Any of you guys print Battlemechs?

[the_matrix_guy]

Any of you guys print Battletech/MechWarrior mechs? I was thinking of getting into 3D printing solely for this. I’m more into the bigger models as opposed to the Battletech table-top miniatures. Also thinking of paying someone to print some for me 🤔

[shooter311]

I'm not into battle mechs, but I had a CO worker who was huge into tabletop Star wars game. I printed him some figurines and when he was done it looked amazing. However he spent hours and hours sanding sure to the later lines.

He ended up buying a resin printer and it had a huge improvement in detail and later lines over my fdm printer the issue is the print surface was like 1/4 th the size of mine.

If your looking for detail maybe go with a reason printer, if your looking for large prints maybe look at fdm.

Hope that helps

[the_matrix_guy]

+1 thank you

[shooter311]

Ugh, I need to stop writing comments in a rush....
*Layer lines
*Resin printer

[Rainmaker]

Yeah, large items with detail... it's kinda worth it to just buy yourself a printer and do it. Printers are so cheap these days. And for the amount of print time that something like this would consume, I would end up charging you a lot just to make it worth my while to print it for you

[the_matrix_guy]

Hmm seriously considering it, what would be a decent 3d printer to do this?

[Alexndl]

Questions for the expert
Would it be recommended to use a dual extruder to use water soluble filament for the support?
there look to be a lot of detail and small plane that would make the sanding and support removal too complex for a standard single extruder printer?

[pghp8ntballer]

I’m no expert but looking at the second large model above, I bet that was printed in separate pieces and glued or screwed together in some places. It looks like flat-blade flat head screws were used as part of the design intent as the joint hinges. It could allow for adjustable joints that can hold tight. Or that could just be part of the model and not screws at all. The cockpit was post likely printed separate and on its back so the cone pointed up them attached later. You I wouldn’t need any supports to print that cockpit then.

[bellicose]

I haven't used pva filament in years, but it's a pain in the butt. I liked my dual extruder when I had it. Used different plastics that didn't bond well, so support material was easy to remove. Can't remember the type I used with ABS, though.

[the_matrix_guy]

Yes, its a printed as a model kit, all parts separately, here’s one, the link has an assembly video as well

https://www.gambody.com/3d-models/mechwarrior-madcat

[Rainmaker]

I opened that link just now thinking "ah what the heck, maybe it's a simple enough print and I can just do it for some paintball stuff as trade... but... see my post below

[the_matrix_guy]

For the printers, would you guys recommend resin or PLA fillament? And what model printer for bigger models? Admittedly, I have alot of reading to do on the subject. i know next to nothing


Edit:

BTW, Im also open to trading paintball stuff if you guys could print me one

Check my listings: https://www.ebay.com/usr/commander_mos_pb_boutique

Im always adding stuff so check back often

[Rainmaker]

Yes, its a printed as a model kit, all parts separately, here’s one, the link has an assembly video as well

https://www.gambody.com/3d-models/mechwarrior-madcat

Whew, yeah, just looking at their estimated print times, over 50 hours worth of printing, ~200M of filament. Someone who is set up to take print jobs with very few rejects, and just has an overall affinity for doing this, they might charge $1 to $3 per hour of print time plus material cost, comes out to somewhere around $100 for this thing. Buying a printer and a spool of filament will run you ~$220 (Ender 3 and some PLA). I'm generalizing for sure, but this is the right ballpark

[the_matrix_guy]

Rainmaker Thanks for the info. Yeah one of the peope commenting in that listing printed it using an Ender 3. You recommend that printer?

[shooter311]

So I would be open to printing something like this, but like rainmaker said. I am sure you will want it printed at the highest level detail. Also depending on how it is setup to print it might be be best to use my dual head printer with pva (water soluble) supports. Which is not only really expensive but almost triples the print time. To print one of these it could literally tie up my printer for weeks.

If you are still interested in me printing something I can look into material and time requirements. Shoot me a pm.

If your going to do large scale prints like these I could recommend the tenlog hero d3 printer. Not that it is the best for this, but it is a low cost idex (dual head) printer that can print up to 13 ish inches high. That way you could do water soluble filament. I have one and it has been pretty good. I think they are around $600.

The basic go to printer I recommend is the ender 3 pro. It is the most popular so tons of community support and replacement and upgrade parts are easy to find. I think they run about $200 ish.

[the_matrix_guy]

So I would be open to printing something like this, but like rainmaker said. I am sure you will want it printed at the highest level detail. Also depending on how it is setup to print it might be be best to use my dual head printer with pva (water soluble) supports. Which is not only really expensive but almost triples the print time. To print one of these it could literally tie up my printer for weeks.

If you are still interested in me printing something I can look into material and time requirements. Shoot me a pm.

If your going to do large scale prints like these I could recommend the tenlog hero d3 printer. Not that it is the best for this, but it is a low cost idex (dual head) printer that can print up to 13 ish inches high. That way you could do water soluble filament. I have one and it has been pretty good. I think they are around $600.

The basic go to printer I recommend is the ender 3 pro. It is the most popular so tons of community support and replacement and upgrade parts are easy to find. I think they run about $200 ish.

Awesome, lots of great info here, thank you. Would you be open to paintball trades? For around $250-300 trade value? Otherwise, for cash I would be better off just getting a printer, I think.

And yeah, i would want to print high quality, highly detailed models like the ones in the pics.

[shooter311]

Yeah I am always open to paintball trades. Let me take a look at your eBay store when I get home later and I'll pm you.

[the_matrix_guy]

Ok, sounds good

[shooter311]

the_matrix_guy not sure if mcb is having errors or not but I can't seem to pm you. I dont have the option to when I go into your profile page. Shoot me a pm if you can, if not I'll try again later.

[the_matrix_guy]

Ok, I just PMed ya, seems to be working fine for me

[the_matrix_guy]

shooter311 Thanks again.

shooter’s printing me some (3 different mechs, each double printed, x6 mechs total) for an Angel FLY LCD and a Belsales leather bag. Wohoo

[ketzer7]

Reminds me of the old Horizon Models vinyl kit from back in the day. I remember buying one off eBay like ~20 years ago, never put it together, and end up reselling it later for a pretty penny.

[the_matrix_guy]

Reminds me of the old Horizon Models vinyl kit from back in the day. I remember buying one off eBay like ~20 years ago, never put it together, and end up reselling it later for a pretty penny.

Battletech is an extremely lore-rich IP, it started as a table-top tactical RPG back in the 80's, then novels, then video games. IMO it's one of the biggest missed opportunities and in a way pop-culture tragedies, because this IP could've been just as big as Star Wars or Gundam. It's crazy, but after its creator sold the rights to Microsoft, (and then MS sold it to Wizkids), you'd think they wouldve done something with it other than a couple of PC games and the table-top game -- but no. And on the model-kit end, the IP is popular among the miniature table-top gamer world (and with PC gamers somewhat) but they never created 1/60 scale or bigger model-kits which is insane to me given how popular Gundam kits are both in Japan and the west. This could've been America's answer to Gundam and Evangelion and it's a way better IP, IMO, with a very rich lore, as mentioned. Bandai makes a killing off their Gundam kits and Robot Spirits toy lines.

Look this is a good article on the lore by its creator:

PC Gamer: BattleTech's complicated lore, explained by its creator

And here's a resource of the different eras/timelines for anyone that cares to learn more:

http://www.masterunitlist.info/Era/Index

Personally, MechWarrior 3 (1999 PC game) is what got me into PC building and PC gaming in my late teens. It was an amazing game. heres the game intro, one of my favorite intros of all time:

MechWarrior 4 intro after MS took over the IP, the world has a Dune meets Star Wars feel to it:

[the_matrix_guy]

They have alot of cool files on that site: I also really like these Halo Warthog buggies:

https://www.gambody.com/3d-models/warthog-m12b-halo