b17’s? HBG has those Rita bombers in there Japanese expansion set which have some nice detail for painting, and a great size for a bomber in my opinion. Have you found any detailed ships from shapeways in the right scale for AA? I have looked but haven’t had much luck

toblerone77

@jwo1984:

how is the scale of the b29’s? are they similar to the OOB b17’s?Â HBG has those Rita bombers in there Japanese expansion set which have some nice detail for painting, and a great size for a bomber in my opinion.Â Have you found any detailed ships from shapeways in the right scale for AA?Â I have looked but haven’t had much luck

Coach sells these in AA compatible size on shapeways. just got to their site and type in Coachofmany in the search box. You can see everything he has there.

Tall Paul

jwo1984 and others,

@jwo1984:

how is the scale of the b29’s? are they similar to the OOB b17’s? HBG has those Rita bombers in there Japanese expansion set which have some nice detail for painting, and a great size for a bomber in my opinion. Have you found any detailed ships from shapeways in the right scale for AA? I have looked but haven’t had much luck

––The B-29 Superfortress were actually designed by HBG’s “Coachofmany” and so I know them to be exactly the correct proportion. I’ll include a ‘link’ to the four pages of units that he has already designed below:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/historicalboardgaming
––The first items I ordered from Shapeways were the Minor Factories that the “Coach” designed. They were AWESOME and the perfect size for use as Minor Factories. For major factories I’m using painted versions of the OOB Factories from previous versions of A&A.
––As far as getting all of the different units in their correct proportions just scroll up in this thread. You could also check out my current thread concerning “Correct Proportions of all the diferent A&A units”. Included in here is a ‘link’ to a previous thread with some really good info.

“Tall Paul”

Tall Paul

jwo1984 & others,

––BTW, as far as some ships, I just orderred some APD Attack Transports. I’ll let you know once they come in how they look and if I orderred then in the correct size.

“Tall Paul”

toblerone77

Another thing I’d like to add about Shapeways in general, is that you will have to paint the units anyway you look at it. So You don’t necessarily have to do a full on paint job but you will still need to paint the units for gameplay unless you use the white plastic and want white units.

Tall Paul

Guys,

––Here’s a pic of the HBG Minor Factories as produced by Shapeways. Since they’re now painted you can actually SEE them, now. I didn’t post a pc of them before as they were transluent before painting and “semi-invisable”. Enjoy.

––A “group shot” of all,…and a close-up of the American’s.

Tall Paul

Factory, Minor All.jpg
Factory, Minor USA.jpg

CWO Marc

A very nice family portrait!

John Brown

@Tall:

Guys,

––Here’s a pic of the HBG Minor Factories as produced by Shapeways. Since they’re now painted you can actually SEE them, now. I didn’t post a pc of them before as they were transluent before painting and “semi-invisable”. Enjoy.

––A “group shot” of all,…and a close-up of the American’s.

Tall Paul

Wow, those turned out great!

Tall Paul

Reference List of SHAPEWAYS units allready purchased:

FACILITIES
Minor Factory
Naval Shipyard
Naval Base
Air Base
Sea Mines

AIRCRAFT
DFS-30 (Glider) German
ME-321 (Glider) German
AL-12P (Glider) Italian
KU-8 (Glider) Japan
AS.51 “Horsa” (Glider) Britain
CG-4A “Waco” (Glider) US
A-7 (Glider) Russian

C-47 “Skytrain” (Air Transport)

P-26 “Pea Shooter” (Fighter-early)
P-36 “Hawk” (Fighter-early)

P-51D “Mustang” (Fighter, Late-War)

A-5N “Claude” (Naval Fighter-early)
F-2A “Buffalo” (Naval Fighter-early)

J1-N1 “Gecko” (Long-Range Fighter)
Bristol “Beaufighter” (Long-Range Fighter)
P-38 “Lightning” (Long-Range Fighter)

SBD-5 “Dauntless” (Naval Dive Bomber)

TBD “Devastator” (Naval Torpedo Bomber-early)

G3M “Nell” (Medium Bomber-early)
B-10 “Martin” (Medium Bomber-early)
B-18A “Bolo” (Medium Bomber-early)
A-20 “Havoc” (Medium Bomber)

G-5N “Liz” (Bomber, Heavy)
B-17C “Flying Fortress”-early (Heavy Bomber)
B-29 “Super Fortress” (Long-Range Heavy Bomber)

SEAPLANES
J2F (Utility Seaplane)
Consolidated PBY-5 “Catalina” (2-Engine Seaplane)
Martin PBM “Mariner” (2-Engine Seaplane)
Consolidated PB2Y (4-Engine Seaplane Transport)
Boeing 314 “China Clipper” (4-Engine Seaplane Transport)

SHIPS
APD “Fast Transport”

Tall Paul

Tall Paul

@Tall:

Reference List of SHAPEWAYS units allready purchased:

FACILITIES
Minor Factory
Naval Shipyard
Naval Base
Air Base
Sea Mines

AIRCRAFT
DFS-30 (Glider) German
ME-321 (Glider) German
AL-12P (Glider) Italian
KU-8 (Glider) Japan
AS.51 “Horsa” (Glider) Britain
CG-4A “Waco” (Glider) US
A-7 (Glider) Russian

C-47 “Skytrain” (Air Transport)

P-26 “Pea Shooter” (Fighter-early)
P-36 “Hawk” (Fighter-early)

P-51D “Mustang” (Fighter, Late-War)

A-5N “Claude” (Naval Fighter-early)
F-2A “Buffalo” (Naval Fighter-early)

J1-N1 “Gecko” (Long-Range Fighter)
Bristol “Beaufighter” (Long-Range Fighter)
P-38 “Lightning” (Long-Range Fighter)

SBD-5 “Dauntless” (Naval Dive Bomber)

TBD “Devastator” (Naval Torpedo Bomber-early)

G3M “Nell” (Medium Bomber-early)
B-10 “Martin” (Medium Bomber-early)
B-18A “Bolo” (Medium Bomber-early)
A-20 “Havoc” (Medium Bomber)

G-5N “Liz” (Bomber, Heavy)
B-17C “Flying Fortress”-early (Heavy Bomber)
B-29 “Super Fortress” (Long-Range Heavy Bomber)

SEAPLANES
J2F (Utility Seaplane)
Consolidated PBY-5 “Catalina” (2-Engine Seaplane)
Martin PBM “Mariner” (2-Engine Seaplane)
Consolidated PB2Y (4-Engine Seaplane Transport)
Boeing 314 “China Clipper” (4-Engine Seaplane Transport)

SHIPS
APD “Fast Transport”

Tall Paul

jwo1984 & others,
––Look above at response #31 for the list SHAPEWAYS units I have purchased.

Young Grasshopper

Do you have more pics Tall Paul?

John Brown

Guys, I spent a ton of money on Ebards pieces in the frosted ultra detail, and I took pictures of the straight airfield, another picture of the straight airfield, but moved the control tower to the end, so that bombers and tac bombers could fit on their easier.

If you look at Tall Paul’s painted pieces, he did this originally, and I see why he did it, because where it is currently at, it is not in a great place, but be very careful when cutting and holding these pieces, because if you hold them wrong, like I did, it can break, but super glue works just fine.

I also took pictures of the smaller naval base, the larger naval base, and the other piece is HBG’s new 3D printed German H-44 Super battleship on Ebards shipyard.

I hope this helps you guys, who have been asking questions about these pieces.

Unfortunately, I haven’t got mine painted, yet, but this gives you an idea of what they look like. :-D

John

cyanight

Very nice John. That Battleship is huge!

John Brown

@cyanight:

Very nice John.Â That Battleship is huge!

Yes, it is one of my favorites from HBG.

You need to see the UK Habakukk Long Carrier. I will take a picture of it beside some OOB pieces, so you can see just how big it is.

In the 1939 game, it can hold transport planes and strategic bombers. It can hold up to 5 planes of any kind, but you can only build in the Hudson Bay of Canada. :-D

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