Markus Busch of Germany rounds a bend

Normally, RC car drift competitions take a break this time of year. Not satisfied to sit out the winter — and wanting a return to the skill-driven competitions of the past — I and my Wreck it Sideways teammates decided to organize a three-round event series that would become the RealGood Wintercup 2018. Shapeways was kind enough to sponsor the event, and last Saturday, a group of almost 50 RC drifters from all corners of the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium made their way to Waalwijk, the Netherlands for the first round of racing.

A full house at Wintercup 2018

After seven years of competing in the Dutch RC drifting championship, I quit the series last year. I missed the “good old days” when it was more about style and precision, and less about speed. After hearing similar comments from other regular competitors in the Dutch and other series, I knew it was time for a change. I figured that if the perfect event doesn’t exist, why not try to organize it myself?

Together with my team, Wreck it Sideways, I’ve been organizing RC drifting events under the name RealGood since 2016. The aim of our RealGood events has always been to make sure people are enjoying RC drifting, improving their driving skills, and growing the hobby. With the Wintercup, we wanted to bring back the classic drift competition format to our local scene. The individual qualifying sessions will make all drivers focus on style and precision, with less attention to only speed.

One of the organizers, Bauke van Wieren, showing us how drifting is done

Despite the strict rulebook and judging, plus the clear push for improving skills, we want everyone to enjoy the event as much as possible. We welcome any level of driver, and no matter what the qualifying score, anyone can battle for the top. Next to a great competition experience, there are tons of cool prizes raffled off amongst all competitors, thanks to our generous sponsors.

Speaking of sponsors, since Shapeways sponsored the event, we could give away some awesome 3D printed prizes too, all designed by people from within our own community. This sense of supporting the community is our theme for all of the sponsors. No big-name manufacturers, just small businesses founded by RC drifters making handmade and custom-made accessories for our little cars.

Shapeways proudly sponsored the RealGood Wintercup

With the first round fully booked, we started off the day with great success already. It was clear that all the competitors were in great spirits because half an hour before the official opening time, almost everyone was already in. The circuit we chose for round 1 was the amazing Drifted Circuit in Waalwijk, Netherlands.

The top qualifier of the day was Sven Malcherczyk from Germany with an 87/100-point score. He put on a great show throughout the day, but unfortunately for him, he got knocked out early in the top 16 battles. Second-place qualifier Bauke van Wieren also got knocked out earlier than he hoped in the top 8 battles. In the end, it was the German Manuel Jumpertz and Dutch Stephen Leegwater who made it into the finals after a series of very clean battles.

Me and RealGood Wintercup Round 1 winner Manuel Jumpertz

Both Manuel and Stephen were bringing their A game all day. The final was a great battle to watch with the guys truly pushing their limits. It was nice to see that all the other drivers had also gathered around the track to watch and cheer on the remaining competitors. In the second lap of their battle, nerves seemed to get the better of Stephen and he made a mistake, handing the win to Manuel. Third place went to yet another German driver, Michael Guder.

With the first round in the bag, Manuel is now leading the Wintercup championship. For the next round, we’ll move to a different venue, Drift Arena Geldermalsen. With a much smaller and slower track, it will be a challenge for all competitors to alter the setup on their cars. Let’s see if Manuel can stay on top or if someone else will step up.

Next month we’ll dive deeper into the customization culture of RC drifting and show you some examples of 3D printed parts. In the meantime you can find all news and footage on the RealGood Facebook page. Stay tuned for more of the RealGood Wintercup 2018 presented by Shapeways!

The post When You Just Want to (RC) Drift, Part 1 appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Here are just a few of the cool projects that community members like you are launching in 2018:

Artist Claudio Settiis bringing a Viking back to life

Chris McConnell of M-Customs is building a dropped and chopped hot rod truck

Wayne Losey of ModiBot is planning new BriXleev building blocks

Katie Larocca turned a grazing animal into a keepsake box

Julian Arnold of Jewelled Seas Untold is updating the reminder string — as a beautiful ring

Patricia Castillo from CatDragStudio is building a better Frantic Krug Robot

Roxy Rahel of Morphology is finalizing her first bracelet of 2018

Conner Austin is working on an adjustable Universal iPhone Cover

Pop Goes the Monkey designed a pair of Death Team: M2a Troop Tank Doors

Death Team: M2a Troop Tank Doors

Are you still waiting to start that project you’ve been dreaming of? We’re here to help. You can explore our materials to see what’s possible, start printing now if you already have a 3D file, hire a designer to turn your idea into a 3D model, get help in our forums, or learn 3D design in our Tutorials hub and Magazine. And don’t forget to share your progress with the hashtag #Create2018 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post 9 Amazing #Create2018 Projects appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Incredible RPG Dice and Tabletop Minis Curated by Save or Dice

From the Save or Dice-curated collection, Eondesigner’s Celtic Dice

We’re huge fans of Save or Dice, a D&D-focused Twitch/YoutTube show from a dream team of D&D YouTubers that includes Nerdarchy, Taking 20, Web DM, and Encounter Roleplay. Save or Dice curated a very choice selection of dice, minis, and scenery.

Math + Art + 3D Printing =  Jewelry You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

The Pendant_Four Twisted Mobius by SECU, as featured in the I Can’t f(x) Without Jewelry collection

Not only are the jewelry designers in our community incredibly talented, uniquely cool, and resourceful — a huge number of them are also masters at math. 3D printing has made it possible, for the first time, to turn equations that previously existed only as 3D models into (astoundingly) beautiful jewelry. Discover some of our favorites in the I Can’t f(x) Without Jewelry collection.

The Amazing N-Scale World of Community Designer RailNScale

RailNscale’s delightful Weihnachtsbäume-Markt Set, as seen in his Happy Holidays Hobbying collection

The tiny N scale almost has to be seen to be believed, and a winter wonderland, a tiny village, and a glistening model railroad are pretty fundamental elements of the holidays. Bring it all to life with community member and Shop Owner RailNscale‘s curated Happy Holidays Hobbying collection.

The post An Even Better Gift Guide appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

How long have you been working with models?

About five years. I couldn’t find modern miniature furniture in 1:12 scale on the market, so then I started producing them for my own needs. The logical next step was to offer the designs I worked on in a Shapeways shop to other modern mini enthusiasts as well. That is how my Modern Dollhouse shop came about.

How did you learn to make 3D models?

Ha, that is something I still haven’t tried yet! I’ve taken classes, but I decided find help for this part. My strengths and interests lie in building these doll houses manually. So I find full-size files from sites like TurboSquid, Design Connected, and others. I then have them reduced to 1:12 scale by a designer I was connected with here on Shapeways — Vijay Paul of Dotsan. I do have a local friend that I work with sometimes, but Vijay always gets it done right and we’ve developed a great rapport over the years, so we’re usually on the same page, and his pricing works perfectly for me. Even if we’re not, we always get it sorted after a couple of emails. However, I do look forward to the day that we can talk in person.

The extraordinary Antler Chandelier by Modern Dollhouse

Which project are you the most proud of and why?

Probably the antler chandelier. There was a lot of detail in that piece, and it took quite a few talks with my designer to get this just right. But I’m really happy with how that one turned out. Another tricky one was getting the the corner pieces for the shipping containers to fit together just right. [Check out Marion’s Instagram slideshow of the incredible completed shipping container home, above. -Ed.]

Your models are incredibly lifelike. They look like they’ve been ripped out of an interior designer’s portfolio. Do you have experience in the professional architecture/interior design space?

Architecture and interior design are things that have always interested me. I’ve never done anything professionally, but I have renovated a few houses and apartments in my time. Through those experiences I developed my own style, which is pretty lean and uncluttered. But I have to admit… even I had a Laura Ashley phase at one point in my life!

All the fixtures in this bathroom can be found in Marion’s Modern Dollhouse shop

Do you feel you’ve kind of become an interior designer by proxy?

If you ask my friends they’ll tell you that they rely on my advice and the designs I do in my spare time. When working on a new design, I use Live Interior 3D Pro for both full-size and miniature houses.

Where do you find your inspiration for your models?

Together with some friends, I do architectural trips all over Europe, and they’re totally inspiring! I still have plans for some Bauhaus and Corbusier models. Honestly, the list never gets smaller. Eventually I will have a storage issue, though…

A selection of chairs, lighting, bathroom, and storage pieces by Modern Dollhouse

Take us through your process. How do you decide what to make?

Let’s say I want a specific chair for a setting: I track down a 3D file somewhere, send it to the designer, and give him the size specs. He then reduces to spec and from there, we see whether they’re fit for printing in the Shapeways material I want. Then I order a prototype to make sure that the scale is perfect. If not, we adjust and reprint until it’s just right. I then polish and paint it, take photos and then offer it for sale to others in my shop.

And after all the time you spend to get your product just right, how does it feel to finally hold that finished piece in your hand?

I am always totally excited when the parcel arrives from the Netherlands! Is the size right? Do I have to do a lot of polishing? Did nothing break?

1:12 Scale Director’s Chairs and Sidetable

How has 3D printing changed how you operate?

3D printing gives me the possibility of designing an interior exactly how I visualize it. In those rare cases that I can’t find a design, then I have to find alternatives. However, I’ve found that most companies are really helpful. For instance, I wanted a washing basket and contacted Rotho, a company that produces them in full size. In a flash, they sent me a file for a model they’re not producing any longer — just like that!

How has Shapeways helped you do business?

Running my shop has always been easy and uncomplicated. The first time Shapeways did a little feature on me really made an impact. However, most of my customers see my work via my other social media sites or my blog. Most mini builders work in Victorian or similar styles, so I like offering the things I like to use personally.

Bathroom fixtures by Modern Dollhouse

What would you say is the best thing about Shapeways community?

Exchanging ideas, suggest improvements, even voicing disappointment! I personally would love to see Shapeways somehow help us deal with shipping logistics to Australia: trying to get a couple of my files printed and sent there was prohibitively expensive.

What do you strive to bring to the scale modeling space? When do you feel you’re accomplishing that goal?

The most important thing is true scale. My quality standards are pretty high — if it is not good enough for me, I would never offer it to others. My aim is that my models look like the real thing and you only notice that it is a model house when you really analyze tiny details.

1:12 Lampshade hanging 3cm diameter by Modern Dollhouse

Finally, what does the future hold for you? What plans do you have moving forward for your model-making?

More house models! Different contemporary styles requiring different kind of interiors.

You can find Marion’s storefront here, and don’t forget to check out her website for her adventures around Europe. She’s also got a Pinterest, an Instagram, and a Facebook, all centered around making and showcasing amazing 1:12 miniatures.

All Photos courtesy of Marion Russek.

The post Is This the Next Tiny House Movement? appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

How long have you been working with models? 

Fifty-one years. I started when I was eight, and continued building until I was in my late teens. At that point, I had built over 200 models up to 1/4 scale in size. But then I just kind of quit until about two years ago. I found myself working on a 1/6 scale ’34 Ford Coupe that nobody seemed to have parts for. Through a moment of serendipity, I heard about 3D printing. Since I’ve been working with computers for over 30 years, I figured I’d try my hand at it. What started as me making parts for myself blossomed to a full-blown business when others wanted my designs too, so I started 3D Model Specialties to meet demand.

Tell us about a project you’re particularly proud of.

My biggest, and most exciting project is still the ’34 Ford coupe. I’ve actually been working on it for 20 years, but was trying to scratch build everything, which was not working out well in that large scale. I’m very proud of my collection of engines that has grown immensely in the past two years that I’ve been creating parts for the Shapeways store.

“Through a moment of serendipity, I heard about 3D printing. Since I’ve been working with computers for over 30 years, I figured I’d try my hand at it. What started as me making parts for myself blossomed to a full-blown business when others wanted my designs too…”

How did you learn to make 3D models? What software do you use?

It was quite challenging at first, but I picked it up quickly. I started in OpenSCAD, a free command-line CAD software. I’ve typed hundreds of thousands of lines of code to create parts, but I’ve started to work in Rhinoceros to make better models for my customers. That, and my fingers are sore.

My first parts were for the twin turbo engine for the ’34 Ford. I can now add about 20-30 new parts a week to my store, which can be hard to keep up with!

How does it feel to do what you do? How does it feel, after the hours you put in modeling, tweaking, and getting things just right, to finally hold that finished piece in your hand?

Modeling is a great way to express oneself, by customizing, painting and assembling unique cars, trucks, etc. Creating new, fresh and unique parts is a passion for me. It’s exciting to offer parts to the thousands of modelers out there that are tired of just buying a kit and gluing it together. They want individualism, uniqueness. Something that knocks their project out of the park.

I try to offer parts that have never been offered, as most kits today are the same ones I remember from 30 years ago in new boxes — sometimes not even that! There are very few, if any, updated engines, intakes, chassis, and wheels available, so I try hard to offer as many as I can. And I’d say I’ve succeeded. 3D Model Specialties now has over 1,050 parts in the store across 10 scales.

“It’s exciting to offer parts to the thousands of modelers out there that are tired of just buying a kit and gluing it together. They want individualism, uniqueness.”

What has 3D printing added to your appreciation of model cars?

3D printing is a scale modeling paradigm shift. Nowadays, as long as it fits in your printer, you can make it. I use full-scale car parts catalogs as guides to create new parts. With 3D printing, if it looks cool, I can make it. And there’s a ton of cool parts out there.

“With 3D printing, if it looks cool, I can make it.”

How did you buy or make model cars before you discovered Shapeways?

Like everyone else: kits, aftermarket, scratch building, and resin parts.  In my teens, I ended up basically building everything from scratch, as normal kits weren’t cutting it for me even then. It took 40 years and the advent of 3D printing to get me back into it.

How has Shapeways changed the way you do business?

When I started out, I only offered 1/8 scale and up, which was the limit for my home printers. It’s also more fun for me because I can get into much more detail over smaller scale builds. 

But with Shapeways, I can offer all of my parts down to 1/25  scale and some I can do as tiny as 1/32, which most home printers can’t even touch right now. I love starting from scratch and making super-detailed parts, knowing that thanks to the power of Shapeways, they’re available to everyone.

Give us some of your favorite memories interacting with the Shapeways community.

A lot of my customers have connected with me on social media. We talk almost every day on and off the site. Many of them have become very good friends, and it’s always great when I get a message from a customer telling me how much they loved one of my parts.

On a more personal note, I’ve worked with a lot of clients to produce custom parts for cars that have special significance to them — the car they drove to high school, or in one case, the car this particular customer’s father owned before they died. Making custom parts to get it just right means a lot to them, and I’m proud to help them out.

“I love starting from scratch and making super-detailed parts, knowing that thanks to the power of Shapeways, they’re available to everyone.”

What do you have coming up, and what plans do you have moving forward for your model-making?

For me, it’s just business as usual. I want to continue to offer different model bodies that most other stores don’t have. Another space I want to get into soon is motorcycles and top fuel boats. But of course, I’m always looking for insane engines and chassis parts to design and print.

(We usually don’t post this, but Ron’s answer was too good to not share. We can only imagine he typed this with a very self-satisfied (but well-deserved!) smirk.)

Can you tell us about another modeler with a storefront that should be featured?

I don’t know of any of the current modelers that have a storefront. They’re all coming to me for their parts.

You can find Ron’s store right here, where he offers over 1,000 model parts ranging from 1/6 scale all the way down to 1/32 scale. 

The post Ron Olsen, The Man of 1000 Models (and counting) appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Mass MoCA museum director Thomas Krens and architect Frank Gehry examine a preliminary model of the proposed museum (image via Extreme Railroading)

“Frank Gehry to Design Museum for Architectural Gems (and Model Trains),” the New York Times headline read — as if the trains were secondary. In reality, model trains take top billing in a 75,000 square foot space that will span multiple blocks, and reproduce diverse regions and their railroads. Each set of trains and scenery will be recreated at the same monumental scale, with structures like the Empire State Building reaching up to 12 meters (40 feet) tall.

Krens and Gehry scope out a teaser model of the Empire State Building (image via Extreme Railroading)

The project is the brainchild of Mass MoCA museum director Thomas Krens, who has also worked with Gehry on four other museums including the celebrated Guggenheim Bilbao. By creating an ode to both great architectural works and the feats of railroad engineering that helped to build them, Krens and Gehry are giving model trains their due — while ensuring that architecture buffs are just as satisfied as railroad enthusiasts.

The question remains: how many of these new structures, trains, and scenery will be 3D printed at Shapeways? A newsletter from the project cited Shapeways as a possible source of digitally fabricated components. Time will tell — and either way, we’ll be the first in line when the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum opens.

The architectural models on view at the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum will dwarf the scenery in even the most impressive traditional model railroad towns and villages, like this one. (image via Extreme Railroading)

The post Frank Gehry Architects a Model Train Museum appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

We caught up with Eduardo to talk about his passion, how he makes it happen, and how Shapeways — and 3D printing in general — are taking his passion to the next level. 

How long have you been working with scale model cars?
I’ve been working with model cars since 2010. I’ve come a long way since then.

How did you buy or make scale model cars before you discovered Shapeways? Do you find that it works with your hobby?
I would purchase all my model kits from local hobby stores or buy them from around the world via eBay and have them imported to the United States. Shapeways is fantastic when it comes to 1/24 scale models, with so many cool models, accessories, and doodads! They’ve got super fast shipping to boot!

Do you have experience with making your own 3D models? 
I haven’t quite learned that yet, but I’m planning on tinkering with some 3D modeling software pretty soon.

What has 3D printing added to your appreciation of model cars?
3D printing brings out all the little details. I use styrene to custom make a lot of my model components, and sometimes very intricate things are hard to craft just right. That’s when I really appreciate 3D printing.

How long does it take to paint one of your models? 
Painting is what takes a model car from hobby to real life. It’s what catches people’s eyes. As such, patience is key. If you rush a paint job, the chances of finishing that model is slim to none. And if it does get finished, it’s still going to be a sub-par piece. It’s always important when building a model to make sure your paint job is as good as you can make it. 

Tell us about a project you’re particularly proud of.
That would definitely be my 1/25 scale Revell 1998 Honda Civic Hatchback. The model kit is really rare and I didn’t want to damage the body or paint, so I’ve really been taking my time with it. But it’s a kit I really went all-out in customizing: I swapped the original B16 motor that came with the kit to a K20 motor with a 3D-printed intake manifold, exhaust manifold, and Recaro racing seats. 

What does the future hold for you? Where are you going from here?
Well, I’ve got a friend who’s also into 3D printing, and I’m planning on teaming up with him to produce some 3D printed products as well. I’m not sure what the future holds, but of course, my dream would be to start a business selling 1/24-scale products.

You can find more from Eduardo on his Instagram, Facebook, Google+, and YouTube pages.

The post The Sweet Rides of Eduardo Ortiz, 1/24 Scale Model Car Instagram Star appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Create a Character and Add Heraldry

One way to easily create a custom tabletop figure is with Hero Forge, an in-browser, character designing app. From Hero Forge you can order 3D prints directly from Shapeways, or pay to download a 3D file of your model. If you have the file, then you can modify and add to it!

To further customize this character’s shield, you could draw a heraldry design or look through a Google Image search to find one (simple black and white drawings will work best):

Once you have a model file and an image, follow the step-by-step process in the Shapeways tutorial video Add Custom Heraldry to Your Miniature. This video will walk you through the process using Meshmixer to create a stampable relief embossing based on your heraldry image.

When you’re done creating your design, you can send it to be 3D printed, and then paint it as desired. Or you can paint the digital model itself, if you like; see our previous Tutorial Tuesday article, Painting Multicolor Models in Meshmixer.

print your model here

Tabletop Models at Shapeways

To see what other designers are making, or to purchase pre-made models, check out the Shapeways Tabletop gaming marketplace, where you can buy character models, custom dice, and more:

There are lots of unique pre-made character models to choose from in the tabletop marketplace, for example this Dragonborn Paladin from Mistwalker Foundry:

You can also order 3D printed custom heraldry and accessories from the Tabletop & Wargaming marketplace, or browse through the designs for inspiration:

You can even wear your gaming style on your sleeve with these fine Heraldic Cufflinks designed by Shapeways user Jose Arce:

If you’ve been using Shapeways to print custom heraldry and tabletop gaming models, let us know! We’d love to feature your work in a future post.

take your design into 3D

The post Tutorial Tuesday 35: Add Custom Heraldry to Tabletop Minis With Meshmixer appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The Shapeways team and community representing 3D printing in the vendor hall!

Shane Blomberg of Gadgets + took home a Silver Medal in the Capital Palette Competition. We’re so proud:

Shane is an outstanding artist and his talent goes beyond just painting. All of his massive miniatures endeavors include 3D printing. Thankfully, he shares many of them with the community via his Shapeways shop.

Customized Custodian Knight by Gadgets +

Customized Space Wolves Knight by Gadgets +

Jeffrey Bain of Alien Luxury Miniatures designed this Con-themed ship that was given out in all the special swag bags for the VIPs. Take a look at the incredible paint job by Madeline Cockwell of Lightcraft Miniature Studios!

Madeline also took home a Silver Medal in the painting competition for her gloriously detailed Sabine:

Matt Dipietro of Contrast Miniature‘s work also really caught our eye. His miniature busts look perfectly lifelike!

Lastly, when I spotted this Rancor fighting some frogs, I was immediately thrilled. Not only because I love frogs, but also because they’re the cute little minis from Pond Wars by Eureka Miniatures.

What was your favorite part of NOVA?

The post Who Was Best in Show at NOVA Open? appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

“My friends think it’s really cool I’ve got my own custom army,” says James Tasker, who runs the Terror Form Miniatures Shapeways shop and makes many of his fantasy figures in High Definition Acrylate.

High definition acrylate is printed one 50-micron layer at a time. Once a model comes out of the 3D printer, Shapeways technicians wash it in an alcohol bath, remove support materials by hand (unless you prefer to remove them yourself), and cure it under ultraviolet light.

“My goblin warrior was the first miniature I printed in BHDA,” Tasker says.

“I was really amazed by the smooth finish and how paintable the material was. I’d tried Frosted Detail, which has amazing resolution, but it had always been a bit tricky to paint. Even though I’d seen some pictures and read up on BHDA, I was still really impressed at how close it comes to typical injection-molded plastic models.“

Tasker urges anyone interested in working with BHDA to pay close attention to the material guidelines. He took a conservative design approach at first, then got more ambitious with his cleric’s ball and chain and his scaly snake-monster).

Painting can start off simply too, says Tasker. “The goblin warrior is pretty much just a few basic colors applied with a run-of-the-mill paintbrush with some inks to add shading,” he says, adding that YouTube is full of great tutorials for painting miniatures. “After the goblin warrior I started playing around with an airbrush, which can add a serious amount of character and shading in seconds.”

What have you made in Black High Definition Acrylate? Share your projects in the comments below for a chance to be featured on Shapeways Magazine.

The post Materials Explainer: Black High Definition Acrylate (BHDA) appeared first on Shapeways Blog.