For 1:144 models of large aircraft, I greatly prefer the HP Multijet Fusion (MJF) materials (which Shapeways calls "Professional Plastic") to the normal white Versatile Plastic (nee WSF) and translucent Detail Plastic (nee FUD). Detail Plastic is too brittle for larger planes and Versatile Plastic can get bent out of shape and stay that way. The HP material is strong and resilient, and it has a somewhat better surface quality than the white plastic. Ideal for planes that might otherwise bend under their own weight. You can see a comparison of the three materials HERE.
Unfortunately, though other designers and I have been bugging Shapeways about it, they have kept their price for that material at roughly double the price of the white plastic, putting it out of reach for most folks. Meanwhile, some of Shapeways competitors are offering it at cheaper prices than their Versatile Plastic equivalent.
I recently ordered a Gotha W.D.11 from Sculpteo and it came out fine...I'll attach pictures at the end of this post. (The mottled gray surface is normal for this material and the color will be uniform with the first coat of primer. I'll post an updated picture as soon as it's warm enough to spray-paint.) The cost of that plane is:
- Shapeways white versatile plastic (WSF): ~$26 US
- Shapeways HP grey professional plastic: ~$54 US
- Sculpteo HP grey MJF plastic: ~$40 US
The only bad thing about Sculpteo is that they have no search tools, so the only way to find things is through an external link. But I think I'll start adding my larger designs to Sculpteo with a link on the Wings of Linen wiki, so that they're available at a much better price than what Shapeways will offer. I don't know if anyone will ever find things away from Shapeways, but it's worth a try. I've got a brand-new A.E.G. G.V that I've already copied to Sculpteo, and I'll be (slowly) copying other large planes over as time allows.
Actually, I'm probably selling the material short by focusing only on large planes, since it's good for smaller ones too. But the extra stiffness of the material really pays off with the larger ones.
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