For about six years RealSpace Models has been quietly updating master parts with new, more detailed parts that were designated FK3D parts. The new parts were printed at Shapeways and then molded and resin cast normally. The parts were designed and drawn by a very talented 3D designer who prefers to remain in the background, so will not be given name credit here. Suffice it to say, his work is genius.
Last year I decided that I would set a goal of learning to use 3D software and start designing parts as well. this was an entirely new world to me and learning the software was a steep curve with much frustrated hair-pulling. However, as time went on, I started gaining an understanding of how to approach these design questions and with experience (and plenty of failures) part design showed more successes. But the price point at Shapeways made some things too expensive to produce as kit parts. So I also decided to dip my foot into the world of 3D printers. As a result, I have started printing parts in shop to be parts that are not necessarily used as master parts for molds, but rather included with kits as the kit parts.
The kit parts that I started with were mostly small parts that were difficult to mold and cast, like 1/144 RCS for the Apollo CSM and New Horizons. Now, complicated parts like the main engines on the Gemini Titan are 3D printed parts and have a level of detail that traditional molding and casting could not achieve.
With this new technology available to me, the plan is to release a good number of new kits this year and significantly one old project which will see a return to production: Viking. The Viking kit has been out of production for over five years because many of the parts were metal cast and the metal casting company went away and the master parts were misplaced. Now those parts can be produced again both with 3D printed parts and as master parts. Some updating to the details of the kit will also be done. I expect to have it in production around late spring (or fall if you are in the southern hemisphere).