To Printer or not to Printer, that is the question

 Hello sports fans,

So today instead of models or games, we are going to talk printers...3D printers that is. The gamer in me totally wants to jump into 3d Printing. I've been watching it with interest ever since it first came out. Who wouldn't be interested in the ability to make my own models at a fraction* of the cost I'm paying now right?

I've been a casual observer for the last few years...keeping an eye on things and looking at the items that a few friends have made. Recently though, probably due to the pandemic and the isolation it causes, I've really taken a notice at some of the great models being made and the advances in the medium. Costs have been coming down and it does seem quite reasonable to get a printer finally. Also, the investment of time and learning seems to have shrunk as well. All great things. 

That being said, now that I started to really consider getting one, the actual use of the printer has to be examined. And I mean seriously examined. I own a lot of models. I mean a lot. I have fifteen 40K armies. I have battletech, Age of Sigmar armies, Warhammer FB armies, Flames of War armies, Bolt Action, Dystopian Wars.... a lot of models.

Do I need to make more? I look at what is being done by Excellent Miniatures for their 10mm line. It almost makes me drool. Those models look fantastic. They purchased licenses from various model makers and are printing and selling those models. I just saw them start to sell models that I actually kick started. So I could buy from them...or I could get my own printer and make them myself. But do I really need to. With the hill of models I currently possess....do I need to start cranking out more?

The above model is by WizKids. I paid $15 for it. It is very nice and priced extremely well. Could I go out and find an STL model that would do for this and print it out myself? Probably. But would that cost be anywhere close to the $15 I spent on a perfect version, pre-primed and ready to go? Probably not.

But making my own would be really really cool!**

So what would I really want to use my printer for. Well, I'd want to print out cool minis as I found/bought them. I'd want to do terrain and possibly create custom movement trays for certain games (like Kings of War). I don't really see myself printing armies though, at least not 28mm scale. But 28mm terrain...yes please. Hence the "need" for a larger printer. Ugh, this is why I keep going around in circles. I can see a good use and need for it, and I can see it gathering dust as well.

Thoughts?

* as long as the cost of doing the printer pays out in the long run.

** my inner child is a pain in my ass.