MAQET 3D Printed Toys at Comic-Con
|Heathrow the Hedgehog was a surprise guest for most Comic-Con attendees, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The new character by San Francisco-based Frank Kozik was crafted by fellow San Franciscans, MAQET. And I was along for the ride!
The MAQET process for making 3D printed toys is a combination of modern technology and human craftsmanship. It’s a real game-changer in an industry previously restricted to high minimum orders and lengthy waiting periods to receive products from overseas. Well, there’s none of that here: I drove half the Heathrows from The Bay Area to San Diego for their debut. Naturally, I couldn’t resist a few photo-ops along the way…
MAQETs are made of a zero-waste material called Plastin®. It looks and feels like ceramic or porcelain with a hint of plastic thrown in. Plastin® is a resilient material, and the technology allows for individual numbering, multiple variants within an edition and a host of other features designers may have previously ruled out due to the limitations of vinyl.
As promised, I was toting around some MAQET samples. Pictured here: Super Cooper checks out a Dankeschoen bear by Shin & Nao while Dril One examines Heathrow. I think the verdict is transmitted through a smile…
Both SDCC editions of Kozik’s Heathrow the Hedgehog (orange and black, 25 pieces each) sold out early on in the convention. If you snagged one, I’d love to hear what you think of him. The material transmits light very well, so for a luminous Hedgehog experience, try setting him on top of a lightbox. Then, try starting a band and naming it “Luminous Hedgehog Experience”.
This was a super-fun project to work on with Frank and MAQET. If you missed out on the Comic-Con release, follow @maqet on Twitter for the first word on the next Hogs!
I managed to pick one up online. Mainly because I saw the few preview night posts and your twitter pictures of Heathrow, which reminded me that I should check out Maqet’s website/ look for their twitter. I found their twitter and saw that they had told someone Thursday night (it was Friday mid-day when I was reading it) that their remaining stock would be going up soon, before the weekend, on their website. I immediately hopped on their website and there was Heathrow! The black version was all sold out, but I was able to purchase the normal version. I really want to know what the material feels like (and thought the hedgehog design was cute) so I’m glad I was able to pick one up. And it’s a good thing you were the one transporting them because without those pictures, I probably would have forgotten all about them as I don’t follow Kozik/ didn’t follow Maqet on twitter or anything.
So thanks for reminding me about Heathrow with your random twit pics. =)