This allows them to produce ultra-high detail chess pieces with striking visual results. Each piece is created using 3D digital sculpting techniques. They get as many pictures as possible of the subject and build up the model from a ball of virtual ‘clay’.
Once they have a model, it then needs to be prototyped and adjustments made for ease of manufacture, this process can take anywhere between 10 – 15 hours depending on the piece and complexity.
One chess piece on average takes 5-6 hours to manufacture, meaning it takes around 120 hours of printing time to manufacture one whole set. Once manufactured, each piece is then hand finished.
Founded in 2021 by two University of Glasgow & Glasgow School of Art graduates, they have gone from manufacturing in a spare room in one of their parent’s flats telling their story on STV news.
Their first product – The Clydeside Chess Set which captures the iconic Glasgow skyline, Featuring the Duke of Wellington statue as the Knight and Finnieston Crane as the Rook, the set was an immediate hit in Glasgow.
They then expanded into Edinburgh and brought out the Edinburgh Chess Set, which allowed them to release the popular Glasgow Vs Edinburgh set.
Both founders are football fans supporting opposite sides of the Glasgow divide, and this gave birth to the Celtic & Rangers Legends Chess Sets. These sets contain iconic figures from the past, including Jock Stein, Walter Smith, Henrik Larsson and Ally McCoist.
Following the success of the Celtic & Rangers sets, the next logical step was to aim their sights down south and capture the rich illustrious history of some of England’s premier clubs. The Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United Legends Chess Sets are now available to order online from their website and will be delivered in plenty of time for Christmas.
Other products the company offer include 3D printed busts of iconic football players and managers, Scottish topographies of Ben Nevis and Loch Lomond, and Christmas baubles featuring snow-covered models from the City and Chess Set range.
Aside from designing new chess sets, the company also offers a 3D modelling and printing service. They have a combined 10 years of experience in this area, and have provided these services to businesses, Universities, hobbyists, DIYers, jewellers and everything in between!
All of 3D Scotland’s products are made entirely in the UK and available online at their website and on Etsy. A selection of products are also available at the Scottish Design Exchange in Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow and the Leith Collective stores in Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird in Edinburgh.
The chess sets are priced at £169.99 for a large set with a 15” board, and £74.99 for a mini version with a 9” board. All chess sets come in bespoke designed packaging including foam insert to protect the pieces, and an information booklet giving detail on each piece.
For online sales delivery is usually made within 5 days of order, and the company ship chess sets to anywhere in the UK for free.
