Introduction
Legend Productions has been releasing high quality figures, full kits and vehicle upgrades for some time in resin. Here I am looking at two sets of 1/16th US Tank Crew, a five crew set which are identical in both sets. So you are asking what the difference is and this is where I will be looking in this review.
Review
Both of these offerings arrive in a flip top cardboard tray, inside the figures are individually bagged and further protected by bubble wrap. The result of all this is that the product should reach you in perfect condition unless severely abused.
Looking at the figures individually I would be very happy to use either set as they all offer excellent detail and natural poses. Uniform detail is also of a very good standard as you would expect offering nicely refined clothing crease detail that looks very natural in form and fall. The hands are also very well refined and so at this point no real difference in the offerings. The faces are also very nicely done but I do favour the 3D offerings in this case.
Poured resin figures have some issues which range from air bubbles in detailed areas, poorly cured resin. Another issue encountered is broken fine details that have occurred during removal from the mould and missed during product control (I found a finger missing and the cigarette missing). The most common issue encountered is that removal of the pour plug can be difficult when using a saw and also grinding being needed to get the finish needed. Some may feel this is just one of those things, but anyone with a lung condition can tell you that grinding resin is no joke. Airborne resin dust is a risk to your airway and eyes and can also irritate the skin. I believe that covers all potential risks and issues that could be encountered with poured resin.
The new boy on the block is the 3D printed resin and I am only aware of two issues specific to 3D printing and they are line detail being present where the layers can be seen with the naked eye and excessive connection points that are sometimes difficult to access. Also any action causing airborne dust is the same as with the poured resin so far as I am aware.
So looking closely at these two offerings from Legend Productions and how they compare. Quality of the product in both cases is very high and each would look good after completion, but for me the 3D printed offerings gets my approval as there are no visible lines even under magnification. Clean up of the figures both in terms of ease of removing waste material and clean-up is edged by the 3D printed option. The more I examine the figures, the detail of the finished item is edged by the 3D printed option, especially where the hands are concerned. Of course the risk of pieces being broken and missing from your delivery is greatly reduced in the case of 3D printing.
Conclusion
I would be perfectly happy to use either of these offerings on a model and feel proud of what could be achieved with the product. The 3D printing in one of these offerings is the best I have ever seen with a slight texture to the material. I do not know at this moment if there is a difference in price between the two offerings, but for me the 3D printed option has the edge in all respects as regards these offerings. If Legend Productions switch to 3D printed offerings for all of their products, I can only say it will be coming up roses for the modellers who are fans of their products or new to them.