3D printable tabletop STL terrain pieces for Victorian era and Steampunk fantasy games.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Hello, Backers!
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this a fantastic, fun and successful campaign! We have hit the end of the Kickstarter period, but not the end of the project, so stay tuned for more to come! It is all thanks to your support that I can continue the work in expanding my original idea and bring more exciting pieces to everyone's printers!
We have unlocked several stretch goals so those will be finished through the next several months and delivered as they are completed! But we didn't hit everything in the list, so this means there is some room for adjustment, future add-ons, and maybe even some brand new things I haven't mentioned yet.
Inevitably, some ideas will have to be put on hold for the time being, but with backer input, I am going to try to bring in some creative flexibility into these unlocks.
I have been reading every single comment, every message, and strategizing better ways to bring your ideas and hopes to this project. While I do not have a voter poll ready for you all today, it is coming soon. Please check your Kickstarter messages and emails within the next week. I may send it through the Kickstarter survey system, while I finalize everything with the Backerkit team.
Currently, Backerkit's server has been set up for file delivery. All the setup steps for pledge levels are now completed, and the Late Pledge option that is coming is ready for those who missed the campaign. The page itself will go live within the next 24-48 hours. Surveys will be sent directly to backer email accounts within two weeks, once the Backerkit team makes the final approvals. We will run a test on the survey system, so some folks might get an email earlier than others. Distribution will happen on the same day, however, but surveys can be completed as they arrive to your inbox. (Please contact me directly at ArchangelDesign3d At Gmail.com for Backerkit survey support and assistance if you need)
For the Light Keeper and Clock Maker pledges, additional add-ons from the core set (and upcoming stretch goals) will be available in a private survey page for you. In addition, any pledge level lower than the All-In pledge will allow you to upgrade to a higher level. Merchants will receive a special survey with more information about license activation.
Final approvals, surveys being sent, and distribution will occur within one to two weeks. I am expecting the files to be delivered between October 31-November 3. (I will have an announcement in an update ready for everyone to remind them about surveys ahead of direct download links being sent out) No delays are expected, but if there are, I will notify everyone immediately for the new delivery date.
Every file pack includes a copy of my personal test printing notes. As noted in the campaign I have used stock Cura settings for every single piece photographed, with only some pieces having print speeds lowered. At the time of printing, I was still using my old Cura 4.0 version. So all of my notes are based on that version. But I discovered something interesting with the latest version of Cura I wanted to share.
During testing, my faithful Ender 3 finally broke after many years of constant use, and the heated bed failed. When I went to replace it, I had to update Cura for the new machine and I found that running the same parts on both my original CR-10 and on the new CR-10 mini replacement, there was a slight difference in print times. Both Cura versions were at stock, so I could not figure out what was happening, but I noticed the print quality was superior with 4.4.
The Cura slicer version 4.4 has reduced jerk speeds on the print head. While the prints took a bit longer to complete, it was well worth the additional print time for the better quality. Layer lines were softer and almost invisible, and small components had more stability with better layer adhesion throughout the piece. So I wanted to recommend upgrading your Cura version to the newest one if that is a slicer you prefer to use. There are some slicers that work better than Cura for other printers, but I always use Cura for testing since it is so widely used.
Sculpting on stretch goals has already begun for our Level 1 unlocks. The store fronts are nearly completed, but I am currently designing the structures now and trying to work in some cool ideas from reference photos and hand sketches I had made earlier this year.
They will be the first to be delivered and I expect to really get into those heavily after the core set has been successfully sent to everyone! As for the additional stretch goals in Level 2, they are still floating in the expanse of the ether, and they can be changed per our upcoming poll. I can't say exactly what we will be able to achieve with all of those as we stand, but I am going to do my best to bring your ideas into the mix and deliver something awesome for everyone! Stay tuned for more stretch goal updates coming very soon, and check those emails and your Kickstarter accounts for our open vote link!
You have made this an incredible artistic adventure in the age of steam and steel! I will have more for you all as soon as I possibly can; my deepest gratitude to you all as we continue on this journey together.
Sincerely,
Michael
Hello, Backers!
At the moment I am writing this, we have now unlocked five stretch goals all thanks to your incredible support! There have been many questions and comments this past week about various topics, and I think I have answered as many as I can to the best of my ability.
With today's update I was hoping to provide everyone with some additional details on the stretch goal process. I am working hard on the planning steps currently, but it's likely the heaviest sculpting work will not begin until the campaign is closed and the core files are delivered. I appreciate everyone's patience on these, and I am going to do my best to use reference photos to illustrate my ideas for the upcoming ones.
I do my best designs when I am letting the ideas build upon themselves and by never holding onto an idea too strongly; it is always better when everything flows from within itself and can be done in a more effortless manner. I hope these reference images help paint a better picture of what I would like to achieve in the first few stretch goal designs!
For our level 1 unlocks, minus the Vampire Lair, which will be a very unique Victorian fantasy design with some Gothic influences, I wanted to create an L-shaped city block of interconnected Victorian era shops. London's Oxford Street, and areas in Manchester, are the most notable influences for this aspect of the project.
With the first three and then the Ellis building, it will create a nice potential row of shops. There is also bit of a personal touch I wanted to add to the stretch goals by including pieces of my hometown of Johnstown, PA, into the mix. This will show up primarily in the Ellis Building!
The Ellis building will be one exception in the stretch goals, and one of the few buildings that will be a semi-faithful recreation of a real life 1800s department store located in Johnstown. I love the look of it with the long rows of bay windows, and think it will be perfect for this project. Everything about it really works, from its scale to the brick work and its interconnected nature.
Since we currently have five additional city buildings unlocked including another large high rise with the Ellis Building, that brings me to my next topic, and I really want to get everyone's input on our Level 2 Stretch Goals. They were originally planned to be more city structures, but I am wondering if everyone would like to adjust three of four next unlocks to include some different styles.
The nice thing about this project is that nothing has to be set in stone. As backers, you are all wonderful collaborators in the creative process, and while I can't promise I can achieve everything, I will always do my best to ensure everyone is having fun and sharing in the excitement of building a miniature world together! As we head into the final week of the campaign, it is possible we will not reach all of the stretch goals and I know some of the backers had mentioned an interest in the Western themed ones in particular that are further down on the unlock list. Level 2 can be adjusted in some ways. With exception to the Thieves Hideout, which I have a French Gothic design planned out. With that said, the end of the campaign will determine if any changes will be needed. If the later unlocks are not hit, would you like to exchange any future Level 2 unlocks for Western/ Victorian era steampunk style pieces?
I really wanted to include nearly every branch of this genre that I could, and I think my full vision might have been a bit too ambitious, but that's still great, because there is no shortage of creative directions we can go in. While some pieces in Level 3 need to stay in their designated unlock places for time purposes as they have been estimated ahead, Level 4 and 5 can be incorporated. The western themed pieces are very similar in scope, scale and detail to our Level 2 stretch goals, and I could swap them out if there is enough interest. I am just curious what everyone wants to see, and it may seem a little unconventional to change them so far into the campaign, but isn't that part of the fun! Being unconventional can lead to some exciting things, so I have created a little poll for everyone to participate in, maybe adding a new style of structure to the mix if we don't reach those Stretch Goal levels organically!
I hope that this weekly update has helped better illustrate some of these stretch goal plans in a better light for everyone, and I hope you are all as excited as I am as we roll into the final week of the campaign!
You are all wonderful, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my work and sharing in this creative pursuit!
My only goal is to make some awesome stuff for everyone that will be useful for their games, and super cool to look at when you get it on your table. Please take the poll if you are interested in adding some additional input! Thank you all so much, and I will be back with the poll results and more details next week as we wrap up the campaign!
Sincerely,
Michael
Hello, Backers!
Hope everyone is doing well! We are now well into the second week of the campaign, and I have some exciting news and updates to share with everyone!
First, before I forget, the Backerkit service has been set up, and all of the downloads are ready to be sent in the system for each pledge level. Everyone will receive an email survey following the campaign. If you need to update your email address, you can do this in Kickstarter before the campaign closes. I can also assist you following the campaign as well, and even complete your survey for you if you need help. The survey will then provide a log-in and link to allow for direct downloads of each file pack. The direct download service never expires and will always be there for you if you need to access it again in the future.
When the campaign ends, there is usually a waiting period between Kickstarter closing and Backerkit's team approvals to make sure everything is good to go. I expect the files to be distributed around Halloween, or within 1-2 days following based on the current schedule.
Some other exciting news, we have now unlocked 4 Stretch Goals and completed Level 1 of the tiers with the Vampire Lair being the latest unlock! I had been planning these first ones for a few weeks, but have left room for adjustment. I should have more details for everyone within the next two weeks to share some of the features I will be attempting to add including some potential modular options.
Now onto some new bonus additions! By backer input and my own initial planning ideas, the option for interior wall sections and partitions was something I had wanted to add. I also wanted to do interior scenery and add staircases to the second floors. I have pieces in the core set already designed for these additions, but was unable to get to them due to time limitations.
In the meantime, I will be including a free bonus pack of interior walls and swinging doors from my Midnight City high rise sets. It also includes a rooftop access door. These were designed for similar open floor plans, and are drop down walls and door sections. The hinges are designed for a 1.75 mm filament pin. They should work very well with almost every structure in the core set, and they can also be scaled and used for customized floor plans. I have added them to the Backerkit today, so they will be going out in an independent file back to every pledge level.
Thank you all for your support, patience and all of the exciting ideas you've been sending! As we get into week three of the campaign, I will be focusing more on stretch goal designs between now and its closing so stay tuned. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with me any time. Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Michael
Hello, Backers!
We have now unlocked three stretch goals, and the campaign is rolling along into its second week! Thank you all for your suggestions for the stretch goals and ideas on how to improve the models. My plan for the current unlocked buildings is to create some downtown, store fronts. I will begin the modeling process on those within the next few days.
Everything I make is usually an experiment to see if it will work on a printer, and there is always room for improvements, so I am going to try my very best to incorporate your ideas into the new unlocked stretch goal models as I move forward.
As of today, I have finally wrapped up test printing for the Palace of Aristo piece! I am pleased with the results on this one. However, some minor changes were made to these parts during the printing stage to make it a bit nicer on the interior.
The top connection in this first photo hasn't been pushed into the peg all the way so you can see how it all works together. Everything is peg connections both on the walls and floors, and the roofs snap down into place.
I have tried my best to hide the cuts at the corners where possible, so it should be a very nice fit, especially if you secure those inner wall and floor pegs with glue later for painting.
Inside the structure, we have a large open play area on both floors! Everything seen here was printed at default size in stock Cura settings as well with no slicer support. The model is slightly smaller than the Skyport Keystone & Main building, but with plenty of space to fit 28mm bases through the door frames and have a nice large play area inside.
I felt that the Keystone building was a bit larger than I'd have liked, so I wanted to bring this one down a bit to reduce printing time and material use. As the parts on this are below the 220 mm bed size of the Ender 3, you can scale this up a little more if you desire!
Next week, I will have more information to share on Backerkit as I am currently in the process of setting that up. Everything is ready to go, and I am hoping to get into some stretch goal design soon. It is my hope to even have some ready for renders before the campaign closes. Thank you all for your support and kind words!
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Michael