Any love for 3d printed props? Blade Runner PKD.

[Combat Gerbil]

Having still seen a few recent posts on the classic Deckard Blade runner blaster, I was wondering as the title says, is there any love for 3d printed versions? Given that there are some actually reasonably good quality print kits these days, I took a couple of pints on Two kits. Both very inexpensive options, under £50 each. My favourite which arrived already built, now has replacement resin grips from Tiptop which revealed the hidden detail of the revolver grip which I didn't know was there til the original rather bright orange grips were removed.
Here it is now.....

Vs how it started and with the first kit.

 

[ObiRobKenobi]

Having still seen a few recent posts on the classic Deckard Blade runner blaster, I was wondering as the title says, is there any love for 3d printed versions? Given that there are some actually reasonably good quality print kits these days, I took a couple of pints on Two kits. Both very inexpensive options, under £50 each. My favourite which arrived already built, now has replacement resin grips from Tiptop which revealed the hidden detail of the revolver grip which I didn't know was there til the original rather bright orange grips were removed.
Here it is now.....
View attachment 1879188

Vs how it started and with the first kit.
View attachment 1879189

Very nice.

 

[IFA]

For £50 each, they look great.....do they need a lot of work to finish them ?

 

[Combat Gerbil]

For £50 each, they look great.....do they need a lot of work to finish them ?

The "grey" one was only £29... yes.. I know!.. That one I ordered as a kit so had to build it myself, but it didn't need any finishing as such. It is already printed in the colourway you see.
The Second one was also printed in it's colourway, ie: metallic filament for the most part, with the black parts and original orange grips printed in those colours. This one was pre built, hence the nice hidden surprise when removing the orange grips, and other than replacing the grips with resin ones, I only needed to paint the LEDs and add to the light weathering wash.
I took a punt on the grips not knowing what if any Earlier kit it might be based on. I found TipTop Workshop selling their "Anders" kit reject/seconds for only £8 and they looked like they might work. When I got them, I removed the originals and put the cleaner one in place and found they were a perfect match, even to the screw holes lining up. So an hour or so of trimming the over molding, sanding the backs flat enough to use and drilling out the already started (molded) screw holes, I installed them. So very little needed. The print resolution and quality is very good for filament.

 

[Combat Gerbil]

Arty shot with newly acquired Blade Runner-esque Whisky glass.. Just.. because.

 

[Starganderfish]

I love these. I live in Aust and we have strict/sensible gun-laws and very firm rules on imports and customs, so I'm unable to pick up one of the metal replicas, either from members on here or from places like Paragon collectables etc.
I recently went through a somewhat tense email exchange with Aus Customs to get an imported Krull star-knife released by customs because they claimed it was a throwing Star!! I can't imagine how they'd react to something that looks that much like a pistol!!
I started printing a kit on my resin printer about 6 months ago but ended up having to put it on hold while we moved house. Hopefully I can work out where I put the parts I'd already printed, finish the rest and get to work on finishing it... eventually. Looking at the details on your 3D printed replica's I suspect they may well be the same 3D model, which I think is also the one that Tip Top uses.
I've also purchased a 3D resin-printed kit of the Ron Perlman Hell Boy's Good Samaritan pistol from Tip Top. That's also in a drawer somewhere waiting to be started.
The finish on yours is nice, especially for a 3d print, but I eventually want to experiment with electroplating, and try and get an electroplated nickel finish on the two kits for that extra touch of added realism.

 

[Combat Gerbil]

I think this sort of thing can become a bit habit forming... I bought another one.. One for best/display, one for Costume use. (Edit: Pictures updated with final weathering)

 

[Noeland]

How it started:

How it finished:

 

[Geuse]

How it started:

View attachment 1881799


How it finished:

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that looks slick! Is that a glued on vinyl sheet?

 

[Noeland]

that looks slick! Is that a glued on vinyl sheet?

Nope. I printed then painted those grips.

I tried several grips on this blaster before deciding to use the fake painted wood. I even resin printed some to be transparent.

 

[yaris]

Very nice work from a 3D printer......and excellent weathering...!!

 

[Geuse]

Nope. I printed then painted those grips.

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I tried several grips on this blaster before deciding to use the fake painted wood. I even resin printed some to be transparent.

View attachment 1882031

Whoah! That's impressive! Nice paint work!

 

[Mechamaniac]

Those "wood" grips look sick as hell. Indistinguishable from the real thing.

Also, that scoped version is awesome. I'm getting real Snake Plissken vibes from it.

 

[Combat Gerbil]

Blimey.. I thought those were actual Wood grips..

 

[TheBeast]

As a newbie, I have got to say, the subject REALLY brought me up short.

"Any love for 3d printed props?"

Everywhere I look, someone is going on about what they are printing to add to a build, what printed detail they just bought.

So, you mean completely printed kits or finished goods, because I must be misremembering, thinking I had already seen plenty of love.

As I said, newbie, and I may be missing nuance.

 

[Combat Gerbil]

As a newbie, I have got to say, the subject REALLY brought me up short.

"Any love for 3d printed props?"

Everywhere I look, someone is going on about what they are printing to add to a build, what printed detail they just bought.

So, you mean completely printed kits or finished goods, because I must be misremembering, thinking I had already seen plenty of love.

As I said, newbie, and I may be missing nuance.

For context, Last time I was on the forum, was 2017. I know many prop makers and collectors like things as close to the originals as possible, so didn't know if there was indeed much love for 3d printed props. These PKD pistols being my only experience of obtaining such myself. I have seen some pretty terrible quality prints for a lot more money so I have been surprised by the quality of modern filament printed items, especially for what I paid.

 

[joberg]

Real nice for sure

 

[TheBeast]

As fellow who has, in my short time here, 'stuck his foot in it' before, I just wanted you to know I gave you the .

You and me, bruddah. You and me...

 

[GrumoBCN]

Nope. I printed then painted those grips.

View attachment 1882032
View attachment 1882033
View attachment 1882034

I tried several grips on this blaster before deciding to use the fake painted wood. I even resin printed some to be transparent.

View attachment 1882031

Those grips look like real wood. You are an awesome detailed painter. I printed my PKD on resin and I was very happy with my own printed grips in clear orange but now, with your grips, you have destroyed me :-(

 

[Combat Gerbil]

Minor weathering/painting update, tackled the grip plates today. Started with the "costume" version (right) maybe a little ott but still suits the more used look of that piece. Then the Best/Display piece (left) Much better overall. Black acrylic paint, let dry then just hit with coarse wire wool in multiple directions. Next on the list is to tackle painting the back straps. I'll use black enamel paint for that I think.