Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to what people ask most often before ordering. If yours is not here, get in touch and it will probably end up on this page.

What are the models made of?
PLA, a rigid plant-derived thermoplastic. It is the standard filament for display models because it holds fine detail, stays dimensionally stable indoors, and is far less brittle than resin. There are no resin models in the catalogue.

Are the models painted?
No. Colour is printed in using multi-colour PLA, so panel colours, markings and registry numbers are part of the plastic rather than a surface coat. Nothing can chip or scratch off. A few listings offer a single-colour or unpainted option if you would rather finish the model yourself.

Do they arrive assembled?
Almost everything arrives fully assembled and ready to display. There are two deliberate exceptions, both stated on their product pages: the Elite Dangerous ships are supplied unpainted and can be ordered either as a DIY kit or assembled, and the aircraft kit cards are designed so you pop the parts out of the card and build them.

Will I see layer lines?
Yes, if you look closely. 3D printing builds an object in layers, and on a curved hull under raking light they are visible. Models print at 0.12mm to 0.2mm layer height depending on the piece, and support marks are sanded back, but this is a printed object and it is not pretending to be an injection moulding. At normal shelf distance they disappear.

Are these toys?
No, they are display models. Thin parts such as antennae, weapon barrels and landing gear will snap if handled roughly, and small components are a choking hazard. Keep them away from small children.

How do I look after one?
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat. PLA begins to soften well below the temperature a parked car reaches on an Australian summer day, so never leave a model on a dashboard, a heater or a sunny windowsill. Dust it with a soft dry brush or canned air rather than a damp cloth.

Can I ask for a size that is not listed?
Yes. Most models can be scaled up or down, and a fair number of the sizes now in the shop exist because a customer asked. Message before ordering so the size and the price can be agreed first.

Where do the designs come from?
Some are original. Most are printed under a commercial licence from the original designer, which is what makes it legal to sell physical copies. Where a design came from a named creator, the credit and a link to their page stay in the product description.

Who actually makes these?
One person, in Sydney, Australia. The same person prints, assembles, finishes, photographs, lists and packs every order. If you write in about an order, that is who answers.

Where do orders ship from?
Sydney, Australia, with tracking, worldwide. Rates are calculated at checkout based on the destination and what is in the cart.

Do you also sell on Etsy?
Yes, and the Etsy shop is still running. It is the same studio and largely the same catalogue, so buy wherever you prefer.