Overview:
Henry Turner recently contacted us to see if we would like an early look at his upcoming EW 3D print kickstarter. We have previously covered Henry’s stuff when he did a KS for the Cold War Gone Hot troops (you can find the article here), so I was excited to see what he had to offer for EW France.
The KS focuses on British and German Troops with an early stretch goal of French. His aim is to focus on a narrower number of forces but go deeper. What this means is that rather than say 5-6 poses of rifleman you have a huge variety to play with. I quite like this approach because its always the limitation of traditional models, ie how many poses you can sculpt, whereas with 3D print sets its much easier to produce a range of poses for all occasions.
This KS is a bit different to his previous Cold War stuff. Where as those were 15mm by design these are 6mm models but scalability to 15mm. In practice, due to the way CAD works, this doesnt mean that have any less details but it does mean that the models turn out slightly chunkier when scaled up. This is itself isnt a bad thing (they aren’t as chunky as 3D breed), because it keeps things like rifles thick enough that they are sturdy. Henry currently recommends scaling the models to 200% Z, and 185 on x and y. He is still tweaking and a full guide to get the best 15mm models will be included for backers. As you can see in the pictures below, all the proportions and detail look great with this scaling.
Pictures:
Henry sent me a few samples so I picked 3 stands for each side to paint up. It was all done with a mixture of contrast and speed paints over a grey undercoat with very heavy white wet brush.
A range of German and British troops front.
A range of German and British troops back.
2 x Rifle/MG stands and a ATR
British Rifle/MG stands and a Bren Gun.
All the models are designed to print with minimal supports (a few have one under the riles), so there is very little scarring from their removal. One area that is a bit of a challenge is the model bases. Those figures lying down have a big rectangle under them which is a bit annoying when trying to fit them on a base. However they are easy to trim with some clippers. Equally if you don’t want bases you can just lower the model in your 3D print software so that the print starts at the feet.
The models:
Unfortunately, I only have the time to make and paint a few stands but there is a vast amount of content coming with the kickstarter. Both German and British core models come with Rifles, SMG, ATRs, Mortars, Crew, Assistants, radio operators, observers and Officers. At an estimate there are between 180-200 models per side.
German Forces
British Forces
French troops (still WiP)
The Kickstarter:
So what do you get in the Kickstarter and how much will it cost:
Main KS:
- Core STLs (german and british plus Strech goals) – £59 (a cheaper early bird offer within first 24hrs will be offered).
- Core Files and Blender files – £85
- All STLS (Core , Artillery, vehicle and crew add-ons and stretch goals) £85
- All core and blender files (as above but with the blender files) £110
Add-ons:
Artillery £20
Vehicle & Crew £20
Artillery and blender files £30
Vehicle & crew and blender files £30
Stretch Goals (note value of levels still TBC at time of writing):
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): German BMW Motorcycle & Optional Sidecar
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): British BSA M20 Motorcycle & Optional Sidecar
(Core STLs): Sturmpioniers
(Core STLs): British Engineers
(Core STLs): British & German Casualties
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): German Horse-drawn Wagons
(Core STLs): German Cavalry
(Core Blender) Kilts for Blender File
(Core STLs): Medics, Men on Stretchers & Stretcher Bearers
(Core STLs): FRENCH ARMY (Riflemen, AT Riflemen, LMG/HMG gunners, Observers, Radiomen and Mortars in Greatcoats; Artillery Crew, HQ & Snipers in Tunics)
(Core STLs): Tromblon Grenade Launcher & VB Grenade Launcher-armed Grenadiers
(Core STLs): French Casualties
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): Generic Horse-drawn Limbers & French Riders
(Vehicle & Crew Pack/Blender): French Gnome & Rhone AX2 & Groupes Franc Motorisé de Cavalerie Blender Bits
(Core STLs): French Engineers
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): British Scout & Cavalry Carriers
(Core STLs): British Mid-War Expansion PIAT, Sten, 4.2-inch Mortar, Flamethrower, Portable, No. 2, & Infantry STLs without Respirators
(Core STLs): German Infantry STLs without Y-Straps
(Core Blender): French Blender Pack: Colonial Troop Bits (Algerians, Moroccans, Senegalese & Tunisians), Berets, Pith Helmet & Zouave Sash, MAS-36
(Core STLs): French Cavalry
(Core STLs): French Infantry in Tunics & Helmets
(Core STLs): French Chasseurs Portés in Single-breasted Tunics
(Core Blender) British Officers’ No. 7 Dress
(Core STLs): French Dismounted Motorcyclists in Double-breasted Jackets
(Core STLs): Fallschirmjägers
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): French & German Infantry on Bicycles
(Core STLs): Fallschirmjäger scatter items (discarded parachutes & supply canisters)
(Core STLs): Short-sleeved artillery crews
(Core STLs): Multi-model Heavy Weapon Transit Poses; Heavy MGs, Medium Mortars & AT Rifles
(Core STLs): German Field Kitchen
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): German Dinghies & Paddlers
(Core STLs): POLISH ARMY (Riflemen, AT Riflemen, LMG/HMG gunners, Observers, Radiomen Mortar men, Artillery Crew, HQ & Snipers)
(Core STLs): Polish Cavalry
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): Polish Wagons/Taczanka MG Wagon
(Core STLs): Polish Casualties
(Vehicle & Crew Pack): Polish Armoured Train
(Core STLs): BELGIAN ARMY (Riflemen, AT Riflemen, LMG/HMG gunners, Observers, Radiomen Mortar men, Artillery Crew, HQ & Snipers)
Artillery Stretch Goals
The Artillery add-on has its own Stretch Tracker, based on how many people back the Add-on or the “All STLs” pledges. A new gun is added for every fifteen backers (excepting the Polish guns, which are cheaper, as they are adaptations of models already made). Free STLs for several of these guns are already available. Guns that don’t have suitable 6mm-compatible models are being prioritised.
8.8 cm FlaK 18/36 – 245 backers
20mm mle 1939 – 15 backers
QF 3.7″ – 30 backers
25mm mle 1938 – 45 backers
25pdr – 60 backers
4.5 cm LG 40 – 75 backers
105mm C mle 1935 B – 90 backers
2.8 cm sPzB 41 – 105 backers
105mm L mle 1913 S gun – 120 backers
47mm SA-37 – 135 backers
8 cm FK 30(t) – 150 backers
10 cm leFH 30(t) – 165 backers
2cm Flak 30 – 180 backers
Bofors 37mm – 195 backers
75mm wz. 1897 – 200 backers
75mm wz. 02/26 – 200 backers
100mm wz. 14/19 – 200 backers
155mm wz. 1917 – 200 backers
QF 4.5″ – 215 backers
2 cm FlaK 38 – 230 backers
A note on blender files.
You will notice the Kickstarter talks about blender files (and charges extra for them). I am not expert in this (I just print STLs) but the blender files allow you take components from different files to create new model. It has once been described as digital LEGO.
In the word of the creator:
Blender is a freely available piece of 3D software and my Blender files are specially configured exporters that I’ve designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Essentially, they’re the original assets/files used to create the miniatures and, inside, you find all the rigged poses with lots of bits you can toggle on and off (helmets, webbing, guns, etc.). The aim is to let you make your own custom figures. Like I said in the previous email, you could make second line French troops by importing WWI webbing from the WWI Blender file. Alternatively, the stretch goal adding in the berets and colonial troop bits means you could export new versions of the infantry with the appropriate headwear (or vice-versa; you could use the Indian heads in the WWI files to make British Indian Army troops). WWI troops could also be exported in the same style as my WWII ones by importing the WWII legs.
Summary:
If you own a 3D printer this is a great opportunity to get the drop in the Early War release which now under a year away.
The Core set is very comprehensive having everything you would need for an army along with a huge variety of poses (exploiting one of the best things of 3D printing). The models themselves are really straight forward to print and despite being primarily designed for 6mm work great at 15mm.
With the comprehensive stretch goals the initial pledge could end up vastly expanded with the potential for MW British, Polish, French and even Belgium troops.
Ultimately only you will be able to decide if it’s better to jump in with the early bird discount or wait and pledge when you know what stretch goals are likely to unlock. That said at £59 before early bird discount I think you are getting huge value for money.
If you do want to back the Kickstater then you can head over and find it here
Thank you very much for covering this, Mark!