Everything people usually want to know before they order. If your question isn't here, email info@themenagerist.co.uk and we'll reply within two working days.
The pieces
What are they made of?
PLA filament, a rigid plant-derived plastic that is the standard material for display-quality 3D printing. We print exclusively with Creality's PLA range, which is where our colours come from, including the starry, glow-in-the-dark and rainbow finishes. The colours available for each piece are listed on its product page.
How big is it?
Every product page lists that piece's length, width and height in millimetres. They vary a lot: the Tadlings are pocket-sized, while the larger dragons need real shelf space. Check the dimensions rather than judging by eye, because an object shown on its own is hard to scale.
Do I have to assemble it?
No. Our figures are printed in place, which means the joints are built already moving, inside the print. It comes out of the printer as one articulated piece and arrives ready to pose. There is nothing to glue, clip or snap together.
Is it suitable for children?
These are display collectables for ages 14 and over, not toys. They are not tested or certified as toys and they have small, thin parts. We would not give one to a young child.
How durable is it?
Solid enough for a shelf and for regular posing, but it is printed plastic, not moulded, and tails, wings, horns and fins are the thin parts. Pose the joints gently: a joint that has stiffened will free up with slow movement, whereas forcing it can snap it. PLA also softens above about 50 °C, so keep pieces away from radiators, sunny windowsills, dishwashers and parked cars.
Colours and finish
Can I choose the colours?
Yes, that is the point of the shop. Each product page lets you pick a filament colour for each part of the creature, from our full range. Your choices are recorded on the order and that is exactly how the piece is printed.
Can I change my colours after ordering?
If printing hasn't started, yes. Email us with your order number as soon as you can and we'll amend it. Once printing has started the colours are set, because the piece is being made to your specification, so please check your choices before you pay.
Will my piece look exactly like the one shown?
Close, but not identical, and we'd rather say so than surprise you. Every piece is printed one at a time, in the colours you picked. On the rainbow, starry and glow filaments the colour shifts along the spool, so the pattern falls differently on every print and no two come out quite the same. Finished dimensions can vary from those listed by a few millimetres.
What are layer lines, and is my piece faulty?
Fine horizontal lines are how the piece was built: each one is a layer of plastic laid on the one below. You'll also sometimes see small marks where the piece touched the print bed or where a support was removed, and slight variation across a surface. None of that is a fault; it's the texture of the process, and it's visible on every 3D-printed figure ever sold. A fused joint, a missing part, a failed print or colours that don't match your order are faults, and we'll replace or refund those.
Does the glow filament really glow?
Yes. Leave the piece in daylight or under a lamp and it glows once the room is dark, fading gradually as it discharges, then recharges the next time it sees light. How bright it looks and how long it lasts depend on how much light it has had and how dark the room is: it is a soft glow, not a lamp.
Ordering and delivery
How long until it arrives?
Each product page shows its production time, normally three to five working days and longer for the large or complex pieces. We print your piece after you order, then check, pack and post it by Royal Mail Tracked 24 or Tracked 48, whichever you choose at checkout. You'll get a tracking number by email when it's dispatched.
Where do you deliver?
The United Kingdom only, for now. If you're elsewhere, email us and we'll let you know when we can reach you.
How is it packaged?
Wrapped and boxed in a rigid carton with cushioning around the thin parts. We keep packaging minimal and recyclable where we can. Please keep the box until you're happy with the piece: if anything is damaged, the carrier may want to see it.
Do prices include VAT?
Yes. All prices shown are in pounds sterling and include UK VAT. Delivery is charged separately and shown before you pay.
What if it arrives damaged?
Email info@themenagerist.co.uk within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photos of the damage and the packaging. We'll send a replacement at no cost, or refund you in full if you'd rather. Full detail is in our Returns and Refunds Policy.
Looking after it
How do I clean it?
Dust it with a soft, dry brush. A clean make-up brush or a paintbrush is ideal for getting between the joints. Don't wash it, soak it, or put it anywhere near a dishwasher: heat and water are the two things PLA doesn't forgive.
Where should I display it?
Anywhere out of direct sunlight and away from heat: a shelf, a desk, a cabinet. Strong sun over months can fade colour as well as warm the plastic, so a bright windowsill is the one place we'd avoid.
Designs and designers
Who designs these?
Independent 3D artists, each named on the product page of every piece they designed. We print under a commercial licence from the designer. We don't copy models, and we don't print anything we're not licensed to sell.
Can I buy the digital file?
No. We sell printed pieces only. The designs belong to the artists who made them, and our licences cover printing, not resale of files. If you want to print one yourself, go to the designer's own page: you'll find them credited on the product.
Can you print something of mine, or a character I like?
Email us and we'll tell you honestly whether we can. We can often print a model you hold the rights to. We won't print copyrighted characters or branded designs we're not licensed for, however easy the file is to find online.