For those interested, I've put up a much cheaper version ($27) of the CSS-1 Shuttle.
Thanks to Mel for hollowing it out correctly 
Shapeways Quality?
Purchased.
Axotl. So far the only one i have completed is the Bright Avenger. not an official ship bit it has been popular. Had some issues going on in life for the last week or so which has put me behind but the rest will be coming along soon. Im starting with the Nebulon inspired ships. Im also redetailing, and resizing when needed, my space stations. And modifying the size of my imperial wedges
I ordered a Sith Infiltrator in frosted detail and I wasn't happy with the result at all.
The bottom was perfect but the top of the fig was totally messed up ! (As you can see...)
So I send a complaint by email and they agreed that the print wasn't the quality expected. They sent me a free new Infiltrator few days after ! (that is perfect )
The contact with the service was really fast and nice and I must say that this problem won't stop me from buying other prints in the future.
Edited by DestyreI guess this must be why Shapeways have dropped the frosted detail material, it's the secondexample we've seen
Yes, just last week I saw a Lady Luck done terribly in Frosted Detail. Clearly Shapeways has a good reason to take down that material. Sorry, Destyre. Although now you will have two Sith Infiltators one bumped and old
Could turn the old and poopy one into some space debris.
Could turn the old and poopy one into some space debris.
That's a nice idea !
"Your Shapeways order may be delayed"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Edit: UPDATE
"Your Shapeways order has been shipped"
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
(emails came in less than 12 hours apart!)
Edited by FTS GeckoReally? My order from April 27th STILL hasn't shipped. Grr...
Really? My order from April 27th STILL hasn't shipped. Grr...
My order was placed on the 27th as well, so maybe you'll hear something shortly.
Do they ship from different factories for different regions? I think mine's being shipped from Holland...
27th of April? There's no way. It can take up to a month unfortunately.
Also, it depends on what you guys are buying. If the item has only been printed once or never, it can take longer than usual since they have to manually verify the object integrity.
My new cargo containers got delayed nearly two weeks because it took them a while to report back to me some printing issues (which I fixed immediately).
Links in case anyone is interested:
Single
3x Pack
"Your Shapeways order may be delayed"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Edit: UPDATE
"Your Shapeways order has been shipped"
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
(emails came in less than 12 hours apart!)
Even as a designer i have had that happen. A bit odd . I can only assume they have an automated thing that goes out if the model is not completed in an allotted time. Hence the delay announcement even if it is finished 10 minutes later
Usually between 10 and 14 days if it is a good print. sometimes if it is a bad one and they actually notice they just go ahead and remake it which delays things. But usually then it is at least given priority on the print queue
Even as a designer i have had that happen. A bit odd . I can only assume they have an automated thing that goes out if the model is not completed in an allotted time. Hence the delay announcement even if it is finished 10 minutes later
Yeah, it must be, the delay email came in after midnight, the dispatch 12 noon the next day. It's with UPS now anyway, looking forward to seeing the Z95's Gosric!
Ive gotten super lucky on my Shapeways orders... But that may be because I live less than 50 miles from a factory apparently; or at least where they ship my orders from. 
A bit of a tangent but how on earth do the guys making 3d models for the game (especially ones that FFG/Disney make/licence themselves) not get sued to hell and back.
Dont get me wrong, im glad you guys make them, it adds variety to the game but surely its like massively illegal and using a thid parties IP withouth their consent?
Also what do you do about base chits and dials?
Im not judging anyone, i just know that people like 'chapterhouse' who made parts for 40k that GW didnt make or were unlikely to make got taken to court over using IP that GW felt they owned.
Are you just too small to come up on their radar, do you have an unnoficial agreement or do you just do what you like?
I'm *genuinely* curious.
Im pretty sure if i started making lead models for imperial assault i'd lose my house in the resulting lawsuit so i just dont understand how this works.
I can *sort* of understand you making preque ships etc but if someone makes a 3d printer phantom, surely thats hurting FFG?
Oh yeah i know about the pilot card creator. I just didnt realise it could make base chits too.
Do strange eons make custom dials then?
Strange Eons lets you create custom cards, the card creator lets you do the dials and base chits. There's also plenty of base chit and dial templates knocking around the various board game forums as well.
I really doubt the 3D printing is "hurting" FFG in any way at all - in your example of the Phantom, for instance, a 3D print would cost more than FFG's own Phantom, be unpainted and come with no rules, tokens or dials. The only reason anyone would get one is if they had a specific modelling stroke hobbyist plan for it, and it was something they couldn't achieve with FFG's own products.
Take the Z95's I've ordered as well; more expensive than FFG's own, and I already own 6 FFG Z-95's. I've picked these up simply to add a bit of visual variety to my Scum swarms in friendly play - I'm not buying them instead of FFG's products, I'm buying them in addition to.
The other issue I guess is unreleased ships - there's many available through 3D printingthat FFG don't currently offer. Some people have no doubt bought a 3D printed IG-2000. I doubt that stopped them buying FFG's version when it arrved. The same goes for the Hound's Tooth.
Yeah but its still essentially using protected IP to make financial gain, im just amazed Disney have not sent a dozen C&D letters to each of the unnoficial makers.
Also if the product quality of say a phantom is poor ( a mate of mine got one all twisted up) then if people see it on the table and assume its an FFG one that been repainted it makes FFG look bad.
Im just curious as to where it all sits legally
Dont worry im not going to be on the phone to Disney saying 'shut these guys down', i dont care... and i want a 3d senator shuttle but i do worry about it probably being quite illegal
I know that Shapeways has some kind of deal going with Hasbro that lets people do things with Hasbro IPs, so it's possible that Shapeways has some kind of deal going with Disney too.
"Yeah but its still essentially using protected IP to make financial gain, and other stuff..."
It's basically a legal grey area. 3D models are for the most part original creations that come close to the actual ones but not close enough. Also (in terms of my stuff, dunno about the others), it's basically items not sold or made by FFG or anyone else.
If someone took one of the FFG models and started recasting them by making a mold, you'd have solid legal precedent for a lawsuit.
Adam Savage (former ILM) actually touched on this in a recent episode of the Tested podcast. It is the same legal grey zone that governs the much bigger replica prop community (i.e. the RPF). Basically those creations (and the cottage industry surrounding it) makes so little money and sells so few, that Lucasfilm turns a blind eye and instead chalks it up to additional marketing.
However, he explained that on occasion, some of those small companies get too big and they end up with a C&D letter. This is why a lot of the bigger prop and model makers get a limited license just to be on the safe side.
Now, given how niche the RPF community is (and how little even those projects make), the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Shapeways 3D model reproduction (of stuff not available) is even smaller. For example, I've made enough to buy a McDonald's Happy Meal.
Don't use Games Workshop as a metric. In the two big cases where they attempted to scare accessory manufacturers with C&D letters, they were taken to court and lost (GW). In the other cases where Games Workshop won, it was "recasters", casting GW models and reselling them for cheaper.
Edited by FanbusI know i dont make enough to really call it a business it really is more of a labour of love for me. So i'm definitely small enough to go under the radar. Also i dont tend to make the same ships that FFG makes. And on the rare occasions that i do like my Z-95s it is a radically different design from the official FFG one.
The only time i have received a C&D was for some, for some reason not all, of my Federation Trek ships.
Cool, honestly im just really glad you guys can do this.
I was just amazed that FFG allow it to be advertised on their forums.
I'd understand if you had to be 'shifty' about it but you're all very open.
You make great stuff too BTW.
I think LFL/Disney are probably harsher with the cosplay stuff. There is a lot of 'props' on ebay but its usually chinese companies who just dont care about IP infringment.
I know putting my TIE pilots costuem together accurately was a nightmare as nobody sells the stuff that 'openly' and you sort of have to ask by word of mouth and have people recommend manufacturers on forums etc
The only thing you can get officially is the helmets etc and they are usually slightly incorrect and need conversion work.
So cheers guys, question answered. I hope you have every success making more and more cool stuff!
Dont suppose you know anyone who makes the rebel tower cannons from hoth in xwing scale etc?