How To Make 3D Models and Printed Miniatures feat. M3DM

In this video I go over my process of printing and painting a miniature for Dungeons and Dragons, alongside Mia, aka M3DM, who shows you how to make a 3D model from scratch!

I use an Elegoo Mars Resin 3D printer, and it is absolutely fantastic for this application. The detail that you get on the resin miniatures is so pristine it's crazy. I cannot see the build lines in person at all, though I recognize that you can see them in this video. But hey, you have to give me some credit, 4k video shows all flaws!

Mia, also known as M3DM, was gracious enough to answer some questions about the 3D modeling process for the video, and hopefully give you all a better insight into the process than I could offer you. She put THIS model as well as all of her other models up on Thingiverse for FREE - that's right, FREE - so that you can download and print them for yourself if you would like to.

She based the model off of a character design that I gave her for my Orc Monk named Grug Tug'O'lug. The images you see her using in the background of the modeling process are reference images and have no effect on the final product other than getting Orc proportions correct.

If you would like to print your own minis like this, consider getting an Elegoo Mars Resin 3D printer. They are pretty darn cheap as far as Resin Printers are concerned, and super simple to use. I highly endorse/recommend them.

If you have any ideas for what you would like to see built/reviewed in the future, let me know in the comments down below! Then subscribe so you don't miss any new videos coming out in the future! Also, if you liked this, gimme that sweet sweet like.

MUSIC:

"Renaissance Period" "Music For Youtube Videos" "Royalty Free Music"

LAKEY INSPIRED - Better Days

[TheShadesOfBlack]

Honestly, the most inspirational thing in this video is Mia saying she's only been modeling for 2 years. As someone who's struggling with organic modeling, it's nice hearing that I wont be 50 by the time I'm competent.

[Rybonator]

The Orc Monk that you see in this video is named Grug Tug'O'Lug. He is a proud orc who uses strength to fight instead of dexterity. He is a devoted husband to his dwarf wife, and a fierce warrior. Gods forbid you say anything that would hurt his pride, as your face may find itself in the midst of a pulverizing. He talks of big game, but is a big softy at heart. He only eats meats and cheese, and has written a cookbook called "Much ado about Cheese" that spreads the knowledge of which meats go best with which cheeses.

I hope you like him!

[Rybonator]

I feel like I should clarify something, as it's come up a lot in the comments - This resin is by no means "brittle", and my video may have given that impression. I'm just saying it's MORE brittle/fragile than a manufactured plastic miniature. It took both hands to break the legs of the figure. In this places, yes it's brittle, but so are many thin plastic figures. Just wanted to let you know that it doesn't like... break with puff of wind or anything haha. It's still good quality stuff. :)

[jacobsimmons]

I don't play D&D, Or have any of the materials required do do any of this. BUT...I have subed and turned on notifications. You deserve it tho.

[spltnk]

I love how you validated being new and not perfect to this project. So often people make you feel bad for doing something the 'amateur' way simply because it's cheeper or less time consuming. I'm a full time college student and I work a lot so I definitely don't have time to make extremely detailed paint jobs on my minis or to make my dice as professionally as others, but the end result is exactly where my skill level (and budget lol) should be. I absolutely love your content because you're very straight forward and down to earth. Keep up the awesome vids! I can't wait to see what you make next!

[ashendc]

I wish 3D printers were cheaper. I'd love to be able to make my own minis. Awesome video as always!

[TarotMom]

This is perfectly timed because hubs and I are thinking of getting our own 3d resin printer soon!

[ClokworkGremlin]

Coming from someone who has been dabbling in 3D modeling since before 2000, Mia's skills are really impressive for only 1.5 years. Better than mine, honestly.

Seconding the recommendations for Blender and Sculptris. I've tried both, and I hate Blender's UI, but they redid it recently, and while I haven't tried it personally, I hear it's been a huge improvement.

Personally, I use Wings 3D, which is a bit older-fashioned, but still solid.

I've been wanting to try some water-washable resin, in part because I want to know if it may inhibit platinum-based silicones at least a little less.

Based on my experience, my advice for auto-supports on resin printers would be... don't. The algorithm loves putting way too much support on spots that don't need it, and almost none on problem areas.

I prefer to orient the models upside-down for printing. Won't help with Grug here, you'll need supports on his fists or his elbows, but hair and limbs tend to hang downwards, which means if you print them upside-down, they often need basically no support. Other than that, try to orient your model to avoid needing support, and remember that hanging down or a 45-degree angle is almost always better than sitting flat.

Part of the reason the printed resin figurines are more fragile than "regular" resin figurines is just that SLA resin is really brittle, and it will be brittle if you're flexing across the print layers or along them. If you'd like something a bit more durable, look for "ABS-like" SLA resins, which are designed to have a bit more strength and elasticity when cured... at the cost of ...costing... about twice as much.

But hey, if you want the quality, it's not going to come cheap.

It will be interesting to see how your strategy for designing master-casts for dice compares with mine. Perhaps we can compare notes in a later series.

[crunchyeater]

Love the vibes in the intro, always gets me in the mood.

[FriedRicePlease]

I WANT 3D PRINTED DICE GOBLIN MAN! LET ME SEE ADORABLENESS IN 3D!!

[guidetoanything]

When the adorable dice goblin tells you to ring the bell, you ring the dang bell!!! Lol

Glad to see you doing more collab videos! It's nice to see other artists in the community show off their craft too :)

[robertc.]

I just wanna preface this comment by saying that I am by no means a professional commenter, I am an amateur, and I'm doing my best, kinda learning as I go.

Wow Rybonator! Great video!!

Again, I am by no means a professional, this is like my first time, but I'm happy with how that turned out!

[jonathantillian]

Hey! Goobertown! I love that guy!
He sounds like Bob Ross and Mr. Rogers had a miniature painting baby.

[techno_tuna]

Yo legit you are far too humble, you did a great job

[universeapart]

Rybonator: it’s just not worth molding and recreating minis
Me: but I wanna see that...

[Xammox]

This video was great. I 3D print on an Photon and an Ender 3 and it's great to see how others are utilizing 3D printing and the tools involved. I had never heard of water soluble resin until this video. Thank you for branching out to the other aspects surrounding the D&D game/hobby.

[phgmnt]

This was a fascinating watch. And Mia has an enormous amount of minis on her thingiverse page. And they're all fantastic models.

[pasuk]

The quality really is amazing! It's great to see how much 3D printers have improved over the years :) I also really like the idea of keeping one of the figures clear for invisibility!

[emilyjfreer]

I could watch Mia model 3D models all day, it’s so satisfying

[Ishpeck]

Mia Kay and Rybonator in the same video? Can the Internet handle this much coolness?