Not specifically GZG related (except that GZG produces figures), but have a
look at the article on 3D printers in this weeks New Scientist (either in the
printed magazine or on the web site, www.newscientist.com).
This has interesting implications for the future of miniatures games, and the
companies that produce the miniatures!
Imagine, design your own spaceship on a 3D CAD package, hit the print to 3D
icon, wait a bit, and you've got your own custom miniature!
Of course, a lot depends on whether they can get the cost of a 3D
printer and associated media down cheap enough for public consumption -
and I think these machines will always be too slow to compete with standard
figure moulding techniques except for a few special cases (so I don't think
Jon & Co. should worry, yet).
Anyway, take a look, I found it interesting.
Hi,
I'm sure that they would be slow to "print." However, it still makes a very
fast way to create a master for moulding. In fact, this may make other modern
microarmour manufacturers in the same league as GHQ.
Cheers, Tony.
> Imagine, design your own spaceship on a 3D CAD package, hit the print
I heard about this a few months back, but didn't recognize the implications
for minis gaming. I wonder if that would be considered piracy if you copied an
existing mini (seeing as how we've seen some people on this mailing list
who've done great work with rendering existing minis in 3d). Not trying to
start a long thread here, just curious about the legal aspects of it....
Mark
> Charles Stanley Taylor wrote:
> Not specifically GZG related (except that GZG produces figures), but
On Sat, 30 Sep 2000 09:11:31 -0700 Mark Reindl <mreindl@pacbell.net>
writes:
> I heard about this a few months back, but didn't recognize the
Haven't read the article yet (no browser at home) but it seems pretty straight
forward as to your question. If it's a copy of a copyrighted artifact you
would, ISTM, have infringed on that copyright. Now creating something similar
after being inspired by another mini; I don't know where the line is...
Check out a new firm on the web at http://www.toybuilders.com
This company started in July of this year and seems to offer this very same
process to the consumer with a claimed price of $25-$25,000. They take
your
drawing and make the toy/game piece. They claim to work off of drawings,
but I'm sure the price goes down if you do the design work your self. Looks
like they use a 3D CAD program called Solid Works (which I have at the
office).
Scott B. Jaqua
> Charles Stanley Taylor wrote:
> Not specifically GZG related (except that GZG produces figures), but
On Sat, 30 Sep 2000 13:34:23 EDT, Glenn m wilson <triphibious@juno.com> wrote:
> Haven't read the article yet (no browser at home) but it seems pretty
There's another thing that I'm not sure has been fully identified: is it
copyright infringement to copy a miniature of a real life vehicle?
This would be a very hazy area, legally speaking. If you were to use this
technology to recreate an FSE cruiser, for instance, that's copyright
infringement. If you were to use it to recreate an M1A1 Abrams? That's going
to be hard to fight. If the miniature is an exact replica of a tank it's going
to be hard to prove that you didn't create an exact replica of the tank,
instead of a knock off of someone else's miniature.
Now, is it legal to copy a real life vehicle? There was some question about
this, but I believe it has been pretty much settled. One of the computer sim
companies that created an F22 Raptor sim tried to prevent everyone else from
releasing an F22 sim. They claimed other F22 sims were copyright infringement,
and they claimed they had a license from the aircraft's manufacturer
(McDonnell Douglas?). In the end, their attempts to stop the other sims was
essentially quashed. The US Air Force stated that the aircraft was built for
the United States, therefore it was owned by the people of the United States
and its representation was, by definition, in the public domain.
So, this technology is probably less of a problem for GZG than GHQ, but it's
still going to have an effect. We're entering into an era where the very
concept of intellectual property rights is being assailed and redefined. We're
also entering into an era of unprecedented ease of manufacturing. Yes, this
technology will make it easier to rip off manufacturers. But this technology
could also reduce production costs, particularly of "one offs" or custom
creations.
But when will this be available for home use? Looks like we may have an outlet
for REALLY custom fleets.
Michael Brown
[quoted original message omitted]
Hmm, given the probable cost of the equipment, I wouldn't expect to see 3D
printers in the (average) household price range for some years yet. However,
assuming that Toybuilders is legit, you could start making your own stuff now.
Simply draw a sketch of it, tell 'em the size, and let them do the "sculpting"
so to speak. They send it to you, you make a mold using rtv and the master,
and you're off and running. Seems to me that you could see a veritable
explosion of new minis if this catches on. It'd certainly be a boon to those
who like to produce custom designs (I'd consider it for Battletech minis
myself, it'd certainly be easier than kitbashing something together, if a bit
more expensive).
Mark
> Michael Brown wrote:
> But when will this be available for home use? Looks like we may have
Looks like
> they use a 3D CAD program called Solid Works (which I have at the
It could be a lot more expensive to get good detail. You're probably looking
at the method they use to make jewelry. However, if you're making masters for
a spin canster and a commercial production run, it could be great. No
resculpting, just be sure to back up you're 3d models...
IAS
> Mark Reindl wrote:
> Hmm, given the probable cost of the equipment, I wouldn't expect to
Simply draw a
> sketch of it, tell 'em the size, and let them do the "sculpting" so to
Looks like
> > they use a 3D CAD program called Solid Works (which I have at the
OH, I HOPE SO! But it would be supplemental for my DS2 forces since no one
makes mixed weaponry on 6mm AFV's that I have seen yet..
Gracias, Triphibious/Glenn
Triphibious Marines = Nektons. Not all Frogs are French, or even Human!
Nektons, be all the Marine you can be! Resistance is EVERYTHING!
On Sat, 30 Sep 2000 15:55:32 -0700 Michael Brown <mwbrown@veriomail.com>
writes:
> But when will this be available for home use? Looks like we may have
On Sat, 30 Sep 2000 17:55:39 -0400 Allan Goodall <awg@sympatico.ca>
writes: <snip my stuff>
> There's another thing that I'm not sure has been fully identified: is
Gut feeling only, probably not. Are all those '55 chevy models on the market
'licensed' from the manufacturer? I doubt it.
> This would be a very hazy area, legally speaking. If you were to use
There is the possibility of the practice of Cartographic companies -
include a unique, small but identifiable 'error' in the original - if
the
non-existent 'error' is shown on a competitor's work the case for it not
being 'original' work is fairly clear. Of course, would modelers accept
'flawed' models?
> Now, is it legal to copy a real life vehicle? There was some question
Sounds right, FWIW. Ideally, right is also legal...
> So, this technology is probably less of a problem for GZG than GHQ,
It's the custom creation thing that attracts me. A DS2 mini with a size
5 vehicle with a size 5 HEL, a coax- DFFG/3 and a PDS/SUP...
> Allan Goodall awg@sympatico.ca
> Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2000 09:11:31 -0700
Well, based on my knowledge of the matter (that is, I know something but am
NOT an authority!): no, you cannot copyright REAL LIFE subjects (simply
because you were not the first or most widely known user of the item, or
design or whatever) but you could defend the property of a product of your own
fantasy (err, I mean creativity) like a "spaceship", if you copyright exactly
each single design... not the range, not the name, not the background
identification... exactly the design you are using! Each and every miniature
you make. Piracy would come from the use of somebody else work to help your
own creation: you can make an M1A1 exactly like GHQ, not only because the
subject is common property but also because you can get inspiration and use
the same conventions GHQ used (for example, make your rivets larger or
exagerate others details to make them visible) and end up with "identical"
figures. What you can NOT do is put a GHQ made miniature in your putty as a
master!! That's the current general application of the international law.
Bye
> Charles Stanley Taylor wrote:
> Not specifically GZG related (except that GZG produces figures), but
We were looking at these machines for making masters a couple of years ago.
Back then they cost around $15,000 and could only guarantee precision to the
nearest 1 mm.
Give them time and these machines could revolutionise the miniatures industry
completely, especially the hobby collector's stuff (resin dragons
etc.).
---
***
Give them time and these machines could revolutionise the miniatures industry
completely, especially the hobby collector's stuff (resin dragons
etc.).
***
I thought the big point was the ability to form from multiple materials.
Tiny airplanes with cast clear canopies and clear disk-props...
The_Beast
-Douglas J. Evans, curmudgeon
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