3D Printing continues to threaten GW’s revenue, as a downloadable model of the unreleased Skitarii Dunerider has been spotted!
The future is coming fast, and hobbyists and companies such as Games Workshop may not be prepared for the digital pivot that’s on the horizon for our hobby.
3D Printed Bits go for Pennies on the Dollar
Now in 2019, it looks like at-home 3D printer quality has jumped leaps and bounds in quality and hobbyists have taken note. People are beginning to sell their own products on eBay en masse for a fraction of the cost.
This was spotted on eBay from Kojo1231 going for $4 per bit. The chaincannon is the only thing that’s been 3D printed and you can’t even see the ridges that some cheaper printers are prone to show. The best part is that the seller designed and distributes them himself. At the time of writing this, he’s already sold almost 50 bits.
However, the 3D world is picking up even more speed as we can print off a model completely that isn’t even on the shelves yet.
Printing Ahead of the Schedule: New Transport Available For Download
Before we dive into the latest 3D printable model, get a good look at this Mechanicum Transport. This is called the Skitarii Dunerider that we saw previewed a while back. Note that there’s not even a release date on this mini yet.
Now, sink your teeth into this Sweet 1950s Hovercar Beach Lander that was spotted on Thingiverse. It’s a 100% completely printable model that looks strikingly similar to what GW previewed about a month ago.
Sure you may have been a little late to the beaches but you got there in style!
Everyone looked on in awe as you floated up in this bad boy with your crew. And a rough ride? Not with this sweet Mars patented hovercraft technology. Just float over the bumps in life in comfort and relaxation. And just in case someone can’t stand how cool you are and tries to start a rumble, personal protection is provided on the port and starboard of the vehicle.
Scale is estimated. Fingers crossed.
While the names of the two models may be different, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the shocking accuracy between the two. As a matter of fact on the same page, one is already storming the Martian sand dunes:
Printed model next to what appears to be a 150mm oval knight base.
With that being said, where is the 3D printing world heading? At first, there was a quick reaction time to people realizing only one Chaincannon came inside the Chaos Havoc box.
However, we’ve stepped beyond that in a small period and are now completely able to print off huge transport models. We don’t even know the rules for this thing, and it’s not even released yet. But you can already have them painted up and sitting on the shelf.
3D Bit Policing & the Future of the Hobby
Ultimately, it looks like modern times might have finally caught up with big industry mini producers like Games Workshop. Strict policing before 3D printing surges is still a major topic of discussion. There is still the untouchable side of 3D printing, that is, people designing their own stuff both legally and illegally.
Now that hobbyists are able to print off quality bits and miniatures from their dining room table, we may see the hobby world shift into a new era. That is, all kinds of alternative bits and models that will always be readily available at our fingertips.
The big head-scratcher to think about is how some miniature-making companies are going to combat this rapid popularity increase of printing bits at home. We could be seeing future attempts to police their intellectual property. However, the real issue may be how to actually enforce it. Or conversely, how to profit from offering 3D prints to hobbyists directly without impacting established sales.
Do you have a 3D printer that you use to make hobby prints? What made you want to get your own printer? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
