There are literally over one thousand places on Earth that I would like to see before I leave this world. There are places in big cities like Paris, London, and Melbourne, as well as landmarks in smaller towns such as Ravello, Italy, that I have on my travel ‘bucket list’, so to speak. Will I make it to all of these places? Probably not, but a woman can dream, right?
One Japanese based company, Tokyo Virtual World, may just be my saving grace. They specialize in 3D modeling, 3D printing & diorama creation of world renown buildings, locations, and even historical events, in incredibly fine detail. While it certainly won’t replace a typical visit to one of these landmarks, it certainly is a great way to get a feel for just how beautiful and mesmerizing some of these places can be.
While Tokyo Virtual World’s dioramas and 3D prints are relatively small, because of the ultra fine detail that they incorporate, it really doesn’t matter, as these minute details remain preserved.
- Some of the incredible 3D printed models that they currently have available for sale, include:
- St. Basil’s Cathedral
- The Streets of Florence
- Angkor Wat
- Eiffel Tower
- Chichen Itza
- Taj Mahal
- Mosque of Istanbul
- Arc de Triomphe
- The Colosseum
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- The Parthenon
- The Great Pyramids
- And many more….
Sizes are typically very small, ranging from 20 cubic cm and going up to the Pyramid and Sphinx model which measures 95 cm x 95 cm x 60 cm. Also offered are larger diorama construction kits that feature many 3D printed parts. The prices start at 500 Japanese Yen ($4.60) and go up from there.
All models come unpainted, and oftentimes in multiple parts that must be assembled.
For those of you who already own a 3D printer, and wish to print these buildings and landmarks out at home, Tokyo Virtual World also offers free downloads of the 3D printable models. While the results probably won’t be quite as good as the ones sold via the website, you can still try your best to recreate these landmarks on your own.
So, if you are like me and you have a fondness for history and historical buildings, but you realize that it is virtually impossible to see all of these landmarks in one lifetime, you may just want to get your hands on one of these incredible 3D printed replicas, as they may be the next best thing.
What do you think? Would you like to own one of these yourself? Have you 3D printed any building replicas at home? Discuss in the 3D printed historic landmark forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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