Omni-Man And Invincible
If you're a fan of Invincible, you know the tension between Mark Grayson and his father Nolan (Omni-Man) is pure comic-book gold. I recently brought that iconic father-son rivalry to life with a large-scale 3D-printed diorama. This piece captures both characters in dynamic poses on a dramatic rocky base with flame effects—perfect for any display shelf or collector’s desk.
The Model and Printer Setup
I sourced high-quality STL files of Invincible and Omni-Man (including the detailed base with flames) from talented folks at ZEZ Studios. The Anycubic M7 Max was the perfect choice for this project thanks to its large build volume, which allowed me to print the figures and base in fewer pieces with excellent detail retention.
Key printing notes:
- Used standard+ resin.
- Supports were strategically placed to preserve fine details like facial expressions, cape folds, and muscle definition.
- Printed at high resolution for crisp lines on the costumes and textures.
Post-Processing: From Raw Print to Smooth Canvas
No 3D print comes off the plate ready for display. This diorama required significant cleanup:
- Cleaning: Thorough wash and cure cycle to remove all uncured resin.
- Sanding: Multiple grits to smooth layer lines, especially on the large flat areas of the costumes and the rocky base. This step took patience but made a huge difference in the final paint job.
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Priming: I used different colored primers depending on the area:
- Gray or black primer for the dark sections (Omni-Man’s suit accents, Invincible’s black parts).
- White or light primer for the bright reds, yellows, and whites to help colors pop.
Painting and Airbrushing with Vallejo Acrylics
This was the most rewarding (and time-consuming) part. I used Vallejo acrylic paints exclusively—both by hand and with an airbrush for smooth gradients and professional-looking finishes.
Techniques used:
- Airbrushing for base coats and large color fields (the vibrant red of Omni-Man’s suit and Invincible’s yellow/blue costume came out beautifully smooth).
- Hand-brushing for fine details: eyes, facial hair, muscle shading, and the flame effects on the base.
- Layering and highlighting to emphasize the sculpted muscle definition.
- Weathering and shading on the base to make the rocky outcrop and flames feel dynamic and three-dimensional.
The contrast between the clean superhero suits and the chaotic, fiery base really sells the dramatic “about to throw down” vibe.
Final Assembly and Display
Once painted, everything was carefully glued and pinned for strength. The figures stand proudly on the shared base, creating a cohesive scene that looks great from multiple angles. I’m especially happy with how the cape and boot details turned out.
Materials used summary:
- Printer: Anycubic M7 Max
- Post-processing: Sanding tools, various primers
- Paints: Vallejo acrylic range (full list in comments if requested)
- Display surface: Blue cutting mat in photos (real display TBD)
Lessons Learned & Tips for Your Own Build
- Take your time with sanding—good prep work makes painting 10x easier.
- Color-test your primers. Different base tones really affect the final vibrancy.
- Reference official comic art for accurate colors—Vallejo has excellent matches for comic-book palettes.
- Photograph your work under good lighting at every stage. The progress shots are always fun to look back on.
This diorama was a blast to create and has quickly become one of my favorite pieces. It’s a perfect blend of modern 3D printing technology and traditional miniature painting skills.