Martin and Kenneth create radio-controlled cars as VRCP. The star of their fleet is the Wild Willy, a replica of the legendary Willys Jeep, the original Jeep that was produced during WWII. Historically, the Willys Jeep was four-wheel-drive. But an out-of-the-box RC model by Tamiya was only two-wheel-drive. And not useful to these off-road trekkers.

The original World War II Willys Jeep

Martin made his first foray into 3D design in 2012, when he began developing custom maps for flight simulators. He then designed and printed a gift for a friend through Shapeways. Now, to get the performance he needed from his favorite ride, he would turn again to 3D printing.

“The Wild Willy is one of the most fun cars ever. Your face is too small for the smile you get when driving one of them.” – Martin

No one had ever tried to build something like it before, but Martin and Kenneth were determined to replicate the historic Willys Jeep. The new machine would be a Frankenstein’s monster of sorts, borrowing pieces from the Losi Mini Rock Crawler, the Tamiya original, and Martin’s Shapeways prints.

After three prototypes, the new parts were ready. The pair were so impressed with the 3D printed components, it forever changed the way they work. Martin started designing everything from vents to doorhandles to grilles, expanding from one to many makes and models. And he took his hobby pro, opening a popular Shapeways shop. His lightweight, durable 3D printed parts also give Kenneth and Martin a competitive advantage, of course, when they showcase their work as VRCP.

prototype your design

Martin developed this custom grille for the Wild Willy, here shown ready to race into battle

He also created a custom shovel-and-axe set

By focusing on creating parts that aren’t available in other stores, Martin is building a following. He’s also helping to pioneer a whole new approach to the world, one that doesn’t accept what’s available from mass manufacturers and instead says, “I can do that.”

create something new

The post They couldn’t buy it. So they created it. appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The Polycount contest categories are:

• Sculpture
• Jewelry
• Toys
• Gadgets
• Props and cosplay

Submission Guidelines:

4 steps to follow:

1. Design a Dota® 2-themed model to be printed.
   Using your favorite 3D modeling software, design a character, product or hardware based on Dota® 2. Check out these for inspiration.
2. Upload your design to Shapeways and make sure that it’s ready to print.
   Sign up for a Shapeways account, open up a free Shapeways shop (if you don’t already have one). Here’s a tutorial that will walk you through the process.
3. Describe and tag your design to enter the Valve License agreement
   In your model’s ‘Description’ field, tell us about your Valve product. Enter the tags ‘dota 2’ and ‘polycount’ then read and accept the licensing agreement. 
4. Share a WIP (work-in-progress) thread in the contest category forum you’re entering in. A WIP thread must be made and maintained in the contest sub-forum for your discipline to show progress and avoid pre-made designs being used, including a link to the final product on Shapeways.

A note from the Shapeways team: While it is not required as part of your entry and will not impact your chances of winning, once you’ve entered let us know by sharing your entry on Twitter or Instagram with @Shapeways. We’re excited about seeing your entries and want to help spread the word as you finish them!

Head over to Polycount now to get started.

ENTER NOW

Sniper from DOTA 2 by designer Bilal Khan of Miniature Den

General rules:

The contest starts once announced on Monday, February 19th, 2018.

The contest ends on April 29th, 2018 at 11:59 PM PST.

All winners will be announced within two weeks of the contest end.

Shapeways is the sole judge of the contest and their judgment will be final.

Winners will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• Printability – Getting a good 3D print takes a more than just sculpting up a great design. Study the guides Shapeways offers to give you the extra details you’ll need to know when setting up your entries.
• Creativity – The potential for designs and objects is endless. Surprise us all with a great idea and you may find yourself a winner.
• Artistic merit – A great idea and printability are important but how well your design is executed and presented will be judged as well.

To be eligible to win:

1:  All participants must be registered to both Polycount and Shapeways websites before the end of the contest.

2:  A WIP (work-in-progress) thread must be made and maintained in the contest category sub-forum on Polycount for your project, with the final version linked to your Shapeways shop:

• Sculpture
• Jewelry
• Toys
• Gadgets
• Props and cosplay

3:  You’ll be asked to opt into the Valve license agreement as these designs can be sold to the public from your Shapeways store.  Shapeways is an official partner with Valve and have set up a page that will probably answer a lot of your initial questions; all the nitty-gritty details of how the license works are there.

Please note: Current partners, contractors, and employees of Shapeways are not eligible for participation in this contest. For the official contest rules, please follow this link.

Prizes:

There will be a winner and runner-up in each contest category.

The winners will get a Wacom Intuos 3D (which includes the fabulous ZBrushCore for free), $250 in 3D printing credit to Shapeways, and an awesome trophy.

Runners-up will receive $50 in 3D printing credit to Shapeways.

Resources:

How to make your 3D model 3D printable

FAQ for Model uploads

How to open a shop and place your model for sale

YOUR PRIZES AWAIT

Tinker from Dota® 2 by Mostly Jewelry

The post Announcing the Shapeways Dota® 2 3D Printing Contest on Polycount! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Last week we were at the Las Vegas Open, a premiere tournament for the most popular tabletop wargames. We called on community members to stop by and show us their coolest custom minis, and you did not disappoint!

Here are a few of the best 3D printed bits we saw at LVO:

Our Contest winner was this incredible steampunk tank painted by Quentin Ponath. Vehicle insignia by Pop Goes the Monkey.

Some scary/amazing Knight Titans by Christopher Price, with Gadgets + bits.

Space Marines with custom insignia, painted by Michael Linke, with 3D printed bits by Pop Goes the Monkey.

A spectacular recreation of the Dota® 2 battlefield, printed by our partners Whiteclouds in full color sandstone as part of the Valve + Shapeways licensing partnership.

The Shapeways Crew!

Inspired? Create your own

The post These Were the Coolest Custom Minis at the Las Vegas Open appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

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.

These first-person puzzle games took an innovative concept and meshed them brilliantly with a tight, well-written story that was equal parts disturbing and hilarious. While the first Portal® would have been a simply fresh idea at the time, the sardonic tone the game is known for is mainly the result of the game’s antagonist, the AI GLaDOS. This artificial intelligence with a complete disregard for human life but ultimate regard for science and sick burns made her — and the game — an instant classic. It’s such a fixture in the gaming sphere that fans of it in our creator community have wasted no time in bringing the most memorable characters and symbols from the game into the third dimension. Check out some of the most interesting, clever, and fan-art-tastic Portal® merch Shapeways designers have to offer.

Approved Aperture Science Decorative Apparel

Portal Companion Cube Cufflinks by Sandman Artistry

The Weighted Companion Cube will never try to stab you…

If GLaDOS was the embodiment of all that is evil in the Portal® universe, then the Weighted Companion Cube was the singular ray of hope. The one shining example that things might be alright for Chell, the game’s protagonist. Then GLaDOS made you incinerate it.

Regardless, this little cube is unanimously one of the most ubiquitous Portal® creations seen here on Shapeways, and it just makes sense that we’d start off the best Companion Cube wearables we could find, like these cuff links from Sandman Artistry. They’re available in a variety of different precious metal platings, the above picture showing off their looks in 14 karat gold. Whichever one you’d pick, you’re getting an incredible amount of detail that will give you that hint of gamer bling for the next time you want to get all fancy.

design for valve

Weighted Companion Cube Pendant by NiqueGeek

…Also, it cannot speak.

Sure, having a great pair of cuff links to celebrate the love between human and weighted cube is nice, but cuff links aren’t a solution for those who want to profess their love for the cube every day. For those people, NiqueGeek has given them this beautiful pendant. Like Sandman, Nique has made this piece available in several different metal finishes, but the stainless steel pictured here really gives it the most character, looking like it does at the end of Portal® 2. However, this version is condensed into a much more manageable size that you can carry around your neck every day. And you will definitely feel its weight — it comes in several solid metal finishes, giving it heft just like the companion it’s representing. Truly a celebration of love.

Aperture Science Laboratories Pendant by Andrew Bougie

Does not qualify as an official badge.

The Aperture Science logo. Simple. Perfect. Bringing it into jewelry just makes sense, and this piece by Andrew Bougie shows just how beautiful that simplicity can be. Available in a wide variety of materials, this piece is better suited to reminiscing about your fond times with the game than it is showing your pride in a company like Aperture Science. You know, the company that created lemon grenades? That consistently demonstrates the dangers of technology? You can’t trust them any further than you can throw them (without a gravity gun, of course).

Seriously, the center of their symbol is an octagon — just like a stop sign. Maybe take the hint and don’t sign up for an extended stay at the Enrichment Center, no matter how much cake you are promised.

GLaDOS Earring by Prexus

Making a Note Here: Huge Success

After all the hell she put you through, GLaDOS still does remain one of the best-written, most intelligent, and funny villains of any video game, ever. She’s the guiding, mocking force that consistently reminds you how replaceable you are, even while she tries to bolster your courage (giving you advice and trying to kill you aren’t mutually exclusive, you know).

This earring, brought to us by Prexus, is a perfect replica of the hanged lady herself, brought to life by the wonders of 3D printing. We’re not sure what she’d have to say about it, but we’d like to think that she wouldn’t immediately incinerate it.

inspired? try it yourself

Approved Recreational Materials

Companion Cube Dice Set by Tiny Tokens

They are sentient, of course. We just have a lot of them.

Dice are a prerequisite for any fan of tabletop gaming. And Tiny Tokens makes a set of dice for those DnDers who are also Portal® fans! Seven dice, each made to look like a companion cube. How perfect is that? They all look like they would fit in at Aperture as well, but unfortunately, the only shape that makes any kind of practical sense is, of course, the cube. Can you imagine trying to stack icosahedrons on top of one another?

Anyway, these dice are available in a range of materials from the metallic plastic pictured here to a wide range of colored steels. And in case you were curious like we were, the heart represents the highest number on all of the dice except for the d4.

Portal Gun by mingles 3D:

Do not look directly at the operational end of The Device.

Making 3D printed custom LEGO-compatible toys is a thriving business for creators on Shapeways. As such, people like Michael Inglis have decided to make some truly awesome custom pieces with it. Case in point: this LEGO-sized Portal® gun. Playing with LEGO minifigures always made you feel like you were some kind of overlord, be you good or evil. And now you can send your own version of Chell into the twisted hallways of Aperture Science. But this time it’s with LEGOs and your imagination. It’d probably be a good idea to skip that whole incinerator thing, though. Plastic and uncontrolled blazing fire don’t necessarily mix well.

The detail on this piece is wonderful, even though it’s so small. It’s as exact of a replica as you can get at this scale, and giving it a paint job worthy of the piece itself really makes it pop.

Portal ID Card Holder by MyGadgetLife

Aperture Science: We do what we must because we can.

And finally, for those who need a security lanyard to profess their love for their favorite soulless scientific corporation, MyGadgetLife has you covered. This little snap-in card holder fits a credit-card-sized badge perfectly, with the Portal® logo on the back. It’s a perfect combination of modern-era security systems and nerdy accoutrements. Also, props to MyGadgetLife for mocking up the best fake photo ID as possible to fit in on this piece. It almost looks official, until you realize that GLaDOS would rather dip her circuits in acid than give Chell any kind of recognition that she’s a member of Aperture Science, even if she’s a glorified lab monkey.

Science to Be Done

The future looks great for the Shapeways + Valve partnership. The well of innovations and ideas from the Shapeways creator community never runs dry, just like their love for their favorite games. However, there’s one thing we can’t help but notice didn’t make our list — your model!

This partnership is still a new thing to us in general. So if you’ve created something based on a Valve property, share it in the comments! It just might make it into an article like this one. Until then, happy creating!

start making

The post The 7 Coolest Portal® Creations on Shapeways — For SCIENCE! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The winning ring

When I caught up with him, he talked to me at length about winning the contest, his passion for design, the nature of the universe and its infinite possibilities…

You know, normal interview stuff.

It’s important to know that if you love 3D modeling and sculpture the way James Kincaid loves it, that means you’re completely enthralled with its possibilities, like a child getting his first Lego set and being told “go for it.” He’s been an artist for over fifty years, but it was only when he was in his forties that he discovered ZBrush. That revealed a passion and a drive for 3D sculpture that he had never really found in traditional media. He never looked back.

After being aware of Shapeways for quite some time, he started becoming active in the community back in 2012. When asked why he feels we stand out amongst the crowd, he simply replied, “They were the first to offer a 3D printing marketplace to the world. So of course, they have the biggest community of entrepreneurs, artists, and engineers out there.”

“I want to be sure I am doing it better than any other human. Something no one’s ever done before. Think harder, James! Use the force, James!”

Since becoming active in 2012, he’s created five different shops to act as homes for the various genres of items he creates. His most active profile, Universe Becoming, is home to his jewelry designs. It’s interesting to note that James has almost as many professions as he has interests. In his Shapeways profile description, he describes himself as an inventor, scientist, and artist. And of course, when he’s making something, each facet has something to add to the process: “If it’s something I’m creating from scratch, the artist in me says, ‘I need to make it visually pleasing so people will like what they see.’ The scientist is thinking ‘Can this cause harm to people or the environment?’ While the inventor yells over both of them, ‘I want to be sure I am doing it better than any other human. Something no one’s ever done before. Think harder, James! Use the force, James!'”

Carbon Atom Stud Earrings

The world, no, the universe of 3D printing can literally become everything.

When it comes to the name, Universe Becoming, it sounds a little obscure. Did he mean “Become the Universe?” Was it just a flash of inspiration? Or does he mean ‘becoming’ in the sense that something looks nice, like telling someone that their earrings are becoming? None of the above – it means just what it says on the tin, and the implications are profound. “The universe is expanding and becoming something new and wondrous at every given moment,” he raved. “It’s a universe becoming everything!” A fitting name for a 3D design storefront; in the medium of 3D printing, James’s (and every other Shapeways creator’s) myriad ideas can take literal shape. The world, no, the universe of 3D printing can literally become anything.

Everything, of course, includes video games. I love video games as well, so I came up with a question that I still don’t have a solid answer for:

Q: If you were going to be quarantined in a bunker (with a wi-fi connection) for the rest of your life with only five games, what would they be?

A: “Only one. Scrap Mechanic! Because it lets you build stuff! I love to build stuff.”

I also think he’d love games like Space Engineers or Kerbal Space Program, but hey, he’s made up his mind. Hopefully once Scrap Mechanic gets out of early access there will be even more for him to play. In the meantime, there’s always those great games from Valve (before he gets quarantined, that is).

Ring of Life DNA Molecule Ring

When it comes to Team Fortress® 2, James favors the Engineer due to his complexity to play. However, he did confess to having a love for the Demoman when he just wants to blow things up. And that passion for TF® 2 and other Valve properties with why James is a massive fan of the Valve + Shapeways partnership: “It was like waking up one day and finding that the laws of the universe have changed, because it’s almost impossible to get a merchandise license from a large company like Valve. It’s so easy to join up, too — basically one mouse click and you’re in like Flynn!”

Sheer curiosity drove him to enter the contest, and if he had had more time, he might have come up with an even cooler entry: “The main idea I was working on was a Pyro ring. His gas-masked face with flames coming up on both sides. I got that about 80% complete and realized I was running out of time, so I did the TF® 2 Team Ring at the last minute.”

“It’s almost impossible to get a merchandise license from a large company like Valve. It’s so easy to join up, too — basically one mouse click and you’re in like Flynn!”

Still, the idea he had was by no means a throwaway. “I got the idea [for the ring] because when you’re playing, there’s no way to win unless everyone cooperates together as a team. And when your team comes together and triumphs, the elation from winning is so much greater because you did it together. For me, the ring is a symbol of friendship.”

“I got the idea [for the ring] because when you’re playing, there’s no way to win unless everyone cooperates together as a team. And when your team comes together and triumphs, the elation from winning is so much greater because you did it together. For me, the ring is a symbol of friendship.”

Even then, the build wasn’t without its hurdles. A sizing issue at the smallest finger size he uses ended up jeopardizing the looks of the finished product, so to fix it, James says that he “used an optical illusion to counteract an optical illusion,” keeping the ring perfectly round while ensuring the class symbols stayed readable as well.

“Valve only gives the gray medic out on very rare occasions. I have a collection of my own and others’ art, and this baby is going on display front and center. Thanks, Valve!”

“When I scrolled down the winners page and saw that I won first place, that felt really good!” he said, beaming. “Shapeways told me I won something, but they didn’t say what. I figured I won a consolation prize.” Leave it to Shapeways to create the perfect amount of dramatic tension.

The TF 2 Grey Medic, joined by James’ Wittle Husky Doggie statue from one of his other shops, 3D Print the Universe

Now that James knows what he’s won, he’s even more excited. “You can’t buy the gray medic anywhere like you can with the others. Valve only gives the gray medic out on very rare occasions. I have a collection of my own and others’ art, and this baby is going on display front and center. Thanks, Valve!

The Ouroboros Ring

When it comes to the future of Universe Becoming and just what James has in store for it, he has plans to build a 3D printed wedding ring that is completely immune to ring avulsion. That’s the nasty result of a ring getting forcibly ripped off of your hand with no forewarning, usually due to a fall or machinery mishap. He hopes to make his wedding bands avulsion-proof with a design all his own.

And when it comes to the future in general, James leaves us with this little tidbit: “If we don’t manage to destroy ourselves, billions of years from now humans will evolve into super-beings. If the universe was always here, those billions upon billions of years might already have passed. Put those two thoughts together, and have we already evolved into this super-being state without knowing it? If so, is the reality we know just some form of entertainment that we do, and have been doing for eons? We could all be playing a super-advanced video game! Pretty good graphics!”

I can’t be sure of that — I don’t think any of us truly can — but if my talk with James has taught me anything, it’s that anything truly is possible.

While still I’m on the fence about the whole “living in a video game” thing, James, I can certainly agree with you on one thing: this game has SUPER good graphics.

You can find James and his work at his Shapeways store, his website, or on Facebook. Congratulations once again, James – you deserve it!

The post Watching the Universe Grow With James Kincaid, Winner of the Valve Design Contest appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Order deadlines might have passed, but you can still give them a passport to over 1,000,000 products by skilled independent designers. Plus more than 60 materials and finishes to help power their own 3D printed projects. We think that Shapeways Gift Cards might just be the ultimate gift.

A Gift Card can empower them to learn to 3D model, print that thing they’ve been dreaming of with a file they find online, or find a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gift. Not to mention open them up to a community of other RPG / RC Car / Model Train / Paintball / Drone enthusiasts to bond with.

We’ve also expanded our Gift Card amounts on offer to give you options for people just getting started with Shapeways ($25 and $50), anyone who might be looking to get something special and shiny ($75, $100, and $300) and those who think beyond limits of size, finish, and complexity ($500).

So give them something that’s more than just store credit or a last-minute solution. Give them the power to bring their ideas to life.

The post Don’t Worry — There’s Still Time to Wow Them! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Kenny and his ORB Racing FF210

Over the summer, community manager Ruud van den Muijzenberg and I traveled across Europe visiting RC car events. One of the best things about these trips was the incredibly cool people we met along the way. To our delight, many of them were already using Shapeways 3D printed parts on their RC cars.

In this second of our Driver Profiles, we talk to Kenny Mok, whom we met at the IconicRC Revival meeting in Grantham, England in July. Kenny has been a Shapeways customer for a while and runs 3D printed parts on multiple cars in his fleet.

Kenny prepares to race at the IconicRC Revival

Name: Kenny Mok
Age: 39
From: London, UK
Profession: IT Consultant
Hobbies: 1:1 cars, Fishkeeping, Football, Karaoke and Eating
Years in RC: 2
First RC Car: Tamiya TA01 Alfa-Romeo 155 DTM

IconicRC 4WD car line-up

A couple of weeks before we went to England for IconicRC Revival, we announced that we were going to join the event on IconicRC’s Facebook group. We were welcomed with lots of replies of people showing off their 3D printed RC car parts.

One of those people was Kenny, who showed us his ORB Racing FF210, a very unique and almost fully 3D printed front wheel drive buggy that we actually featured in the magazine earlier this year. He was clearly very excited to show off the cars he had built, and even challenged our community manager Ruud van den Muijzenberg to a race!

When we finally met at IconicRC, Kenny told us he has only been in the RC car racing hobby for about 2 years. After looking up information on drones and quadcopters, he stumbled across a group of RC-car-loving enthusiasts, IconicRC. Kenny initially thought that racing RC cars was a dead hobby, but soon realized it is very much alive and active. He found a group of great people in IconicRC, who race from club level to pro.

Kenny added, “When I was a kid, I was never able to afford hobby RC cars. But being older, like the most of us, I am now able to relive my childhood once again and buy the cars I dreamed of as a kid.”

Kenny racing in one of the Revival heats

When we asked Kenny about his experience at the event, he told us,

“Revival 2017 was my first ever Revival. It was simply awesome! From the smell of fried bacon and grilled onions emanating from the campsite to the enthusiastic chattering of conversation with fellow racers, I soon forgot that there was actually racing involved. I met people from all over the world. Some had travelled quite far (Holland, Germany) and it was great to share views and experiences with everyone. The show of beautiful vintage cars was just simply sublime. Oh, and the racing was fun! This will surely be a regular event for me and a lot of other fellow enthusiasts. I thoroughly recommend this to all RC vintage enthusiasts, I would even go so far to class this as the vintage racing event of the year!”

A special commemorative edition FF210, Kenny’s second FF210

Kenny races a very special 3D printed buggy. The ORB Racing FF210 is an almost fully custom-made front -wheel-drive buggy that features many parts 3D printed at Shapeways. In the picture above you can see the special commemorative edition FF210 that was built by Paul Dijkstra, ORB Racing’s designer and Shapeways community member. Paul created this model to celebrate the FF210’s racing success in 2017.

Kenny likes the FF210 so much this is actually his second one. The FF210 is special because it is the only modern front-wheel-drive buggy in existence. And being front-wheel-drive makes it very competitive on low-grip and wet surfaces compared to regular buggies. With England being a very rainy and wet country, Kenny’s FF210 should feel right at home.

Kenny’s Tamiya Top Force

As cool as it is, the FF210 is of no use at the vintage-focused Revival as it’s too modern. Luckily Kenny brought a whole fleet of cars (painted his signature white) to race at the Revival in multiple classes. Just like the car we raced on sunday at the same event, Kenny also races a vintage Tamiya Top Force featuring 3D printed parts designed by ORB Racing. Besides developing their own FF car, ORB Racing also offer a lot of 3D printed replacement parts that are otherwise very hard to find and often expensive if available at all.

“The fact that I can now have 3D printed replacement parts which feel just as strong as the originals is a real lifesaver for collectors and racers of now obsolete cars,” Kenny told us, reflecting the driving force behind many RC car drivers’ use of 3D printed parts.

Kenny’s Yokomo YZ2 with JConcepts front wing mount

He continued,

“I also use Shapeways printed parts from JConcepts on my modern Yokomo YZ2 buggies. Shapeways really opens the world up to designers where beforehand, production costs would have meant it was impossible for their designs to become a reality. Now it’s just a matter of uploading your file and having the design 3D printed at a very reasonable price. The public’s trust in 3D parts is growing as the materials used have become stronger. At the moment, only replacement parts are made for certain cars. I would love to see a whole car built from 3D printing, i.e. a Shapeways-branded car package!”

IconicRC Wheelie race line-up

2017 was a great year of racing for Kenny, who even organized, for the first time, his own event: Super Off Roader at Surrey and Hants Radio Controlled Car Club. Kenny has big plans for next year too, with the IconicRC Revival being the main event. But there are plenty more races on the calendar, like the IconicRC Cup and the highly anticipated Schumacher Challenge.

Kenny told us that even though he will try to better his race performance at upcoming events, meeting fellow RC enthusiasts means more than the results. So if you happen to go out to a race next year, look out for Kenny and his fleet of white RC cars and go have a chat!

The post Meet Kenny Mok’s Winning RC Car Fleet appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

To kick off the Valve Visionaries series, we sat down with Bilal Majeed Khan of Miniature Den, a storefront with almost fifty models, over half of which are based on Valve properties. His sculptures are second to none, looking like they’ve just come straight from the game itself. They’re absolutely beautiful, and we’re obsessed with this Sniper that patrols our office. So, enjoy the interview, and enjoy the sculptures — this is the start of a beautiful thing.

How long have you been working with 3D models?

I have been working with 3D design and modeling since 2010. But I started making 3D printed models only four years ago.

Are you a gamer? If so, what’s your favorite game?

Totally. My all-time single-player favorites are Half-Life® and Metro. But for online games, it’s Dota® and Dota® 2 all the way.

With so many other games out there, what keeps you coming back to the Dota® games?

The game mechanics, the always-fresh aspect of team coordination, and the constant updates. Dota® games are always giving themselves new strategies and heroes, which means that there’s new ways to play the game every time a new hero drops. Not to mention the balance updates that they regularly do to tweak the game and make it more competitive.

Who’s your favorite Dota® 2 character and why?

This tends to change on a monthly basis as far as game-play is concerned, but my overall favorite has to be Mirana (I like to think I am really good with the long-range anticipation shots). It feels like she’s the hero built for me — with Mirana, I basically control the pace of the game and dominate the proceedings if I can play her right.

“Dota® games are always giving themselves new strategies and heroes, which means that there’s new ways to play the game every time a new hero drops.”

Mirana hero

What is it about Valve games that makes them so good?

I think there is a fair amount of research that goes into the development of their games. I was a skeptic when Dota® 2 was announced. The community loved Dota® and we thought that Valve may actually spoil the what was so great about the original when they made Dota® 2, because it’s happened in gaming so many times. But Valve stuck to what made Dot® a great and focused on what would make it even more awesome.

The other thing that really gives Valve the lead is that they were one of the first companies to incorporate user-based content monetization. They’ve always been way ahead of the curve as far as innovation and supporting the community is concerned, and they’ve proven it again with this partnership — this is a burgeoning new market that no one’s really paying attention to, but Valve gets how huge 3D printing is going to be.

I also need to give props to Shapeways as well for doing this — it’s unprecedented as far as 3D printing platforms are concerned.

“…they [Valve] were one of the first companies to incorporate user-based content monetization. They’ve always been way ahead of the curve as far as innovation and supporting the community is concerned, and they’ve proven it again with this partnership… Valve gets how huge 3D printing is going to be.”

What is it about the community around Valve properties (TF: 2®, Dota® 2, Half-Life®) that makes them unique?

I guess it’s how Valve encourages the community to make a positive contribution by opening up its IP to users for online and offline products. That sentiment has made the community more focused on the right discussions and has developed an ecosystem where creativity and innovation can thrive.

Which Dota® 2 model you’ve made is your favorite?

The favorite hero among the models I have made has to be Earth Spirit.

Earth Spirit hero

When did you first start incorporating Valve properties into your 3D modeling?

I think it was a couple of years ago, even before the Shapeways + Valve partnership. I actually reached out to Valve a couple of times to allow us to sell their merchandise and provide us licensing. I guess they listened!

I was really, really excited to hear about the agreement.

“Seeing one of my favorite heroes, holding them in my hands? It’s immensely satisfying.”

Besides video games, are there any other influences you like to incorporate into your 3D models?

I’m a big Game of Thrones fan. I’ve worked on my own collection, and some of the pieces I’ve made are up for sale here.

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?

It’s surreal, really. Seeing one of my favorite heroes, holding them in my hands? It’s immensely satisfying. We all have kind of an invisible affiliation with our favorite heroes, it’s why they’re our favorites. It’s kind of subconscious to some, but may be very overt in others. Either way, it exists, and seeing them given physical form strengthens it deeply. Also, it gives us a constant reminder to keep playing.

‘DARE TO CHALLENGE’ featuring The Three Spirits: Storm Spirit, Ember Spirit, and Earth Spirit

How has Shapeways helped you do business?

Immensely. By profession, I am a mechanical engineer. I develop products all the time, and Shapeways has become an integral part of my workflow. Their positive impact on my work has been incredible, and very hard to measure.

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

It’s welcoming, to-the-point, and objective-oriented. Being a developer, I feel most people here have a similar level of understanding from both a technical and business standpoint, so it’s really easy to level with them and generate fruitful conversations.

“I develop products all the time, and Shapeways has become an integral part of my workflow. Their positive impact on my work has been incredible, and very hard to measure.”

What do you think is the best part of the Valve + Shapeways partnership?

The best part is that two of my favorite companies shook hands and that I was a tiny part of it.

Finally, what does the future hold for you? What’s going to be the next big thing to emerge from the Miniature Den?

There are a couple of projects going on, but I can tell you that there is one that will be related to the toys industry.

You’ll all see it on the shop quite soon.

Check out Bilal’s virtual storefront. It’s completely awesome, VR-compatible, and dedicated to his Dota® 2 figurines. His Shapeways store sells much more than Dota® 2 models, and you can follow him on Twitter @bilalmajeedkhan.

The post Valve Visionaries: A Talk With Bilal Khan, Master of the Miniature Den appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

After starting our landmark partnership with Valve, we wanted to find and discover the best Valve-inspired products created by the community. The results blew us away! You made 400 designs available for sale using the Valve IP partnership, and we worked with Valve to choose some of our favorites.

The grand prize winner stands to win a coveted Team Fortress® 2 Grey Medic statue and $500 in Shapeways printing credit (watch the unboxing video of it arriving at the office here). The four additional runners up will take home other Team Fortress® 2 statues, plus $100 in Shapeways printing credit. Both the grand prize winner and all runners up will also receive the Team Fortress® 2 soundtrack on both CD and LP.

And now, drum roll please:

1st Prize: TF:2 Team Ring

This ring by longtime Shapeways member Universe Becoming celebrates the camaraderie of a team. It’s based on the first-person shooter Team Fortress® 2. The circles contain the logos of the nine emblems that represent the nine different classes in the game. Universe Becoming went above and beyond by taking a beautiful photo to show off the gorgeous polished silver finish.

1st Runner Up: Companion Cube Polyhedral 7-Dice Set

Our first runner up prize goes to this set of Portal® Companion Cube-Inspired polyhedral dice by Tiny Tokens. This set is perfect for tabletop gamers looking to enrich their RPG game with a little science. Our favorite weighted inanimate object may have started as a cube, but Tiny Tokens did a brilliant job translating it into the other platonic shapes. Check out Tiny Tokens’ full collection of Companion Cube products in his shop.

2nd Runner Up: Counter-Strike: GO ® Pocket Dust II: A Site

Third prize goes to an awesome representation of one of the most famous maps in gaming. Counter-Strike: GO ® Pocket Dust II: A Site by Mechvoid Arsenal brings the detail and character of this classic Counter-Strike® site to a miniature scale.

3rd Runner Up: Portal® ID Card Holder

The third Runner Up prize goes to MyGadgetLife for this fun Portal® ID Card Holder. Beautifully constructed and instantly recognizable. But, as designer Steven Gray notes, “Aperture security pass not included.”

4th Runner Up: Psychobob Arts’ Team Fortress ® 2 Sentry Turrets

Team Fortress ® 2 Sentry Turret (Level 3) by Psychobob Arts

The fourth and final Runner Up prize goes to Psychobob Arts for their totally awesome set of Team Fortress ® 2 sentry turrets. What truly makes these special is the way the sentry can be upgraded physically to its different levels, and the lovely paint job Psychobob Arts did for each one. This model is a fantastic example of translating objects that originally existed only in a virtual world in the physical one.

Thank you everyone for participating in the contest and helping make this partnership launch such a success. We love all the inspiring work we’ve seen entered in the Valve Design Contest and we can’t wait to see what you’ll continue to create!

The post Announcing the Winners of the Valve Design Contest! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.