Finding the Best Space Marine STL Files for 3D Printing

Space Marines are one of the most iconic characters in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. As super soldiers clad in power armor and armed with bolters, chainswords and more, they make for extremely fun and detailed 3D printing projects. But with so many Space Marine chapters and sculpts available, where do you find the best STL files to print your own mini Space Marine army?

In this guide, we’ll go over the top places to find Space Marine STL files, what to look for in high quality files, and provide some tips for successful printing. Whether you play Warhammer 40K tabletop games or just love the lore and figures, read on for the definitive guide to 3D printing your own Space Marines at home.

Official Games Workshop Space Marine STLs

As the creators of Warhammer 40K, Games Workshop offers a treasure trove of official Space Marines to 3D print. They provide STL files for a wide range of popular chapters like Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Dark Angels and more. The sculpts are extremely detailed and accurate to the tabletop miniatures.

Some of their best Space Marine STLs include:

• Primaris Intercessors – The core troops of modern Space Marine armies. Great for building a balanced force.
• Assault Intercessors – Close combat specialized Primaris Marines. Come with great melee weapon options.
• Primaris Lieutenant – An iconic leader sculpt in a dynamic pointing pose.
• Primaris Chaplain – Armored in black power armor and comes with options like a crozius arcanum.
• Primaris Apothecary – Support unit with narthecium for healing allies.

The main downside is that Games Workshop STLs can be expensive, usually $7.50 to $12 per model. However, you do get premium sculpt and print quality that matches the tabletop miniatures. For official, canon-friendly Space Marines, Games Workshop is hard to beat.

Thingiverse

Thingiverse is the largest 3D printing model repository online. You can find just about everything here, including tons of Space Marine proxies and conversions. While not official sculpts, many Thingiverse users are talented 3D modelers creating high quality Space Marine designs.

Some popular options include:

• Primaris Scale Space Marines – Models sized to match the larger Primaris Marines. Lots of chapters to choose from.
• Primaris Suit Upgrades – Shoulder pads, helmets, and other bits to customize your prints. Lets you build custom chapters.
• Space Marine Heroes – Unique sculpts in action poses, like Space Marines fighting tyranids.
• Converted Scouts/Scouts – Alternative scout marine designs that are great for Kill Teams.

Thingiverse Space Marine models are almost all free to download. The trade-off is the sculpts are not official and can vary widely in quality. But with enough digging you can find some gems to print, especially if you want to experiment with custom chapters and poses.

Cult3D

Cults3D is another 3D model sharing site, similar to Thingiverse but with some key differences. In terms of Space Marines, there is a wider range of original sculpts and model styles available. The search makes it easy to filter for Space Marine STLs.

Some unique options on Cults3D include:

• Primaris Breacher Shields – Breacher shields are great for kitbashing Primaris crusader squads.
• Primaris Salamander Upgrades – Head conversions to build your own custom Salamanders chapter.
• Primaris Iron Snakes – Models specifically designed to match the Iron Snakes paint scheme.
• Carcharodon Assault Marines – Fantastic shark-themed Space Sharks assault marines.
• Deathwatch Kill Team – Build your own Deathwatch kill team with chapters from across the Imperium.

Like Thingiverse, most Space Marine STL files on Cults3D are available for free. There are also some paid professional sculpts. Browsing through Cults3D can really help fill out your Primaris marine ranks with unique poses and custom chapters.

Printable Scenery

In addition to Space Marine models themselves, you can also find great STL terrain files to build battlefields for your printed armies. Printable Scenery has a ton of gothic sci-fi terrain perfect for clashing Space Marines and Chaos forces.

Some great terrain options include:

• Sector Corvus Prime – A full modular city battlefield for urban combat. Walls, buildings, containers and more.
• Underhive Terrain – Perfect for close quarters battles in the dark Underhive.
• Gothic Pillars and Arches – Add gothic grandeur to your battlefield with sweeping arches.
• Crates and Barrels – Simple scatter terrain to break up firing lines.

Printable Scenery terrain models are paid STLs, but offer amazing print quality. Their terrain really brings battlefields to life and provides the perfect backdrop for your massed Space Marine armies.

Best Practices for Printing Space Marines

Once you’ve found some top Space Marine STL files, here are some recommendations to get the best prints:

• Use resin printers for maximum detail – Resin printers with their fine resolution are ideal for reproducing the intricacies of power armor. FDM works but will require more cleanup and post-processing.
• Print in sections to avoid failures – Detach the legs, body, arms, backpack and base into separate STL files for more reliable printing. Reassemble after cleaning up supports.
• Orient models to minimize supports – Tilt models at an angle to reduce the number of supports touching the model itself. Careful orientation improves surface finish.
• Use medium or heavy supports – Space Marine armor has many overhangs that will need sufficient supports to print correctly. But take care removing supports attached to detail.
• Dial in your exposure settings – Most Space Marine STLs will require 8+ second normal exposure times for resin printers to get crisper details and reduce failures.

Taking the time to orient and support Space Marine STLs thoughtfully will result in much higher quality finished prints that capture all the details of the power armor. Adjust exposure, lift speeds and other resin settings to further refine your prints.

Painting Your Space Marine Army

A huge part of the appeal of Space Marines is getting to paint them in your chosen chapter colors. Here are some quick tips for great looking results:

• Prime in a matching base color – For example, spray with Army Painter Angel Green primer if printing Dark Angels. Saves a lot of time.
• Utilize contrast paints – Citadel contrast paints work extremely well on the details of power armor. Great way to get tabletop quality fast.
• Paint dark colors before lighter ones – Work from the recesses out towards edges to make layers and highlights easier.
• Edge highlight armor plates – Carefully run edges with a bright version of the base color to make details pop.
• Fix mistakes with airbrushing – An airbrush lets you quickly re-establish your base coats if you make any mistakes.

Don’t be intimidated to paint, especially if you’re new to miniature painting. Focus on getting solid base coats, using washes for shading, and picking out a few edges to make your Space Marines really shine on the tabletop or shelf.

Reviewing Comments and Remixes

When evaluating a potential Space Marine STL file on Thingiverse, read through comments and check for remixes. Comments indicating a model represents an existing character without authorization raises red flags. On the flip side, constructive feedback around printing and settings is a good sign.

Look for multiple remixes of a file as a signal of quality. Different iterations indicate the original designer created a solid base model. For example, the Cylus Space Marine by 3DArtGuy has over 50 remixes expanding on the core design.

Focusing on Patreon and CGTrader Designers

Many 3D designers offer Space Marine proxies on Patreon or CGTrader. Unlike Thingiverse, designers on these platforms can charge for STL files, with many adopting a subscription model. While not free, patrons gain access to high quality, prescreened models.

Some designers to check out include Red Pilgrim, Crafty Scientist, and RN Estudio. Focus on creators who specifically mention “proxies” or “alternatives” vs. direct copies. Patreon profiles with a long history and many patrons often deliver excellent prints.

Checking Reviews on Etsy

While Etsy prohibits unauthorized fan art, some designers still offer Space Marine interpretations under generic names like “cosplay armor” or “scifi soldier”. Browse Etsy listings and read reviews to identify potential hidden proxy files.

For example, the shop Heroes Hoard offers STLs under titles like “Future Soldier Pauldrons” and “SciFi Chestplate Armor”. Looking at the 5-star reviews confirms buyers successfully printed illegal Space Marine proxies. However, quality and accuracy may be hit or miss with these under-the-radar Etsy files.

Finding Free Space Marine STLs on Twitter and Discord

An active network of 3D printing enthusiasts on Twitter and Discord generously share free STL links. While risky for copyright, these groups provide direct access to Space Marine files. Check Twitter hashtags like #3DPrinting and #Warhammer40k for potential Space Marine leads.

The Spacedock Server Discord organizes mega folders of free STLs. After joining, search the #mined-files and #stl_release channels. Any shared Google Drive or MEGA links likely contain Space Marine models mixed among other genres. Links get removed quickly so visit daily.

Exploring Model Rips from Video Games

Several fan sites host ripped 3D models from Warhammer 40k video games. These raw model exports require cleanup to 3D print properly. However, with some effort, video game rips offer another source of Space Marine STLs.

Popular rip sites include The Models Resource and Sketchfab. Quality varies so read comments first. Focus on models with positive feedback around printing results. Note while originating from an official game, using ripped assets for 3D printing still occupies murky legal territory.

Mixing and Matching Parts from Different Designers

An alternative approach involves mixing parts from different designers to create a unique Space Marine proxy. Purchase a few high-quality STLs like legs from one shop, torso from another, and weapons from a third source. Combining parts avoids straight copyright infringement.

Expert modelers can take this further by modifying and sculpting STL parts. Simple changes like adding pouches, insignia, and other details goes a long way towards making a model your own. Customizing and kitbashing helps expand your creative possibilities.

Evaluating Model Scale and Printability

When sourcing Space Marine STLs, ensure models cleanly import into your slicer at the correct scale. Official Games Workshop minis stand at about 32mm scale. Check model dimensions match this before purchasing files.

Downloads lacking proper scale indications often disappoint when printed. Ratios get thrown off resulting in oddly sized miniatures. Review comments to confirm scale accuracy before downloading any STL files.

Inspect models for printability issues like floating segments, holes, and disjointed meshes. Higher quality proxy designers test prints before selling files. However, free Thingiverse models may require repairs and edits to print properly. Run STLs through auto-repair tools like Microsoft 3D Model Repair Service or Netfabb before attempting a print.

Considering 3D Modeling from Scratch

Skilled 3D modelers can bypass copyright issues entirely by creating custom Space Marines from scratch. Tools like Blender allow constructing original characters without relying on existing IP.

Start simple by modeling basic armor parts like shoulder pads and chest plates. Combine these with generic 3D model assets like legs and arms purchased from stock sites. With practice, modelers can design fully original and polished custom printable marines.

For less experience, begin modifying existing non-Warhammer STLs via sculpting. Additives like clay allow reshaping models to appear more like Space Marines. This provides modeling practice while exercising creative skills.

Protecting Yourself Legally

When sourcing Space Marine STLs from any provider, take steps to protect yourself legally:

• Avoid outright verbatim copies of named Games Workshop characters
• Do not resell prints based on unlicensed STLs, only print for personal use
• Delete files after printing to avoid accidental infringement

Conclusion

From the iconic Ultramarines to more obscure Chapters like the Carcharodons, Space Marines make for extremely satisfying 3D printing projects. With an abundance of STL files available, you can build an entire Space Marine army customized to your tastes. Just stick to trusted sites for STLs, dial in your print settings, and have fun painting. Let us know if you have any other favorite sources for Space Marine STLs!