Yes, you can definitely 3D print amazing, high-quality models that work great for tabletop war games. In 2025, this technology is easier to use and more powerful than ever before.
But that simple "yes" opens a door to an exciting and rewarding world. The real questions aren't if you can do it, but how you do it, what the legal and ethical rules are, and whether it's the right choice for your hobby. This guide will walk you through every part, from the basic equipment and legal issues to finding files and getting print quality that matches store-bought miniatures.
Legal Rules and Community Guidelines
One of the first questions beginners ask is, "Is this illegal?" The answer needs some explanation. Directly copying, sharing, or downloading exact copies of a company's copyrighted models is stealing intellectual property (IP). This is clearly against the law.
The "Inspired-By" Community
Most of the 3D printing community works in a legal gray area. A thriving group of independent digital artists creates unique models that look similar to popular grimdark or fantasy settings but are legally different creations. You won't find a file named after a trademarked unit, but you will find "sci-fi grimdark super soldiers" or "fantasy rat-men assassins." These are often called "proxies"—alternative models used to represent official units.
Community and Tournament Rules
When it comes to playing the game, the rules change depending on where you play. Official Games Workshop tournaments and many official stores require you to use their real models. This is their policy to protect their IP and business.
However, things are very different for casual play. Games with friends, at independent clubs, or in many third-party tournaments often welcome 3D printed models and proxies. The general rule is simple: as long as your opponent can clearly tell what the unit is supposed to be and it's on the right base size, most players are happy to see creative and unique armies on the table.
The main ethical question for many people is about supporting creators. The community mostly draws a line between stealing official IP and supporting independent artists who design and sell their own compatible sculptures.
Your 3D Printing Equipment
Getting started requires specific tools. The technology you choose will have the biggest impact on the quality of your final models.
Choosing Your Printer
The two main types of consumer 3D printers are Resin and FDM. For printing detailed miniatures, one is clearly better.
Resin Printers (SLA/DLP/MSLA)
Resin printers are the miniature-maker's choice. They work by using UV light to harden liquid photopolymer resin layer by tiny layer. By 2025, high-resolution (8K and above) screens are standard for consumer machines, allowing for incredible detail.
- Pros: They make incredibly fine details and smooth surfaces, perfect for the complex designs of 28-32mm scale infantry and characters. The quality easily matches traditional manufacturing.
- Cons: The process can be messy. Liquid resin is a chemical that requires careful handling, meaning you must take safety precautions. Processing your prints after printing is an essential, multi-step part of the workflow.
FDM Printers (Fused Deposition Modeling)
FDM printers are what most people picture when they think of 3D printing. They work by melting a spool of plastic filament and pushing it through a nozzle, building an object layer by layer.
- Pros: FDM is far less messy, and the materials are generally safer and cheaper. Their often larger build spaces make them fantastic for printing large pieces of terrain, buildings, and the bodies of big vehicles.
- Cons: The nature of the process leaves visible layer lines. They struggle to copy the fine details required for infantry-scale models, often resulting in a soft or low-quality finish compared to resin.
The verdict is clear: for printing the models themselves, a resin printer is the recommended technology. For battlefield terrain, an FDM printer is a powerful and cost-effective tool.
Essential Materials
Your printer is only one part of the equation. The material you print with is just as important.
- Resin: For resin printers, you'll use UV photopolymer resin. There are several types. Standard resins are great for general use. "ABS-like" or "Tough" resins offer more durability and flexibility, making them better for models that will be handled frequently during gameplay. Water-washable resins make the cleaning process easier, as they can be cleaned with plain water instead of isopropyl alcohol, though they can sometimes be more brittle.
- Filament: For FDM printers used for terrain, PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the go-to material. It's easy to print with, affordable, and comes in many colors.
Post-Processing and Safety
This part of the process is required for resin printing.
- Wash & Cure Station: After a print finishes, it's covered in uncured, sticky resin. It needs to be washed, typically in isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Then, it needs a final, thorough dose of UV light to fully harden and become safe to handle. A wash and cure station is a dedicated device that makes this into a clean, efficient two-step process.
- Safety First: Uncured liquid resin is a toxic chemical. You must treat it with respect. This means wearing nitrile gloves any time you are handling it. Safety glasses are essential to protect from splashes. Most importantly, you must work in a well-ventilated space. If you cannot vent a room to the outside, a respirator with organic vapor cartridges is necessary safety equipment.
Where to Find Models
Once you have the hardware, you need the digital blueprints. In 3D printing, these are most commonly STL files. The question is, where do you get them?
The Digital Creator Community
An entire industry has grown around creating high-quality, printable miniatures.
- Paid Marketplaces: Websites exist that work as digital stores for independent 3D artists. Here, you can buy files for individual models or entire units. The key to finding what you want is to use descriptive, generic terms like "space elves," "orc brutes," or "heavy armored troopers" rather than trademarked names.
- Creator Subscription Platforms: Services like Patreon and MyMiniFactory's Tribes are the heart of the hobby. Hobbyists can subscribe to their favorite artists for a monthly fee and, in return, receive a bundle of brand-new, professionally sculpted models every month. This is a primary source of new files for a large part of the community.
- Free Repositories: Sites like Thingiverse and Cults3D host millions of free files. You can find lots of content, from weapon upgrades and conversion bits to full models. However, the quality can vary dramatically, and you are more likely to find older or less-detailed designs. Always check the license of the file; many are for personal, non-commercial use only.
Keywords for Success
To find legally distinct proxy models, you need to learn the language. Search for terms like:
- Grimdark Future
- Space Knights
- Cosmic Elves
- Starship Troopers Bugs
- Fantasy Lizarmen
- The Makers Cult
- One Page Rules
From File to Figure
The workflow from a digital file to a physical model can seem scary, but it breaks down into a few logical steps.
Step 1: The Slicer
Before you can print a model, you must prepare it in a "slicer" program. This software takes your 3D model (the STL) and does three critical things: it allows you to position the model for optimal printing, it lets you add support structures, and it "slices" the model into hundreds or thousands of individual layers that the printer can read.
Supports are the most critical part of this stage. Tiny models with delicate parts can't be printed floating in mid-air. They need a scaffold of supports connecting them to the printer's build plate. Most slicers have an auto-support function, but learning to add and adjust supports manually is a key skill. Good supports are the difference between a perfect print and a complete failure.
Step 2: The Print
This is where the magic happens. The physical process involves a quick check before starting. You'll want to shake your bottle of resin thoroughly to mix the components, pour it carefully into the printer's vat, and make sure your build plate is clean and level.
Once you send the sliced file to the printer, you just have to press "go." The most important setting here is your "exposure time"—the amount of time each layer is exposed to UV light. This setting changes by printer, resin, and even room temperature. "Dialing in" your settings by running a few test prints is a crucial first step with any new bottle of resin.
Step 3: The Wash
When the print is complete, the build plate will lift out of the vat holding your model, which will be dripping with uncured resin. After carefully scraping the model off the plate, it goes into a wash bath. This is typically a container of isopropyl alcohol or, for water-washable resin, plain water. A few minutes of gentle movement removes all the leftover liquid resin, leaving a clean, but still soft, print.
Step 4: The Cure
The final step is to make the model strong and safe. After washing, and while the model is still slightly soft, is often the best time to carefully cut off the support structures.
Then, the model goes in for its final UV exposure in a curing station. This last blast of UV light fully hardens the resin all the way through, making it into a durable solid. Once fully cured, the model is completely safe and ready to handle, sand, prime, and paint just like any traditional plastic miniature.
Quality and Expectations
Can you 3d print warhammer models that really compete with a store-bought model? In 2025, the answer is definitely yes. A well-set-up consumer resin printer can produce detail that is virtually identical to, and in some cases even sharper than, traditional injection-molded plastic.
However, it's important to set realistic expectations. This is a technical hobby with a learning curve. Your first few prints might not be perfect. Models might fall off their supports, or layers might separate. Failures are a normal part of the process. You learn from them, adjust your settings, and improve your technique.
It's also worth noting that standard resins can be more brittle than the polystyrene plastic used in model kits. For pieces intended for gameplay, using a "tough" or "ABS-like" resin blend can provide much-needed durability, making them more resistant to being dropped or knocked over on the tabletop.
The Final Verdict
Is diving into 3D printing for your wargaming army the right move for you? A balanced look at the pros and cons can help you decide.
| The Advantages (Pros) | The Disadvantages (Cons) |
|---|---|
| Cost-Effectiveness: After the initial hardware investment, the cost per model is much lower than buying boxed sets. A bottle of resin can produce a whole squad of infantry for a fraction of the retail price. | High Initial Investment: A reliable printer, a wash & cure station, and initial supplies of resin, gloves, and alcohol represent a significant upfront cost. |
| Unmatched Customization: You can print unique poses, custom weapon loadouts, and thousands of third-party upgrade bits to make your army truly your own. | Steep Learning Curve: This is not a "plug-and-play" hobby. Expect to spend time researching, troubleshooting failed prints, and learning the details of your machine and materials. |
| Access & Availability: You can print models that have been out of production for years, or create entire armies from independent designers that don't exist in the mainstream market. | Time Commitment: Printing is not instant. A single plate of models can take several hours, followed by the hands-on time for cleaning and curing. Building an army takes more active effort than buying one. |
| The Hobby Itself: For many, the process of setting up a printer, supporting a file, and successfully producing a perfect model is a deeply rewarding technical hobby in its own right. | Safety & Mess: Resin printing requires a dedicated, well-ventilated space. The materials demand careful handling and create chemical waste (like used IPA and paper towels) that must be disposed of properly. |
| Legal/Tournament Restrictions: As mentioned, your beautifully printed army may not be allowed in official stores or tournaments, limiting where you can play with it. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real starting cost for 3D printing miniatures in 2025?
To get started with reliable, good-quality equipment, a realistic budget is between $500 and $800. This would cover a good entry-level 8K+ resin printer, a combination wash and cure station, and initial supplies like a few liters of resin, nitrile gloves, safety glasses, and isopropyl alcohol.
Can I use my FDM printer for Warhammer models?
Yes, but with a major warning. FDM printers are excellent for terrain, bases, movement trays, and large, blocky vehicles. For detailed infantry, characters, or any model with fine features, you will almost certainly be disappointed with the quality compared to what a resin printer can achieve.
Is resin printing dangerous?
It is safe if you follow proper procedures. The primary risks come from uncured liquid resin, which is a skin irritant and whose fumes should not be breathed over long periods. Always wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses when handling liquid resin or uncured parts. Make sure your workspace has excellent ventilation, either through an open window with a fan or by using a dedicated enclosure and a respirator. Cured resin is perfectly safe.
Can I sell the models I print?
This depends entirely on the license of the digital file. Most files available for free are for personal, non-commercial use only, meaning you cannot sell prints of them. However, many digital sculptors on platforms like Patreon offer a "Merchant Tier" subscription. Paying for this tier gives you a license to sell physical prints of that artist's designs for as long as you remain subscribed.
A New Dimension to Your Hobby
3D printing is a powerful and transformative tool for the tabletop wargaming hobby, but it is not a simple replacement for it. It is a hobby-within-a-hobby.
It offers unmatched creative freedom and long-term value, but it demands an investment of time, money, and a willingness to learn a new skill. It is a journey, not a shortcut. If you are prepared to embrace the process, you will discover a whole new way to engage with your favorite grimdark universe. We encourage you to start small: find a file for a single character you love or a set of custom shoulder pads for your existing army. Embrace the learning process, and welcome to a new dimension of your hobby.