Modelu figures

These are miniature figures -- in the British model railway scales of 4 mm to the foot (1:76.2) and 7 mm to the foot (1:43.5). The larger scale figure is on the right, with two more 4 mm scale examples in bags behind. What is interesting about them is that they are a result of current technology, and that the standing figures should be identical to each other apart from size.

Not so long ago, the quality and accuracy of a model/miniature figure was in large part down to the skill of the sculptor. Normally, a master figure would be painstakingly modelled, and from this would be produced a mould to cast a number of replicas -- traditionally in white metal or pewter. Skill and care is then needed in the casting process in order to avoid defects in the resulting figures, such as excess flash, pitting and heavy mould lines. Even the best cast figure will need some careful attention with a small file to get it ready for painting.

These Modelu (pronounced "Mo-Del-Ee", I understand) figures change the game. For a start they are not cast or injection-moulded. They are in fact 3D-printed in plastic. (Look at the near scale appearance of the brim of the bowler hat.) This means that mould lines and casting defects are a thing of the past. Hurrah! Painting should now require very little preparation. (Although having said that, I notice that the light has caught the tell-tale characteristic of 3D printing in the figure on the right: the contour marks on the chest and the ridging on the bowler hat.)

The other significant difference is that the hand-sculpting process has gone, for better or worse. The casting master is now a real person, so to speak. Laser scanning of someone dressed in character, generates some computer data, which can then be scaled for model use and printed on a 3D printer. This is, of course, a much quicker and less labour-intensive process than hand-sculpting. And it is relatively easy to produce figures in different scales from one set of data. In the traditional casting process, a new master is needed for each scale.

It doesn't take much thought to realise that it should now be possible to create a model figure of oneself! Indeed, if one is so inclined, the service is available...