When The Part You Need Doesn't Exist
Ever stared at a parts tree looking for that one piece that’s mysteriously missing? Or finished a vintage kit only to find the canopy has yellowed beyond salvation? Maybe you’ve got this crazy conversion idea but no way to make the weird parts it needs?
That’s where our digital workshop comes in. We’ve got the modeling chops and the printer farm to make pretty much any part you can dream up.
What We Can Create:
Out-of-Production Part Recreation
Got an old Monogram kit with a snapped strut? Revell mold from the 70s with a warped fuselage half? We’ll scan the broken bits (or use reference images) and recreate those impossible-to-find parts. We match dimensions down to 0.1mm and can even replicate those vintage panel lines and rivet details.
Scratch-Built Custom Components
When you need something that never existed in a kit, we’ll build it from scratch in CAD. From complex engine conversions to gun pods that the manufacturer never included, we can design it from reference photos or technical drawings. We’ve done everything from entire cockpit tubs to microscopic radar arrays.
Scale Conversion Pieces
Want to turn that 1/72 Corsair into a 1/48 beast? Need to upscale a tank turret to match a different model? We’ll handle the math and scaling to make parts that actually fit and maintain proper proportions. No more eyeballing it and hoping for the best.
One-Off Special Features
Functioning bomb bay doors. Rotating gun turrets. Custom display bases with perfect contours for your model. If you’ve thought “man, it would be cool if this could…” – we can probably make it happen with the right design and print approach.
Kit-Bashing Support Parts
Need adapter pieces to mate that Tamiya cockpit with that Hasegawa fuselage? Or maybe a conversion collar to fit a Trumpeter turret on an Academy hull? We’ll create the interface pieces that make your Frankenstein build work seamlessly.
Our Tech Stack:
Fair warning – our equipment list changes more often than some people change their socks! Right now we’re running:
- A Formlabs Form 3 (until someone drops it again)
- Couple of Prusas (one’s always dismantled for “upgrades”)
- Anycubic Photon Mono X that we scored on a crazy sale
- Elegoo Saturn 2 (our newest toy, so currently the favorite)
By the time you read this, we’ve probably sold something to make room for whatever new printer caught our eye at the last maker fair. The accounting department hates us, but hey – gotta have the right tool for the job!
On the software side, we bounce between:
- Fusion 360 (when we’re feeling professional)
- Blender (when we need something weird and organic)
- ZBrush (when the detail really matters)
- Whatever free photogrammetry software isn’t crashing this week
Write us and see what we’re running today – might be totally different next month when something shinier comes along!
Materials That Actually Work:
We don’t just print in whatever’s cheapest. We match the material to the job:
- Engineering resins for functional parts that need to bear loads
- High-detail standard resins for cosmetic parts
- Flexible resins for parts that need to bend without breaking
- Transparent resins for canopies and light lenses
- Heat-resistant materials for parts near engines or electronics
All prints get proper post-processing – UV curing, support removal, sanding where needed, and surface prep for painting. No layer lines or print artifacts messing up your build.
How We Work:
- Consultation – Show us what you need, whether it’s a broken original, sketch on a napkin, or just a description. We’ll tell you straight if it’s doable or not.
- Design Phase – We’ll draft up the part in CAD, checking critical dimensions and fit. For complex parts, we might send you screenshots to confirm we’re on the right track.
- Test Print – For tricky parts or precise fits, we often do a quick test print to check fit and function before the final version. This saves headaches later.
- Production – We’ll print the final version in the right material, with appropriate settings for the part’s purpose. Some parts need multiple prints to get different properties in different sections.
- Finishing – Basic clean-up is included, but we can also do full prepping for paint if you need it. For transparent parts, we do polishing to get that crystal-clear canopy look.
Real Talk About Limitations:
We’re good, but physics still applies:
- Resin prints can be brittle under certain loads – not ideal for all structural parts
- Very thin walls (under 0.3mm) are tough to print consistently
- Transparent prints need a lot of post-processing to get truly clear
- Some complex shapes need to be printed in multiple parts
- There’s a practical size limit (about 200mm in any dimension)
If something won’t work, we’ll tell you upfront and suggest alternatives. No point wasting your money on parts that won’t perform.
What Our Customers Say:
“They printed a replacement canopy for my 1/32 Corsair that was actually clearer than the kit part. Total life-saver.” – Andy M.
“Created custom conversion parts for my what-if Luftwaffe ’46 project that nobody makes. The fit was spot-on.” – Marcus L.
“These guys saved my contest entry when a crucial part went missing two weeks before the show. The replacement was indistinguishable from the original.” – Karen T.