When I was 11 my Dad got a job as the librarian at a teachers' training college in Yorkshire, and every week he'd bring a selection of books home for me and my sisters to read. Amongst these were the full collection of Hergé's Tintin books. I loved the stories, but most of all I was fascinated by the detailed illustrations, especially the mechanical subjects. I'm pretty sure that Hergé's illustrations were a fundamental influence in my choosing to follow a career as a graphic designer and illustrator later in life.
One of his most iconic images is the red and white rocket that took Tintin and his companions to the moon in 'Destination Moon' and 'Explorers on the Moon'. About a year ago I decided to have a go at modelling the cover image from the first book.
My original plan was to scratchbuild the gantries from Plastruct rod and tubing but after studying the drawings I figured I'd never be able to achieve the precision to build one, let alone two identical towers. However they seemed the perfect subject matter for 3D-printing, so I've spent a fair bit of time building the various elements in a 3D program. The gantry is basically the same structure replicated 8 times (with a slightly different base unit), and the rocket itself is a fairly straightforward lathed object. Here's a low-res render of my model.
Although it's possible to print 3D in colour, it's an additional cost and (as I discovered) 3D-printing is already an expensive process, so I'll be using the basic white material. The price is based on a set-up charge and the amount of material used, plus shipping. I use Shapeways in the US for most stuff. Even though it'll be a fairly small model – the rocket is 6" tall – the cost for printing the two towers and the rocket is prohibitive, so I have a cunning plan. I plan on building one tower, half a rocket, then using a first-surface mirror to reflect them:
Which should result in something like this:
Tintin rocket
- Migrant
- Happily Landed after Many Circuits and Bumps
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Re: Tintin rocket
My first test print last year was less than successful. The material wasn't rigid enough to form the 'floors' of the tower, so they sagged badly, even though the file itself met the stringent tolerances required by Shapeways.
The vertical sections holding the levels together effectively acted as sprues to protect the parts while shipping. The models are fairly fragile and easily damaged, as I've learned from experience.
My plan now is to dispense with the printed floors and make them out of styrene sheet, so I've adjusted the 3D model to allow them to be dropped in. Red parts are the 'sprues'.
The vertical sections holding the levels together effectively acted as sprues to protect the parts while shipping. The models are fairly fragile and easily damaged, as I've learned from experience.
My plan now is to dispense with the printed floors and make them out of styrene sheet, so I've adjusted the 3D model to allow them to be dropped in. Red parts are the 'sprues'.
- montessa315
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Re: Tintin rocket
Design the top of the floors so they are flat, have each layer printed upside down, so the floor is directly on the bed of the printer, even a raft would not be needed and the floor would be flat. A few locating pins and holes for the vertical pipework and then just assemble each layer to get the tower.
Alan......
Alan......
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If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.
- DavidWomby
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Re: Tintin rocket
Amazing to see how this is comes together. Very, very clever using the mirror!
David
David
- TeeELL
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Re: Tintin rocket
This looks fascinating, not had the courage to try 3D printing.
Tony
The older I get the better I was!
Current build:
Airfix 1:72 Javelin FAW9
Particular modelling interests:
Cuban Airforce aircraft, 29(F) Sqn aircraft, Aircraft I’ve flown
The older I get the better I was!
Current build:
Airfix 1:72 Javelin FAW9
Particular modelling interests:
Cuban Airforce aircraft, 29(F) Sqn aircraft, Aircraft I’ve flown
- splash
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Re: Tintin rocket
The rocket is a subject I have always fancied.
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
- iggie
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Re: Tintin rocket
Fascinating stuff!!
Best wishes
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
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Re: Tintin rocket
This is very interesting indeed, Mike and the mirror trick shows great ingenuity. 3-D printing certainly has its uses in model making and is arguably the future of the hobby - no doubt the cost will eventually go down and the quality will get better.
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300