Alien Hives models: a Fantastic alternative to over-priced wargaming models

It’s early October in 2021 and I finally started 3d Printing! After years of paying premium GW prices for tiny plastic men and scouring Ebay for the slightest of discounts, I think I’ve finally had enough. I’ve purchased several 3d printed models online from small vendors and have some friends who own 3d printers, but I was hesitant to make the investment.

Now that I have finally bought one, I don’t know why I waited so long. 

Most of the arguments I’ve heard against owning resin printers are that the resin stinks and resin printers are difficult to maintain and clean. It’s true, resin does smell bad and you are dealing with harsh chemicals that you need to clean cautiously. However, in my opinion the smell is manageable as long as you have a well-ventilated space (where there isn’t a lot of UV exposure) to set the printer up in. I had plans to build a fume extraction booth, but I decided to set the printer up in my garage first, just to see how bad the smell actually was and was shocked at how mild it was!

Personally, I would avoid setting one up in a living space unless you have a good way to quarantine and vent the area.  This could be as simple as closing a door and putting a fan in a nearby window. Ultimately, every situation is going to be a little different and It’s really something you’re going to have to figure out for yourself.

My point is, don’t let that stop you from trying it out.

Cleaning up the resin hasn’t been too bad either. Just wear some gloves and be careful.  Once you understand the process, cleanup is minimal.  You DO NOT need to clean up the resin tray every time you print. That was a big misconception I had about resin printing.

As far as resin printer maintenance goes, time will tell. I haven’t experienced any issues yet. (Fingers Crossed)