Well you have all contributed to setting me off on a new quest!
It looks like we can make printed people to populate our railways, and I can see a way I might be able to do this.
So I have downloaded "makehuman" and "blender". Here is my first attempt at printing a basic figure from make human - just a printing test:
- IMG_1076.jpg (348.64 KiB) Viewed 4514 times
and in detail:
- IMG_1077.jpg (323.9 KiB) Viewed 4514 times
I printed it flat on its back. My slicing software seemed to want to add "wings" filling in the space between the arms and body. There must be holes in the mesh there. So firstly it is 84mm high or 5ft 3inch tall, and it does look anatomically superior to anything else I have. Makes my own figures built up from layers of modelling clay look positively chunky. (the other figure in the first photo was bought by the way - not my own creation)
Secondly while the printing isn't perfect at least the fingers and toes are all there. And the face looks pretty good as well. Certainly assuming I can add the correct clothing and adjust poses then I would accept the print quality for now.
The big challenge is going to be getting the clothing and hats appropriate to the 1880's. Modern clothing isn't really what I want! I am looking for bowler hats, top hats, long dresses and that sort of thing.
So lots of learning to do. And perhaps one of those printers which uses uv light to set a liquid. They don't seem very expensive.