Practical3D Printing

madman1701a

Hey guys, it's been a while since I posted anything here.

About 5 months ago, I got a Flashforge 3D printer, which is basically a clone of the original open source Makerbot Replicator.

I've converted several of my models over, and printed them. Recently, I've started painting them and finishing them, too. The first real model I did was my Prime Alternative Enterprise model:





I also did my STXI Reliant model, but I haven't painted it yet:





Batman:



Prometheus, from Stargate SG-1. Primed, but not finished painting:





The Eighth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver:



And finally, my Assault Phaser from Star Trek VI. Just printed out the other night, and ready for assembly:



All of the models are mine, except for Batman. I downloaded that one from Makerbot's Thingiverse.

More updates later. I've got a Kelvin phaser planned, and I want to do a Tricorder. What do y'all think?

-Ricky

BlobVanDam

Those prints turned out great! I'm surprised how well they paint up too. Good job on that. How big are these models? It's a bit hard to judge just based on the printer.

BorgMan

Those are some nice prints indeed! Did you do anything in post production to let the paint stick better? I notice the print grid in the phaser's back, but it is absent on the bottom. Did you smooth it out or something?

Jenny

I was going to ask the same question about the print lines... do you sand them down?

madman1701a

Thanks guys.

BlobVanDam wrote: »

Those prints turned out great! I'm surprised how well they paint up too. Good job on that. How big are these models? It's a bit hard to judge just based on the printer.

Enterprise and Reliant are about 11 inches long. The largest object I can reliably print is 6x6x6 inches, so I have to cut everything up into smaller parts. If a part is longer than 6 inches, I can get some curling on the edges of the part.

BorgMan wrote: »

Those are some nice prints indeed! Did you do anything in post production to let the paint stick better? I notice the print grid in the phaser's back, but it is absent on the bottom. Did you smooth it out or something?

Yeah, after they come out of the printer, I sand them, and then hit them with primer; that seems to work pretty well. Depending on the orientation of the part, I do end up with support material like you mentioned on the phaser. It's pretty easy to trim and sand off, though.

Jenny wrote: »

I was going to ask the same question about the print lines... do you sand them down?

Yep, not too much, though. I like being able to see some of the layers if you look close. That way, even after it's finished, you can still tell that it's 3D Printed.

Updates on the phaser later... I got the gaps filled, and sanding finished. Plan is to hit it with Primer tonight.

-Ricky

evil_genius_180

Sweet stuff. It's cool to see some of your excellent CG models out in the real world. The prints definitely look great.

spacefighter

lucky you with a 3d printer, this is awesome. even luckier you for managing to get such good results.

madman1701a

Thanks guys.

Got the phaser done. I think it turned out well.

I went with more of a TOS color scheme on it, and I think it looks sharp. I felt like the real one was a little too dark.



And here it is compared to the Art Asylum TOS Phaser...



What do you guys think?

-Ricky

evil_genius_180

Great call on the paint scheme. It makes it easier to see the details.

BlueNeumann

Oh baby. I like that updated Reliant, and I've always dug that militarized Phaser design. Are you able to hold it in your hand?

Jenny

I think it's not good enough for a "hero" prop, but for some mook in a red shirt standing in the back of a group shot? Fine.

DCB

You might want to look into acetone vapour baths for getting a smoother finish. Hot baths are kind of crazy dangerous, but you can do cold baths as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2lm6FuaAWI

madman1701a

Thanks guys.

As I'm working on more of these, my parts should get more and more refined. I'm also trying to re-learn how to paint stuff like this, and get my workflow worked out.

I've looked into vapor baths... like you said, kind of dangerous. I'm using sandpaper and plastic model putty right now, which works OK.

More stuff later.

-Ricky

Chris2005

Amazing!

madman1701a

Thanks.

Hey guys, more stuff tonight.

I got most of the parts built for Valiant, and assembled. I think it turned out pretty well.









Also, I was playing around the other day, and made some comm badges. I was watching TNG on Bluray, and never noticed that the TNG comm badges delta shape wasn't the same shape as the TOS delta. I thought it was weird that I had never noticed, so I had to make some.



What do you guys think?

-Ricky

BlueNeumann

The quad looks gorgeous, I'm so jealous you got that.

And yeah, I noticed the difference in the commbadge design, it's one of those things where once you notice it, you can't stop noticing it.

evil_genius_180

Nice prints on the ship model and badges.

madman1701a wrote: »

Also, I was playing around the other day, and made some comm badges. I was watching TNG on Bluray, and never noticed that the TNG comm badges delta shape wasn't the same shape as the TOS delta. I thought it was weird that I had never noticed, so I had to make some.

You never noticed that? Seriously? Sorry, but I think we may have to confiscate your Trekkie membership card for that one.

madman1701a

BlueNeumann wrote: »

The quad looks gorgeous, I'm so jealous you got that.

And yeah, I noticed the difference in the commbadge design, it's one of those things where once you notice it, you can't stop noticing it.

Thanks. I am taking build requests, so PM me if you want one.

evil_genius_180 wrote: »

Nice prints on the ship model and badges.
You never noticed that? Seriously? Sorry, but I think we may have to confiscate your Trekkie membership card for that one.

Thanks. Yeah, yeah, I only got the card in a box of Froot Loops anyway. I don't know why I never did, I always though it was the same asymmetrical shape as the other deltas. I wonder if there is a behind the scenes where they talk about it somewhere.

More pics when I primer the Valiant. I need to get primer on Reliant soon, too.

-Ricky

evil_genius_180

Yeah, the chevron changed slightly over the years through the different series and movies.

madman1701a wrote: »

Thanks. Yeah, yeah, I only got the card in a box of Froot Loops anyway.

Mine was in a box of Frosted Flakes.

BlueNeumann

madman1701a wrote: »

Thanks. I am taking build requests, so PM me if you want one.

Oh, if I had a 3D model of my Excalibur...

TALON_UK

Very cool work on that model of the Valiant, good clean 3d printed fun.

madman1701a

Thanks guys.

BlueNeumann wrote: »

Oh, if I had a 3D model of my Excalibur...

I'm not familiar with the Excalibur... I tried to do a search, but couldn't find it. Got pictures?

-Ricky

BlueNeumann

It was a design I threw together a while ago on my own thread that I quite like... I'll need to draw the underside. In my head I pictured something more advanced and sleeker than just an Excelsior-type ship, more of a Syd Mead take on the Federation design. And naturally, i wanted it to look a little like a sword.

Hunter G

These look great! Man I wish I had a 3D printer.

madman1701a

Hey guys, I'm back.

Been working on this guy... It's done, except for a little paint touch up, and the gloss coat.





It's my biggest model yet... right at 13 inches.

What do you guys think?

-Ricky

BlueNeumann

Can I tell you the truth If you showed me that bottom picture without context, I wouldn't be sure which was the 3D printed ship and which was the store-bought ship.

ST-One

madman1701a wrote: »

It's my biggest model yet... right at 13 inches.

What do you guys think?

-Ricky

The model looks good, but tbh the paint-job looks ... less than good.

madman1701a

Thanks, guys.

BlueNeumann wrote: »

Can I tell you the truth If you showed me that bottom picture without context, I wouldn't be sure which was the 3D printed ship and which was the store-bought ship.

Thanks. They are both 3D printed though... the Enterprise there was the first ship model that I printed out.

ST-One wrote: »

The model looks good, but tbh the paint-job looks ... less than good.

Fair enough. I have several places to touch up still, before I put the clear coat on it. I was going for a grungy weathered look, but a lot of that will be toned down after the clear goes on. Still practicing.

More later on... I have a couple of more models that I've got queued up for the printer.

-Ricky

evil_genius_180

That's really sweet. I've always liked your Constellation design. I think it looks better than the one they call Enterprise from the newer films.

Capt. Eric Gardner

I love models. Do you do any requests?

madman1701a

Thanks guys.

Capt. Eric Gardner wrote: »

I love models. Do you do any requests?

Definitely. That's something I'm wanting to get in to. Send me a PM if you have something in mind.

-Ricky