Aliens [Micro] UD-4L Dropship Digital/3D Print Edition

[armamentfactory]

Got a little model in the works, it's a revisit of an old project. I figure it might be 3D printable, if my math checks out.

Here's what version 1.0 looks like.


And here's the brand new 2.0 model. It still needs a few tweaks and some panel lines, but it could be ready for test printing next week.


The APC is packed a little tight in the cargo bay.


Cheers!

 

[Analyzer]

Awesome!

 

[armamentfactory]

Awesome!

Thanks!

Here's the APC up close.

 

[armamentfactory]

I think The modeling portion is done. Any more detail, and it might not print properly.

 

[Lissavi]

This is great man. I really want to make something as close as yours but I just can't

 

[armamentfactory]

This is great man. I really want to make something as close as yours but I just can't

Thanks! If the test print is successful, I'll put the STL files up for distribution.

 

[armamentfactory]

Prepping for the 3D print test.

 

[armamentfactory]

Here's the 1st test print.


It needs a couple of adjustments for ease of assembly and additional durability, but it's holding up pretty well.

 

[Analyzer]

Very cool!

So is that 73mm? that is pretty impressive for something that small.

 

[armamentfactory]

Very cool!

So is that 73mm? that is pretty impressive for something that small.

Thanks!
I adjusted the nose gun proportions a bit, so it's now 75mm. The APC is 16.5mm with the gun in ready position.

 

[armamentfactory]

Just a little bit of fine-tuning, and these should be good to go.

Here's a rough assembly/exploded diagram. It needs a few 1mm wire pins (paperclip) to bring the whole thing together.

 

[armamentfactory]

Had some time to take slightly better pics!

 

[armamentfactory]

Got the improved version printed.
The landing gear parts are still pretty fragile and finicky to assemble, but hold up well enough if handled properly.


The first test print is covered in an oil wash to show how much detail is visible with an FDM.

 

[armamentfactory]

Made a few adjustments to the tail section. Hopefully the parts will be less prone to failure during printing (a tiny part of the wings' LERX tends to break off because it's so small).

 

[Analyzer]

I did not realize there was as much detail hiding in there. It was hard to tell with the white and lack of shadows. The wash really brings it out

 

[armamentfactory]

I did not realize there was as much detail hiding in there. It was hard to tell with the white and lack of shadows. The wash really brings it out

It's pretty much the most detail I can cram into 75mm of space.
The wash also shows how badly I need a resin printer! You guys will probably have better results with this model.

 

[Analyzer]

It's pretty much the most detail I can cram into 75mm of space.
The wash also shows how badly I need a resin printer! You guys will probably have better results with this model.

If you want, I can print it out for you in resin

 

[korben44]

That's awesome! Great work, man!

 

[armamentfactory]

If you want, I can print it out for you in resin

Thanks for the offer! I have access to a resin printer here, I just need to ask my friend.

That's awesome! Great work, man!

Thanks!


Guess I have a tiny airfield now. Original PVC model/prototype (top left), v2.0 (bottom left), v2.15 (top right), v2.5 (bottom right).


The adjustments work great, the LERX prints much cleaner now.
The landing gear joints are more durable (for their size) ...still "workable photo etch parts" finicky to assemble though.

 

[Jimw100]

Very cool.

I love this ship, I remember having a model kit of it when I was a kid. More recently I bought the big resin one by Prodos games (designed to be used in a tabletop war-game type thing, and something like 1/48). It was only after I bought it that I realised it is pretty inaccurate, especially around the engines. And then when I started drilling big holes in it to add lighting I found that they hadn't cured the resin properly and it started weeping from the holes. Which basically ruined an otherwise quite cool model.

Anyway, the long story short is that I'd love to print a big drop ship, maybe 1/48. Think it will have to wait until I have an elegoo Saturn.