For those who think that 3D printing will only ever be a rare, expensive, enthusiast thing. Here's your first truly disruptive product. A (cheap to refill) filament printer starting at only $499. It has 0.3mm resolution and can print within a 6" x 6" cube. That's more than fine enough to print out a 40K-scale tank model.
Link to review:
http://geekbeat.tv/solidoodle-2-review/
A year ago, the 1mm printers were selling for $1000-$1500.
Now you can get better for $500.
When I worked retail one Christmas at a big box computer retailer back in '03, we sold plenty of high-end inkjet and laser printers that were more expensive than that. Give it another year or two, and these things will be printing in full color, in better resolution, with units starting at $250.
Any miniature company that's not already making plans for how to adapt it's business model to this revolution (and preferably co-opt it) is going to get smacked hard upside the head very, very, soon. First, the sales of large models will decline. Then, as resolution improves, the smaller-scale models will be threatened. Once full-color hits, the software improves, and folks start trading digital models, price is going to be the only thing the traditional manufacturers are going to have going for them. Causing their nice, fat, margins to disappear.
For us gamers though? It's going to be pretty awesome. If a bit chaotic. :)