--- type: Article title: Resin printed figures for Whitesands Quay description: Resin printed figures for Whitesands Quay, 3D printed and painted with intricate details, using Modelu files and Elegoo Mars 3 Pro printer. resource: https://www.simoncox.com/post/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay/ tags: [Post, Modelling, Whitesands] timestamp: 2024-07-08 --- ![The mounted figures mostly painted photographed against a real backdrop of trees and sky.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay.jpg){loading="eager"} I signed up for the [Modelu.](https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/downloadable-models/) Patreon plan last year and pay a small amount each month and in return I receive a zip file of five or six figures on a theme for the month. These files are the .stl files for 3D printing. The downloads are only available for a short time and I missed March and Aprils this year - completely forgot to download them! For the June release we had a pack of Sea Workers - men in oilskins, and these will be great for [Whitesands Quay.](/whitesands/). I had to look up the history of oilskins to ensure they are ok for the era I am modelling, they are, so I downloaded the files for printing. ## 3D printing My Elegoo Mars 3 Pro printer has not been printing out well the last few times I used it - months ago. It put me off trying anything more for a while. After some online reading I realised that the problem was probably the FEP - the clear sheet at the bottom of the resin tank. I emptied the tank and cleaned it - the sheet was no longer clear but had an opaqueness to it. Also it was scratched in a few places and had a few odd lumps. A replacement was needed. I purchased a pack of 5 PFA Release Liner Film sheets. Replacing the sheet involved unscrewing 28 screws from the tank and plate, replacing the film and then replacing the 28 screws. ## New resin The Elegoo Water-washable Resin I have is nearly out of date and I discovered they now also produce a new version called 8K Water-washable Resin which some people are suggesting is just a marketing gimmick. It comes in three shades of grey and I chose the darkest - called space grey, just like the Apple products and about the same colour... So yes perhaps a marketing gimmick! However the combination of the 8K resin and the new FEP has produced an excellent set of prints! I printed 40 figures from the Modelu files I had - many for the first time - in one batch costing me 18p in materials. I will still purchase Modelu figures though as their quality is better than I can print, less brittle and they have figures for sale that have not been made available as files. Having cleaned then and hardened them using UV light I set about painting. ![The 3D printed figures drying off with supports still attached.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5692.jpg) Cleaning up the prints means cutting off the supports which are necessary to support the delicate part of the models. This resin is very brittle and I lost a few hands and feet in this process - some of which I was able to superglue back on but it is a delicate part of the process. ![Some of the cleaned figures - children - after the supports have been removed.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5694.jpg) ## Figure painting techniques I mounted 10 figures onto double sided tape on a block of wood. This tape might be a bit too strong but I am going to cut the figures off their printing support sprues anyway. I airbrushed the figures with Ammo by Mig One Shot Black primer. I then followed up using One Shot White primer only from the top. This will give a subtle shading when painted. ![10 figures mounted and sprayed black.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5719.jpg) ![The mounted figures are then sprayed with white primer from the top only.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5720.jpg) ![The mounted figures now have an undercoated shading.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5721.jpg) The first thing to paint that I do is always the flesh. This immediately brings them to life! ![First paint is the flesh bringing the figures to life.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5722.jpg) Then I work around the figures mixing and adding colours. There is so much detail on these figures that they are hard but a joy to paint. ![The mounted figures mostly painted photographed against a real backdrop of trees and sky.](/assets/img/content/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay-5731.jpg) I will update when I have completed these. [Read full article](https://www.simoncox.com/post/2024-07-08-resin-printed-figures-for-whitesands-quay/)