I agree that the price is excessive
, but it is due to the type of product, manufactured in high definition, on demand from the customer, by means of 3D printers. If they were made of injected plastic they would be much cheaper. That’s why I think Rubicon Models would really have a good product in a market waiting to open.
There are also cheaper ones, such as those of
https://3dwargaming.com/product/1-56-28mm-hawker-typhoon/ but they only come in the flight position. If you want something more impressive, look at this B-29 at 1/56 scale,
https://3dwargaming.com/product/1-56-28mm-b-29-superfortress/ is beautiful.
The advantage of Shapeways is that you can put them with the landing gear deployed or picked up, whenever you need it. You can also put them in and remove the bombs or fuel tanks.
The 1/56 scale aircraft are used in Bolt Action games with friends, with a variation in the rules, which allow the use of planes on the dash (still in development), as well as tanks. Being in scale, you can also use them as scenery.
We apply the points method to balance forces on the battlefield, but we do not follow the detailed rules regarding the number of units to deploy. Being a confrontation between gentelmen, we can deploy tanks by platoon, but always respecting the limitations availability and armament of the selected date of confrontation. In this type of game, the confrontations with aviation give a new, and funny, perspective to the battlefield.
Rubicon Models could start developing small models. For example, similar in size to the Polikarpov Il16. It would be small, inexpensive and would allow players to start implementing them in their games. It’s still an idea, with maybe a good market opportunity.