Modern Tech for ancient armies

You guys might think this is neat.
I run an architectural model making company and I have a few high tech tools that I like to play around with sometimes -- one of which is a 3D printer. It is very easy to create miniature components, and then have the machine produce them. Maybe this will give you guys a few ideas.

I've been busy re-basing my Macedonian army for Impetus. I really like the diorama approach to Impetus, and I wanted to make the most of it. White I was re-basing I decided to add a few improvements. The sarissa (macedonian pike) had a heavy counterweight at the  end, and I wanted to add them on to my metal spears (from North Star). I decided the easiest way to do so was with the 3D printer.

I designed the sauroter (the counterweight/butt-spike) to slip on over the end of the spear. The dimensions are heavily exaggerated, since at this scale the details are much too fine for my 3D printer to reliably reproduce. Not a lot of detail here but the object is pretty small and it wouldn't print much more anyway.


A whole plate-full of these was sent to the 3D printer. Over about an hour they were built, and after a little washing and curing they were ready to be removed, trimmed and attached to the spears. My machine produces everything in a sickly yellow plastic so they have to be painted afterwords.

The final object is thicker and "fatter" than a real sauroter by far, but when painted it seems to work well enough.


After a little more work the unit was ready. I made enough of these sauroters for 7 double-based units. I'm still painting the others!

Interesting idea and nicely carried out

Jim

Well they sure look great to me!

Christopher