3d Printer Files

[cylonchaney]

I thought it might be an idea to create a thread to post 3d printer files (stl typically) of things that are useful for customising and accessorising minimates. Please post whether or not you have actually printed the file yourself, what scale works well with minimates and any tricks you might have used to achieve success. I'll get us started with a couple that I've scaled and printed for mates.

Thingiverse Protip: Thingiverse seems to be getting more and more broken as time goes by. I don't think much maintenance is happening. Anyway, there used to be a link on the files page of any model to download all the parts in one zip file. If you change the end of the url from /files to /zip you will be able to download this zip file. eg. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4966787/files becomes https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4966787/zip.

 

My thingiverse profile: https://www.thingiverse.com/justsomeguy/designs - Any designs I have created to make other models work with minimates can be found here. For example, a thicker steering wheel for the Cobra Stinger posted below.

 

Mattel BSG Viper

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4383744

I like the way it fits minimates when scaled to 70%. I have successfully printed at this scale and all parts were printable.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4550223/files

Someone created pop-in landing gear for the Mattel Viper. You have to take out the wheels but it can easily be restored to stock. Works perfectly with this model. The landing gear clips on and off so you can still play in flight mode. Don't forget to scale it the same as your model.

 

Mattel Cylon Raider

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4383753

I have not printed this model but it's by the same creator as the Viper. Should be fine.

 

Cylon Raider for Minimates - Lg 3 pilot version

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5766423

Designed by me specifically for BSG minimates. Goes nicely with the deformed Viper below.

 

Cylon Raider for Minimates - Sm 1 pilot version

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5767185

 

Viper Mark I for minimates

Designed for Mimimates. Finally your classic BSG mates have a sweet ride!

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6057423

 

Viper Mark II deformed and scaled for minimates

No scaling required. This model was made with minimates in mind. Try to ignore my poorly made and applied decals.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5150135

 

Cobra Stinger

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4966787

This is scaled to 70% and printed at .2 mm layer height.  All parts of  model scaled without trouble for me except the steering wheel which became quite thin. I banged up a simple replacement. I may post it to thingiverse. If you need a thicker one and it's not there, let me know. There are not a lot of pins and holes or alginment features so do lots of test fitting and planning what to glue in what order. Please note that this model did not come with the missile launcher. I took the models for that from another Stinger and modified this one to have a mount point (basically a hole).

Consider geting a membership, posting a make and posting a thank you comment. This is what might encourage some of these guys to make more free models. This guy has some other models at 3.75 scale so check out his profile.

 

Edited June 2, 2023 by cylonchaney
add more models

[Mattallica]

this is fantastic,

thanks so much for starting this and all the other printing info/help you have provided

[Padrino]

this is amazing! thank you!

 

[cylonchaney]

Thanks guys.

Added the Stinger.

Thingiverse Protip: Thingiverse seems to be getting more and more broken as time goes by. I don't think much maintenance is happening. Anyway, there used to be a link on the files page of any model to download all the parts in one zip file. If you change the end of the url from /files to /zip you will be able to download this zip file. eg. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4966787/files becomes https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4966787/zip.

[cylonchaney]

There is a creator on myminifactory.com named Aitor Baltziskueta. He has his own line of free toys that are sort of somewhere between Playmobil and 3 3/4 figures. It's mostly Star Wars stuff which I've printed a bunch of. Anyone into Star Wars and 3d printing should have a look. Aside from the figures, he has designed a bunch of vehicles as well. I have printed his Buck Rogers Starfighter scaled down to 80% for use with minimates. See a few of his designs printed by me below. I'll add the Starfighter to my main post at some point but I wanted to give a shout out to this guy now. 

Here is a link straight to his profile. https://www.myminifactory.com/users/Playaction?show=objects

 

 

[cylonchaney]

Added links to my Cylon Raider designs.

See 1st post.

[cylonchaney]

Added link to Viper MK I

[Padrino]

I have a request that I admit I have no idea of the labor involved. Since we have these amazing wing sets from the new D&D line that do not fit any preexisting wing harness, I was wondering about the prospect of someone designing 3d printed versions that are already set on a harness to be used with other characters. I would love multiple set of Venger-like wings to make different characters with. Does anyone have recommendations for the time/cost of designing and printing something like this? Is there anyone out there doing anything like this?

[buttheadsmate]

4 hours ago, Padrino said:

I have a request that I admit I have no idea of the labor involved. Since we have these amazing wing sets from the new D&D line that do not fit any preexisting wing harness, I was wondering about the prospect of someone designing 3d printed versions that are already set on a harness to be used with other characters. I would love multiple set of Venger-like wings to make different characters with. Does anyone have recommendations for the time/cost of designing and printing something like this? Is there anyone out there doing anything like this?

3D is the future of Minimates . No joke .

[bilbofett]

Try David shapeways.com/shops/davesmodelshop He has a set of wings plus lots of cool prints.

[cylonchaney]

1 hour ago, bilbofett said:

Try David shapeways.com/shops/davesmodelshop He has a set of wings plus lots of cool prints.

He's still here too.  Same Dave that made me a Bishop face, I believe.

Wings would not be a good one for me. But I could probably make some harnesses to re-use factory wings.

[Padrino]

I'll follow up with him! thanks!

[Padrino]

1 hour ago, cylonchaney said:

He's still here too.  Same Dave that made me a Bishop face, I believe.

Wings would not be a good one for me. But I could probably make some harnesses to re-use factory wings.

This would be cool also! The new wing set has a < > design instead of a ball and joint design. I assume it makes them more stable but it limits interchangeability. 

[Padrino]

some more questions. sometimes the texture of 3d prints are..., not great. Is there a difference in texture between the standard extruder-type printers and the "rise-from-the-ocean-depths" resin printers?

[cylonchaney]

I think the texture you're talking about is the layer lines.

Resin printers typically use a lower layer height than plastic squirters so the lines are less visible (better z resolution and accuracy). On top of that resin printers are typically more accurate in the X and Y dimensions so the border of each layer is closer to where you expect it to be.

Materials-wise, the resin tends to be much more brittle than plastic. Not good if you drop them. I'm printing parts in ABS and PLA plastics. I'm not much of a resin guy. I think they may have developed some now with more plastic-like properties.

With both types, layer height is a parameter of your print settings. I can choose to physically print more or less detail. I can print the plastic layers so low that you might not notice them anymore like a resin print but that print is going to take forever. But it still won't look as clean and sharp as a resin print.

One of the things that makes it a fun hobby for a nerd like me is that there are so many things you can tweak to affect performance and quality.

[Freaqualizer]

@cylonchaney, just curious if you might know about the quality of 3D scanning technology currently being utilized. Is it possible to use a 3D scanner to scan an item and print it out directly with no fuss or muss?

[cylonchaney]

I haven't had much call for scanning tech so I might not be the best person to ask. But I think you'd need at least some level of proficiency with the scanning software and some ability to clean things up. 

There are free scanning apps for your phone. You could try one of those.  I think the next step up from there is dedicated scanning hardware going from hundreds to thousands of dollars. I did some scanning with an old Xbox Kinect. But I definitely had to clean them up after. I think the low end hardware is still basically the same as that or very similar tech.

I'm pretty sure there is no 3d photocopier yet. It sounds like that's kind of what you're looking for. If you see something that purports to be, do let me know. I would love a cheap and highly accurate scanner of any type.

[Padrino]

20 hours ago, cylonchaney said:

I think the texture you're talking about is the layer lines.

Resin printers typically use a lower layer height than plastic squirters so the lines are less visible (better z resolution and accuracy). On top of that resin printers are typically more accurate in the X and Y dimensions so the border of each layer is closer to where you expect it to be.

Materials-wise, the resin tends to be much more brittle than plastic. Not good if you drop them. I'm printing parts in ABS and PLA plastics. I'm not much of a resin guy. I think they may have developed some now with more plastic-like properties.

With both types, layer height is a parameter of your print settings. I can choose to physically print more or less detail. I can print the plastic layers so low that you might not notice them anymore like a resin print but that print is going to take forever. But it still won't look as clean and sharp as a resin print.

One of the things that makes it a fun hobby for a nerd like me is that there are so many things you can tweak to affect performance and quality.

Thanks!

[cylonchaney]

I've been talking with some people lately about hats. I added a customizable cowboy hat to my thingiverse designs.  If you have a thingiverse account, you can click customize and change some parameters to create your own version. Setting include things like how tall that hat is, the radius of the brim, the curve of the brim, etc. You can check it out at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6320501.

I hope someone finds it useful.