Amazing Zelda Custom Sword on Shapeways

Shilo shares this new minfig scale custom sword currently sold on Shapeways. The sword is a replica of the Master Sword from the Legend of Zelda series of video games. The designer is Michael Inglis (M1NGLES) who had added just enough detail to keep it within the LEGO aesthetic.

Given that it's Shapeways the pieces you buy are produced via 3D printing techniques. You have a variety of materials that you can choose from. The version shown in Shilo's pic above is made of stainless steel but you can also purchase versions in plastic as well.

I would recommend checking out Michael's store. He doesn't have a lot of items for sale, but what he does have looks quite nice.

Thanks to Shilo for sharing!

Wonderful Halo Customs Need Help!

...and by that I mean customizer Hobo needs your help (but more on that in a minute). 

I've heard it said before that Halo is this generation's Star Wars (anticipates a wave of Star Wars fans assaulting me), and I continue to see evidence this is true. 

I also see evidence that companies like Shapeways are changing the face of minifigure customization. Hobo provides an excellent case study with his Moljinir Mk V armor. Great 3D details, nice use of the shoulder pads, and the boot concept is inspiring. Aside from the time investment to learn CAD and design the pieces, the cost to do something like this has to be quite low. No longer do you need to cut steel or deal with silicone molding kits to create pieces like this. It's rapid iteration prototyping at its finest!

So I mentioned that Hobo needed some assistance. It seems the computer he was working on experienced a power surge and he can't access the files he used. If anyone can recommend a way for him to retrieve the files, please reach out to him on Flickr, where you can also see his other custom creations.

UPDATE: Master Hobo is offering the current set for sale on Shapeways if you are interested.

SRX Industries - New Shapeways Store

There's a new Shapeways store that recently opened and it looks to have a lot of promise. SRX Industries has a variety of sci-fi related weapons and accessories, all expertly crafted via CAD and then brought to life via Shapeways 3D printing techniques.

Some of my favorites include the District 9 weapons pictured to the right and the Octobrain figure head.

Shapeways is really turning out to be a revolution for those wanting to get into the LEGO compatible customs business. Prior to this readily available 3D printing technology and integrated store model, you would have to make a large investment in molds and ABS injection tools. 

There still appears to be differences between 3D printed products and injected molded items in terms of finish, although I've only seen images to date. If that gap can be narrowed, then it would seem anyone skilled in computer aided design could make a name for themselves.

You can check out Jonathan's SRX Industries on Shapeways, and if you are looking to keep track of new products and designs, take a look at the SRX Industries group on Flickr.