Limited Run 3D Scans of 150+ Star Wars Confirmed Donors

[Studio Kitbash]

You guys okay if I post non-watertight mesh scans instead of watertight? This way you can fix/edit/repair anything you like, and this way you don't have to deal with big "bubbles" that the software adds if a tiny spot goes missing. I'll post the wing tonight, which came out very well, but only in a non-watertight version.

 

[Jedi Dade]

Well I don't know how to fix anything... and where are you posting them?

Is it printable without being watertight?

Jedi Dade

 

[janglesworthy]

3d prints have to be water tight. You can use meshmixer or zbrush or any other 3d app like maya to clean up scans and make it water tight.

 

[Jedi Dade]

If that's the case - and I have no reason to think its not - please whatever steps are needed to make it water tight please do so. I'm having enough trouble getting the printing down... but I'm getting better.

But I'd think you need to get them watertight as well since you can't print them as is... or do you have a trick for that as well?

Jedi Dade

 

[Studio Kitbash]

3 Snips of the Airfix 1/24 Hurricane Lower Wing (precisely modified for the 5-footer Millennium Falcon), all in non-watertight mesh versions:

Angled view

Top view

Bottom view - "PRFCT"

So here's the deal -- this come out beautifully in the non-watertight mesh version. If you need to print this part, you'll need to fix it up to have it watertight so you can print it. I myself don't have the 3D software skills yet (though I'm learning, slowly) to offer this as part of this service. But if I post the watertight version of the scan, then you simply won't be able to print it, because of the goofy and large bubbles it adds in between the surface of the wing and the surface of the scanning bed whenever it finds a blank spot.

It goes without saying that any of you who are subscribers and DO have these skills, and access to the files, then you would be most welcome to do the clean-up work and throw the file back into the folder with a name-change indicating "watertight mesh version"

So from now on, if it's a super-complex piece like this wing, I'll post is as non-watertight. If it's fairly simple, which most have been so far, I'll post it as watertight and ready-to-print.

Box folder changing address this week -- check your e-mails this weekend for an updated file folder location.

 

[Jedi Dade]

So what is involved in making these scans watertight. I'm not opposed to doing some work - but at this point I really don't know where to start... my biggest accomplishment in 3D modeling thus far was being able to cut a model into 2 parts in 3Dbuilder... not exactly expert level here...

Jedi Dade

 

[janglesworthy]

Blender is a free 3D app that has a lot of community support in tutorials. I would start there, other options are Fusion 360, Zbrush, Autodesk Maya, 3dsmax the list goes on...

 

[xeno]

Meshmixer is a great STL editor (Free), you can manually close holes or connect open surfaces to close the troubled opening that causes these bubbles.
After that you can still close most of it automatically without the bubbling.

 

[Jedi Dade]

Coincidentally enough I downloaded meshmixer yesterday and started to play with it a bit to see if I liked the STL editor - so I could "cut" stl files into printable pieces... I spent about 20 minutes fumbling around. Looks like I'll spend a bit more time because these files are no good to me if I can't print them...

Jedi Dade

 

[Studio Kitbash]

Access Granted e-mail in your inbox, to new unlimited size Box folder. If you are a subscriber, and did not receive this invitation, please PM me.

 

[Jedi Dade]

I will Check when I get home

Jedi Dade

 

[Studio Kitbash]

Freeblies...

 

[Jedi Dade]

Awesome. I got the link and accepted the invite. I attempted to download all the files and take a look at them... in particular the wing. but I don't know what a ".asc" files is so I don't know what to do with it...

Jedi Dade

 

[Studio Kitbash]

Yeah, me neither -- let me check to make sure I saved it in the correct format.

 

[ventuoguy]

Yes and one of the files is an "obj" file as well. Anybody have a large format printer that can print out that 5 footer falcon template?

 

[Jedi Dade]

I have a large format printer.... but not that large best bet would be to have it laser cut in acrylic... I suppose you could do it by hand as well...

Jedi Dade

 

[Bjorn]

OBJ or STL are common mesh file formats that most CAD and printing programs should be able to work with. Most if not all of my laser scanning and photogrammetry work is exported as OBJ and I then convert to STL.

 

[ventuoguy]

I have a large format printer.... but not that large best bet would be to have it laser cut in acrylic... I suppose you could do it by hand as well...

Jedi Dade

Thanks Jedi Dade! I am not as advanced I am sure as some of the fantastic modelers and artists working on their own 5-footer. My goal is first to do a build merely of the sidewalls as a personal 'proof of concept' that I can actually embark on such an ambitious project- realistically it's a retirement project haha!

 

[Lt Washburn]

Just read through this thread. This looks like a very cool and helpful project, and a lot of work!

Just spit-balling here, but what would you think of open-sourcing this project? I understand that a number of people have financed this by buying access to the parts files, and you can't just make them free. But what if people donated so that those who invested could be refunded? If there was enough crowdfunding to do that, and pay your expenses, and whatever you'd want for the trouble you're going through....is there a number that would satisfy all that? If not, this is still cool.

 

[Jedi Dade]

Thanks Jedi Dade! I am not as advanced I am sure as some of the fantastic modelers and artists working on their own 5-footer. My goal is first to do a build merely of the sidewalls as a personal 'proof of concept' that I can actually embark on such an ambitious project- realistically it's a retirement project haha!

We become advanced by doing it and messing it up- and doing it some more. Honestly most of my skills have been developed trying to save models I totally screwed up on... Its amazing what you can do with an airbrush... hide a multitude of sins with a decent paintjob . the ONLY reason I don't build a 5 footer is I honestly have no room for it. My house is modest but nice... I simply don't have the room for it - but I am continually tempted to try and carve out some space. I am toying with the idea of doing it 1/2 scale... with parts as 3D models its pretty easy to rescale.

Jedi Dade