Review: RKX Miniatures 3D printed by OzWargaming

I wanted to share my thoughts on something new I recently tried for my Bolt Action armies: 3D printed models. I’ve been hearing a lot about how 3D printing is taking the wargaming community by storm, so I decided to dive in and see what all the fuss was about. For this experiment, I purchased a mix of British and German models from OzWargaming, featuring sculpts from RKX Miniatures’ 28mm WWII range. Here’s my review and honest thoughts on this experiences 

This was my first time working with 3D printed miniatures. As someone who’s used to the crisp sculpts of Warlord Games and Rubicon’s plastic kits, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The models I received were nicely detailed and mostly to scale with Bolt Action miniatures, which was a pleasant surprise. For example, I tried mixing a 3D printed gunner and machine gun with loaders from Warlord Games’ British/Canadian Infantry Plastics, and the result was surprisingly seamless—the figures blended together nicely.

However, the 3D prints weren’t without issues, so let’s break things down.

• Scale Compatibility: For the most part, the scale of the 3D printed figures works well alongside Bolt Action minis. This was particularly noticeable with infantry pieces, where I could mix and match components with no glaring size discrepancies.

 

The middle model is a 3D print from RKX minis and the other 2 are Warlord plastics

 

• Detail: The sculpts themselves are decent, with a good level of detail on weapons, uniforms, and equipment. The models capture the essentials of WWII-era soldiers nicely.

Unfortunately, the 3D printed models fell a little short when compared to traditional plastic kits. Here are the main issues I ran into:

1. Textured Finish: One drawback for me was the slightly textured surface of the models. While this texture largely disappears after priming and painting, it’s not as smooth as Warlord or Rubicon plastics, and that initial difference was noticeable.

2. Brittle Material: The resin/plastic material used in the 3D prints felt brittle compared to traditional plastic kits. This is a major concern for wargaming miniatures, as they’re handled frequently during games. I worry about long-term durability, especially when it comes to thinner parts like gun barrels. E.g. the Bren Carrier was shipped to me with damaged tracks and it's not easy to fix.
   

3. Print Quality Issues: While the detail on most models was solid, there were a few noticeable flaws. For instance, the Flak 30 model I received had a wonky wheel that I couldn’t ignore. These imperfections can be frustrating, especially for those of us who love precision in our armies.

    

   

   Left: Wonky wheel, Right: Good wheel.
   

    

4. Scaling Problems: One particular issue I noticed was with the crew for the Universal Carrier. The crew models were noticeably smaller in scale compared to the infantry figures. While this isn’t unique to 3D prints (Rubicon and Warlord tank crews also suffer from this problem), it’s still worth mentioning.

   

   Notice how much bigger the warlord model is compared to the crew
   

   
   

    

Overall, my first experience with 3D printed miniatures has been... fine. They’re OK, but they didn’t blow me away. For someone with their own 3D printer setup, this would be a fantastic and affordable way to bulk out armies or create rare units that aren’t readily available from traditional manufacturers. However, as a one-off purchase, I personally prefer the quality and reliability of Warlord Games, Rubicon, or Tamiya models over 3D printed minis.

That being said, if you’re on a budget or looking for something specific that isn’t sold elsewhere, 3D printing could be a great option. For me, though, I’ll be sticking to the tried-and-true plastic kits for now.

Signing off,

Chewie

Battle Report: Crossing the Waal

 Battle Report: Crossing the Waal

Operation Market Garden, September 20th, 1944

“Hold your nerve, boys! We’ve got to take that bridge!” shouted  Sergeant Leeroy Jenkins from the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment as the rubber boats pushed off into the cold, churning waters of the Waal River. Bullets hissed and snapped over the river like deadly rain, and shells from German mortars crashed into the water, sending towering geysers skyward.

The Americans advance up the river bank!

The American paratroopers strained at their paddles, using rifle butts and even helmets to propel their fragile boats. The crossing was chaos—boats shattered, men thrown into the water—but the Americans pressed on. Finally, the first wave hit the northern riverbank under a storm of German machine gun fire.

As the Americans leaped out of the boats and scrambled up the embankment, German defenders opened fire from their entrenched positions. Machine gun nests sprayed deadly bursts, and grenades were lobbed down onto the advancing paratroopers. Despite the withering fire, the Americans pushed through, determined to establish a foothold.

Fierce melee on the embankment.

The air was filled with shouted orders and the screams of the wounded. In a brutal melee atop the riverbank, the two sides clashed with bayonets, rifle butts, and knives. Paratroopers fought like demons, and the Germans, though entrenched, were unrelenting. In the chaos, the German Leutnant Heinrich Von Schnitzel  was bayoneted by a fierce American corporal. His death sent a ripple of uncertainty through the German ranks—their leadership had been decapitated.

Among the American assault was Private Wilson, carrying a flamethrower. His squad had managed to push up close to a German trench, where enemy riflemen were stubbornly holding their position. Wilson dashed forward, his flamethrower aimed and ready. But when he pulled the trigger, instead of a torrent of fire, only a pitiful hiss came out. The tank had been punctured by enemy fire during the crossing, and now the weapon was useless—filled with nothing but water. Cursing, Wilson quickly discarded the flamethrower and drew his sidearm. With his M1911 pistol, he fired at the trench, buying time for his squadmates to close in and lob grenades.

The bazooka destroys the MG team in the crater

On another flank, a bazooka team managed to crest the riverbank under heavy fire. Spotting the muzzle flashes of an MG42 tearing into their comrades, the loader slammed a rocket into the tube, and the gunner steadied his aim. A loud whoosh echoed as the bazooka fired, the rocket screaming toward its target. The projectile hit dead center in a crater housing the German MG team. A deafening explosion followed, silencing the machine gun with finality. Smoke and debris filled the air, but the cost was high—the bazooka team was quickly picked off by precise German rifle fire before they could retreat to cover. Their sacrifice, however, had cleared the way for more Americans to land and push forward.

Amidst the growing battle, German reinforcements arrived—a Kubelwagen, its mounted MG34 spraying bullets wildly, came racing onto the field. The vehicle sped across the American line of advance, its machine gun rattling furiously. Though the gunfire forced some paratroopers to dive for cover, it was largely ineffective. In return, the Americans opened up with rifle fire. The Kubelwagen swerved and zigzagged to avoid being hit, its tires kicking up dirt and debris. For now, the small German force managed to buy precious time for the defenders.

The bridge is destroyed by German engineers!

Despite heavy losses, wave after wave of American paratroopers continued to land on the riverbank. They pushed deeper into the German positions, driving the enemy back inch by bloody inch. Victory seemed within reach—the Americans were about to take the final stretch of ground leading to Nijmegen Bridge.

But suddenly, a thunderous explosion shook the battlefield. A massive cloud of dust and smoke erupted from the bridge as the Germans’ final act of defiance came to fruition. Their engineers had succeeded in setting off the demolition charges, and the bridge, the vital link to Nijmegen, came crashing down into the Waal.

General Gavin, watching through binoculars from the southern bank, let out a cry of shock. The bridge was gone, and with it, the Allies’ hope of a swift victory. Though the Americans had fought valiantly and crossed the Waal under impossible odds, their efforts now seemed futile.

As the ruins of the bridge smoldered in the river, the realization set in—Operation Market Garden was faltering. Was this the beginning of the end?

This was an absolute cracker of a game for bolt action - at first my opponent and I were skeptical if the Americans would even make it off the river bank but some lucky rolls (or unlucky!) soon had the game evenly matched and in the balance. It was an extremely close game that literally came down to the final roll of the dice on turn 6 to see if the demolition charges went off (a roll of a 1 followed by a 1-4!!!). What an amazing end to a nail bitter game!

Looking forward to our next scenario when the German Panzers assault the Son Bridge!

Signing out,

Chewie