What scale models can you have made?
House massing model
Walls, roof and main openings, for a presentation or a client meeting.
Site model
A block or a neighbourhood in simple volumes, to place a project in context.
Interior layout
A floor with its partitions and furniture as volumes, to try out a layout.
Model railway building
A station, a crossing keeper's house, a goods shed, at the scale of your layout.
Layout accessories
Platforms, shelters, fences and low walls in sections that line up.
Product mock-up
A 1:1 mock-up, smooth and without electronics, for a photo, a trade fair or a handling test.
Enlarged model
A small part scaled up to explain a mechanism in class or in a meeting.
Your house in miniature
The family home in small, from photos of the elevations and a few dimensions.
How much does a 3D printed scale model cost?
Designing a model of 2–4 parts costs 1,900 credits (3,400 credits for 5–8 parts, on the Creator plan), then the print is paid in US dollars, at the firm price shown before you order: a delivered order always includes a manufacturing minimum, delivery and the service (today, a delivered order starts at $23.90); for a model 20 cm in its largest dimension, expect ≈ $34–57 in PETG (estimate).
Design
In credits, once per generation; chat messages and edits are charged separately, while sliders, quotes and renders cost no credits.
| Size | Unique parts | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M | 2–4 parts | 1,900 creditscovered by the 2,000 credits free at signup |
| L | 5–8 parts | 3,400 creditsCreator plan |
Delivered order · from
The minimum delivered price of an order today, at the cheapest printer available: an order always includes a manufacturing minimum, delivery and the service.
Size and price (estimate)
Delivered print of a typical object at each size, estimated by cost model cm1-2026-11-06. An estimate: the firm price is shown before you order.
| Size | Typical footprint | PETG | SLA resin | PA12 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cm | 100 × 60 × 40 mm | ≈ $23–34 | ≈ $108–137 | ≈ $114 |
| 20 cm ★ | 200 × 120 × 80 mm | ≈ $34–57 | ≈ $216–399 | ≈ $239–456 |
| 30 cm | 300 × 180 × 120 mm | ≈ $74–137 | ≈ $501–888 | ≈ $604–1,139 |
| 40 cm | 400 × 240 × 160 mm | — | ≈ $900–1,879 | ≈ $2,107–4,441 |
Order limits
Up to 100 copies per online order, $2,278 incl. VAT at most; above that, a custom quote.
What brings the price down
- reduce the dimensions that are not imposed
- split it into smaller pieces
- hollow it (2–3 mm shell + ribs, two Ø 3.5 mm powder escape holes)
The price follows the volume of material: a hollow model on a thin base costs much less than a solid block. A large model is split into sections, which adds parts to design and can move it up a size.
How do you get an architectural model 3D printed?
- Choose the scale and the sizeStart from the final size you want and the smallest detail to keep: the scale table below shows what a wall becomes at each scale.
- Send the plans and dimensionsA photo or a screenshot of the plan and the elevations (JPG or PNG), with the main dimensions: footprint, heights, roof pitch.
- Say what mattersIn Design mode: openings, roof, stairs, planting, and what can be simplified. Say whether the roof should lift off.
- Check the 3D previewThe AI designs the model in parametric CAD, flags details too fine for the material at that scale and shows the preview. Adjust the size with the sliders, for free. Each part can have its own colour: say it in the chat, click a part or use the Materials tab.
- Choose the material and orderResin for detail, white PA12 for size: the firm price, VAT and delivery included, is shown before you pay.
What the AI will ask you
- Give the scale and the largest dimension you want for the model.
- Attach the plan or a screenshot of the elevations (JPG or PNG), with the main dimensions.
- Say which details matter: openings, roof, stairs, planting.
- Pick a delivered print budget range, or “No limit”.
- Say which finish: plain white, to paint, or a very smooth surface for photos.
Which scale should you choose for a 3D printed model?
Choose the scale from the smallest detail you want to see: divide the real dimension by the scale, then compare the result with the material's minimum detail in the materials table. Any finer and the detail disappears or breaks; the AI flags it before you order.
| Scale | Typical use | 1 m in reality becomes | A 20 cm wall becomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:500 | Site model, neighbourhood | 2 mm | 0.4 mm |
| 1:200 | Whole building, competition | 5 mm | 1 mm |
| 1:160 (N) | Model railways, small layouts | ≈ 6.3 mm | ≈ 1.3 mm |
| 1:100 | House, floor plans | 10 mm | 2 mm |
| 1:87 (HO) | Model railways | ≈ 11.5 mm | ≈ 2.3 mm |
| 1:50 | Interior layout | 20 mm | 4 mm |
At small scales, high-definition resin keeps fine edges best; white PA12 suits simpler volumes and large models. Terrain for miniature games is on toys and board games.
What if the model is bigger than the material's maximum size?
Split it into sections that fit together, each within its material's maximum size (materials table): pegs, alignment marks and joints placed where they show least. Each different section is one more part: beyond 2–4 parts, the model moves to size L (3,400 credits, Creator plan), within the limit of 12 unique parts per object.
The guide designing a multi-part object explains the joints in detail.
Is a scale model designed by AI faithful to the plans?
It starts from the dimensions you give (footprint, heights, pitches) and builds a simplified massing model: walls, roofs, main openings. It doesn't reproduce every moulding or the texture of a facade. Check the 3D preview and correct the dimensions with the sliders before you order.
For a highly detailed competition model or an exact replica, a professional model maker remains the better fit.
Which material should you choose for a scale model?
- High-definition resin (MJP): the smallest detail in the catalogue, for model railways and small scales; more fragile, handle with care.
- Standard resin (SLA): smooth surface and fine detail, for a presentation model to paint or photograph; brittle under knocks.
- White PA12 (SLS): an even matt white, sturdy, with a large maximum size; the detail is less fine than in resin.
| Material | Min. wall | Min. detail | Min. clearance | Max. size (mm) | Properties | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA12 white (SLS) | 0.7 mm | 0.2 mm | 0.5 mm | 650 × 550 × 350 | rigid · outdoor | $ |
| PA12 dyed black (SLS) | 0.7 mm | 0.2 mm | 0.5 mm | 320 × 230 × 180 | rigid · outdoor | $ |
| PA12 dyed colours (SLS) | 0.7 mm | 0.2 mm | 0.5 mm | 320 × 230 × 180 | rigid | $ |
| PA12 vapour smoothed (SLS) | 1.5 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.7 mm | 440 × 375 × 345 | rigid · outdoor | $$ |
| Standard resin (SLA, Somos GP Plus) | 1 mm | 0.4 mm | 0.2 mm | 790 × 790 × 590 | rigid | $$ |
| Ultra-fine resin (MJP Visijet)rules to be confirmed | 1 mm | 0.1 mm | 0.2 mm | 298 × 203 × 185 | rigid | $$$ |
Compare the materials: PA12 vs resin vs TPU.
What won't objekto do for a scale model?
- No exact survey: the model is simplified, from your plans and dimensions.
- No detail finer than the material's minimum detail, at the chosen scale.
- No more than 12 unique parts per model, each within its material's maximum size.
- No copies of a commercial model or kit, or of a vehicle or object with a protected design.
- No electronics supplied: no lighting, motor or decoder.
- Resin yellows and becomes brittle in sunlight: keep the model indoors.
The full list is in the content policy.
Start from your architectural or product 3D model
Already have a model exported from your modelling software (STL, 3MF, OBJ or STEP)? Import it: the AI prepares it for printing (thicknesses, base, splitting into sections) at the scale you choose. Only for your own models, or models whose licence allows it.
A model maker, a print service or objekto: which should you choose?
The right choice depends on the level of detail you expect and what you already have: plans, a 3D file or just an idea.
| objekto | Professional model maker | Print service for your own file | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Plans, dimensions, a description | A brief and plans | Your print-ready 3D model |
| Level of detail | A simplified massing model | As detailed as you ask, hand-finished | Whatever your file has |
| Who models it | The AI, with you | The model maker | You |
| Best for | A study model, a layout building, a quick product mock-up | A competition or exhibition model | A model you've already built in 3D |
A qualitative comparison, without the other options' prices. To have an existing file printed: objekto vs Craftcloud.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3D printed scale model cost?
Design costs 1,900 credits for a model of 2–4 parts, then the print is paid in US dollars, at the price shown before you order. A delivered order always includes a manufacturing minimum, delivery and the service; at 20 cm, expect ≈ $34–57 in PETG (estimate). The size, the material and the number of sections make up most of the price.
How do I get an architectural model 3D printed without a 3D model?
Send objekto a photo of the plan and the elevations, the main dimensions and the scale you want. The AI designs a massing model in parametric CAD, flags details too fine for the material and shows the preview; you adjust it, then order the model printed in white PA12 or resin, delivered ready to display.
Can I get a building 3D printed for a model railway?
Yes: a station, a goods shed, a crossing keeper's house, a platform or a shelter, at the scale of your layout (HO, N or another). Give the footprint, the heights and the style. In high-definition resin, windows and stylised brickwork stay crisp; the building arrives unpainted, ready to paint. Commercial kits aren't copied.
Can I get a product mock-up made before manufacturing it?
Yes: a 1:1 mock-up with no electronics, smooth and ready to paint, for photos, a trade fair or a handling test. Choose standard resin for the surface, and give the real dimensions of the product. To go on and design the working product, see product manufacturing.
What's the largest scale model that can be 3D printed?
Each part must fit within its material's maximum size, shown in the materials table; it varies a lot between materials, and high-definition resin is for small parts only. Beyond that, the model is split into sections that fit together, within the limit of 12 unique parts per object.
Do you need precise plans to make a scale model?
No, but you need dimensions: the footprint, the main heights and the roof pitch are enough for a massing model. A scanned or photographed plan helps place the openings. Without any dimension, the AI can't hold the scale; a single real length is already enough to set the proportions of a photo.
Updated 5 November 2026