Randers
New Member
Thought I would make my first real post here near the beginning of my project.
I'm attempting to bring the CombaTech Equinox laser rifle to life from the game Starfield. There are so many original and unique weapons, space suits, gadgets, spacecraft from this game. If you aren't familiar and are a sci-fi fan like myself, I would highly recommend taking a look. Since the beginning I have always liked the looks of the Equinox and its unique style always called to me in a way the others didn't. Over the holiday season I was fortunate enough to get a 3d printer so this will be my first all 3d printed prop (I have done some sword making previously but those were made from wood).
Here is a picture of the Equinox:
In the game there are several flavors including a stripped down version that is much more complex:
Of course I decided that for my first ground up 3d design I should take it easy and do the base version - which I immediately disregarded and figured that I should just jump into the deep end and try for the fancy one. I wasn't a complete lunatic so I will not be recreating the scope.... maybe.
I did search a couple places online to see if there was an existing model so I wouldn't have to start from scratch, but then I got lazy and figured the only sensible course of action was to teach myself 3d modeling and create the entire rifle from scratch. Here are some particulars about this project:
After collecting all of the above mentioned things, I started designing and printing.... and look what I did:
Yep, I'm on my way. No seriously, I think I mostly finished the battery design and now I'm printing!
You may notice that there is a slot on the front... and a matching one you can't see on the rear. Those will allow me to guide the battery when you slot it into the rifle. Also that kind of ribbed thing on the upper side of the battery looks like a locking mechanism of some sort so.... you guessed it... I'm going to make it functional and you should be able to lock that thing into place once you install it.
Overall the design process was a little difficult for a newbie like myself, but based on what I did here, I think I can do a good approximation of the rest.
Stay tuned and wish me luck.
I'm attempting to bring the CombaTech Equinox laser rifle to life from the game Starfield. There are so many original and unique weapons, space suits, gadgets, spacecraft from this game. If you aren't familiar and are a sci-fi fan like myself, I would highly recommend taking a look. Since the beginning I have always liked the looks of the Equinox and its unique style always called to me in a way the others didn't. Over the holiday season I was fortunate enough to get a 3d printer so this will be my first all 3d printed prop (I have done some sword making previously but those were made from wood).
Here is a picture of the Equinox:
In the game there are several flavors including a stripped down version that is much more complex:
Of course I decided that for my first ground up 3d design I should take it easy and do the base version - which I immediately disregarded and figured that I should just jump into the deep end and try for the fancy one. I wasn't a complete lunatic so I will not be recreating the scope.... maybe.
I did search a couple places online to see if there was an existing model so I wouldn't have to start from scratch, but then I got lazy and figured the only sensible course of action was to teach myself 3d modeling and create the entire rifle from scratch. Here are some particulars about this project:
- What is Starfield - Starfield | Official Website
- What is an Equinox - Equinox | Starfield Wiki | Fandom
- How did I start? Youtube of course! I found a video outlining how to design and print your first 3d printed part (
- What 3d modeling program did I use: The one from the video - Fusion 360 (now just called Fusion by Autodesk), it's free for personal use and decently easy to use. The best thing is there are a TON of how-to videos out there. https://www.autodesk.com/products/f...s professional,based, non-commercial projects.
- How did I decide on dimensions? - I decided to copy a similarly sized rifle that I just happen to have an airsoft version of - the G36C - this one is roughly 29 inches long x 10 inches tall which seemed to jive with the measurements of the handguard on the equinox (no idea if there are actual dimensions on the Equinox... maybe the developers know).
- What to print first - The handguard on the Equinox looks like a detachable battery so I decided to start there. If I could figure that out I could maybe do parts here and there until I had a full prop or failed miserably and threw my printer out the window.
- Upgrades? How about making the battery a working power bank or making the trigger functional or making parts detachable... what about that scope huh? No.... I want to keep this as easy on myself as possible so I won't be doing any of that.
- Upgrades part 2 - That power bank idea does sound pretty sweet. Hey, what about being able to break down the rifle like a real one like they do in the movies? OK so maybe some upgrades. What is that saying: In for a penny?
- Digital Caliper used for measuring stuff, especially good for millimeters because freedom units apparently aren't the language of engineering or modeling.
- Lots of filament because I don't know how to do 3d printing.
- Any old table so my family doesn't kill me for taking over the dining room.
- A desk mounted swing arm light because light is your best friend when figuring out if something printed correctly.
- Flush cut nippers - man did you know that you had to cut a LOT of things off your 3d prints?
- A good (or crappy) razor knife with new blades. No, really... you need more blades.
- Super glue and accelerator spray - you will need to join things together and the best thing I've found that doesn't involve staples or another 3d printer gadget that costs more is super glue. Accelerator spray for those times you need it glued yesterday.
- Bondo Glazing Putty - Joining 3d prints together because you can't print the whole part in one go causes seams. Seams need filler.
- A good deburring tool. I think I may have mentioned that you need to cut things off your print... well it turns out you need this thing too.
After collecting all of the above mentioned things, I started designing and printing.... and look what I did:
Yep, I'm on my way. No seriously, I think I mostly finished the battery design and now I'm printing!
You may notice that there is a slot on the front... and a matching one you can't see on the rear. Those will allow me to guide the battery when you slot it into the rifle. Also that kind of ribbed thing on the upper side of the battery looks like a locking mechanism of some sort so.... you guessed it... I'm going to make it functional and you should be able to lock that thing into place once you install it.
Overall the design process was a little difficult for a newbie like myself, but based on what I did here, I think I can do a good approximation of the rest.
Stay tuned and wish me luck.