I got a 3D printer a few months back, it's a game changer for sure.....thats comes at the cost of a pricy learning curve. I've gone through a whole bottle of resin and managed to get a couple sets of wheels, a 4-link suspension setup and a few needy video game things, as well as a ton of failed prints.

Glad you are getting the hang of it

Thanks for sharing your experience and good luck with printing James 👍

Great to see you’ve started the 3D printing journey. I’m positive you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Lots of test prints are important as you’ve found. And thank you for the shoutout. Appreciate you. 😎

Looks like you are doing a great job on the 3d printing James ❤

Hi James! Thanks for the shout out! On the TVR….it sounds like he might not have had the rockers fully sealed…..that makes for a very thin wall to print, and led to the failure. When he originally printed it, he may have lucked out (or fixed the slight issue), but open areas are asking for trouble. Yes, time is a major factor with 3D printing. In creating a file such as I do in making .obj files printable, 90% of your time will be behind the keyboard. One body alone can take anywhere from 3 days, to an entire week. The major plus side is that you’ll have something that the major kit manufacturers will NEVER produce, and more than likely if you build the model and go to a show, your model will be one of one. Thanks again for the great video…..I’d like to at some point demonstrate on video on my channel how to do wall thickness for car bodies. It’s waaaaay too much to explain in text…..must be done on screen where folks can hear me speaking. 👌🏾

Great job getting into the 3D printing world James. It was great watching you talk about the cons and pros as sometimes I also consider buying my own printer. So far I didn't, so it was great knowing exactly what I needed to know. Nice work with the Sagaris and BMW.. clear parts are always something that worries me so it was good hearing you also speak about those. Keep up the good work.

Awesome video

I just got into 3D printed builds. I started with adding printed add Ons such as powertrain components and even engines to plastic kits. Now I'm working on printed kits and its a whole different monster, surely enjoyable but a lot of work. I'm happy to see your channel covering this topic. Awesome stuff friend!

Excellent video!

3D printing is fascinating stuff. I agree that this is definitely the future but I’m not ready to give up box kits just yet.

Yep it is the path the hobby is going.

I look forward to the sequel.

Welcome to the world of 3D printing. I got a printer at the start of the year and have enjoyed the process. Yup, I have had my learning hiccups but I have also gotten some really cool stuff from it. There are so many variables to factor in but you do find a rhythm and even get a little addicted with the parts stash of files. Failed prints happen, but it is not unlike working on that stubborn model with fit issues. Throw in that I am working on making a few things of my own and it is nearly a new hobby and not just an addition to the one we already enjoy. Still learning supports and print staging/ positioning but I do have a full kit printed and will eventually have my first model where I printed and built it myself - that’s just a cool feeling.

Very informative video James. I am so interested in the 3D stuff, but not yet ready to take the plunge. On the windows, I bought a large book at Michaels a few years back that was all clear acetate sheets. I believe it was for making cards (birthday etc) and it is .008 thick, I use it for my window glass in all my resin cabs I have built, and it works really well. I do not recall what I payed for it but it was not much . Seeing how many sheets it had (25) I've used it for years. Good luck.

I got caught up in the wanting to 3d print and ordered the elegoo saturn printer with curing and wash station and all stuff needed for it. Started watching and learning from tutorials and after getting overloaded and seeing many others struggles, i sent it all back. 😆 I'll be content for now ordering from people who know what they're doing.😊

Great video and some good insights on the process. From some of the comments I see in model car groups it seems like a lot of people expect 3D printing to be push-button easy like the replicators in Star Trek. It takes a lot of skill to design a 3D object like a car body and printing the design is not trivial.

Like you, I do believe that 3D printing is the future of our hobby in about 20 years. As you know, you can print many amazing parts and bodies with a 3D printer. I am sure I will have one someday. Thanks for sharing.

In my opinion 3D printing bodies is really better suited to make a “MASTER” to then prep and make a mold of. Not sure if Alpha Model does that but, their kits are very nice with the exception to the no engine, plain chassis and the windows. That car looks very NICE! Maybe someone will cast mold it 🙏

I’m not into the 3D printing yet, just worried about the cost of prints, especially with the failed prints. Thanks for sharing! 😎🇨🇦

Vary cool good to see your trying your hand at 3D printing but I think I will do as you said and buy from another source as I don't think I would want to get into 3D printing ,but I do thank you for your honest opinion thanks enjoyed 👍

Hey for your FEP sheet I would suggest using machinist oil like you would get at the parts store rub it on and let it sit for a little while then rub the excess clean. It will also help keep the prints from sticking to the sheet.

You've had better luck than me. I have an Elegoo Saturn and have never had a successful print except the test prints. 2 LCD screens later I'm walking away from it. I hope to purchase a Anycubic just not sure when. Everyone I know has Anycubic. Hope to have better results. Nice video James. I could even see the manufactures selling files vrs. a boxed kit???? Thanks for sharing

Very cool. You'll get the bugs worked out and be printing some cool stuff in no time. I'd like to someday, but it seems intimidating. Until then, I'll buy from the pros. Cool froggy and elephant.

haha that frog 😂

Hey James, thanks for this video. Always learn something new from them! I was thinking about getting a 3D printer for some of my stuff. Mostly was thinking about printing 1/25 & 1/24 scale driver figures for my race cars? What are your thoughts about that?

If someone plans to get into 3d printing to make parts for their hobby. Its best that 3d printing is also one of their hobbies. Luckily model railroading and 3d printingare both my favorite hobbies.

I am a 3d modeler and i have a Prusa Mini and a Elegoo Saturn 4K resin printer and Mercury X wash and cure bundle. At first i thought resin printing was a expensive and messy job mostly to clean every part and i was super carefull to not spill resin on the skin, that discouraged me to make more resin parts, but, now i see that resin printing is very handy to make cool custom build parts or pieces that otherwise you wouldn´t be able to get them in a conventional store. You can make everything you want and the printer will make your idea come to life in just a couple of hours with great detail, which is a big thing. The cleaning process becomes easier over time. You can use just gloves, cleaning wipes and protective glasses to not spill resin to your eyes and thats it, its now a faster process than before. Also i have a Prusa mini that has its own advantages in PLA printing over resin printing, like make more solid stronger parts and save filament in the process, so each printer have its own advantages (PLA or Resin), poeple just need to find whats more usefull and suitable for the final project. My advice is not be discouraged and keep practicing because 3d printing is very useful in life.

After years of saving and searching, I finally bought my 3d printer, an anycubic photon mono x 6ks. I love model cars and want to print some too. I also have made my own model in fusion, a 1977 Puma GTE. It has lots and lots of details and just by this video I realized I'll face a lot of frustration for printing it (and maybe will have to make it simpler)

So cool thanks for sharing. Wondering if u will take custom orders. 1/24 scale figures. Thank you

For your windows or headlights u could try printing in clear. There are a few different clears and cost varies greatly.

thats awsome james yeah i got my 2nd printer couple weeks back i went with creality HALOT ONE but I should went for another creality with bigger build plate for car bodys but it's perfect for bodykits wheels figures parts im actually starting the 400z this week I'm just printing out the bodykit i got sponsored by you mentioned him on cults he's known as black box awsome files I baught some in past and I reached out to do build if he was interested in sponsor my build and luckily he had no problem just 1 catch not to give file to anyone so ill respect his rules for been a good guy helping me and I'll shout him out and link him in videos on 400Z build i just finished bodykit so little cleaning and mocking up so that's next on the bench this week but you prints look awsome and ur new to it so your actually very good bmw looked awsome so did the first car you got someone to try but you sorted it in end looks awsome but yeah I just taut id mention it cause you asked any of us printing to let you know what we think of printing they are the future your rite,👍Keith

Congrats on the printer. I'm addicted to mine. Unfortunately I cracked my screen replacing the screen protector and have to wait like a month for a replacement... I'm going through withdrawls. Highly recommend Uncle Jessy's channel s a learning resource. Acetate sheet might be another good alternative for cheap windows.

Gorgeous looking prints. What resin did you use? Just the standard resin ?

I think $20 for an engine kit is a bargan. I can't imagine the time it takes to research and design those kits so that they'll end up how they're supposed to. When I was at the IPMS show yesterday, there was a beutiful figure of 2B from Nier:Automata. I'm guessing it might have been a 3D kit. That would be my problem...going down the anime character rabbit hole! lol

i wounder if you could use cell phone protectors none tempered for windshields

Nice video thanks a lot of information can you tell me the name of the car than you printed 3 times Congratulation

Over all, What are Your thoughts on having taken the leap into the future of model cars? Was it worth it to You? Is it worth the time and energy? How difficult is it to learn, the 3D programing that is? I thought about it, once. I am just not to sure of the value of it all, money(cost) and time(aggravation)?? Thank You so very much for sharing this with Us all here on the tube. I for one am very interested in what You think on all of this NEW AGE tech for the hobby.

Those bodies would be perfect for slot cars, and you can use a heat gun to shape that window plastic. Awesome video, thanks man!

Hi! May I ask something? The 3D files that you use, are they just from the internet of special made for model cars? And how do you know if something is printable?

Next time consider an Elegoo printer. As for your spreading body panels at the bottom, you don’t need extra support, just hold the body in position overnight and it will stay that shape afterwards.

Give us a link to this TVR file when your friend will post it.

where do you get you files from

Is it a resin printer or an fdm printer?

Any concerns or comments regarding Resin's toxicity levels?

Literally just bought my printer my curing/washing station iceman collection is the reason I wanted to start at least trying his stuff is so amazing and I agree the pricing isn't bad at all 😊

You know what would be cool: print yourself to display with your models!🤔 then a bunch in the driving position to put in the builds ! Interesting and way over my head! Good looking print for the first try! You will have it mastered in no time! 😎✌️🫡🇺🇸