Bonestell Moonrocket in 1/350 scale

frank2056 · April 09, 2011, 07:13:34 PM

I had this printed out a while ago, but just now got around to finishing it. The original is from Bonestell & Ley's "The Conquest of Space" and I used Jon Roger's drawings and dimensions (from "The Spaceship Handbook") to make the 3D version in Rhino:

Original Bonestell:

Parts:

An obscene amount of PSR (actually, mostly S&R - I did a good job designing it and didn't need putty) and Mr. Surfacer later:

The figure is a 1/350 sailor from Preiser.

On the plans I used:

Cobra · April 09, 2011, 07:20:53 PM

Awesome Job,Frank

Sure you didn't Work for NASA? this is Cool,Well Designed,and Well Built! Thanks for Posting

Dan

Ed S · April 09, 2011, 08:04:15 PM

Nicely done. And a great use of some new technology.

NARSES2 · April 10, 2011, 02:01:49 AM

Silly question. Is this made form parts "printed" on a 3D printer ?

If so then it's the first model done this way I think I've ever seen. Excellent work

Have to admit I was sceptical of the process but then the only example I've seen was in the Science Museum in Kesington.

frank2056 · April 10, 2011, 09:47:27 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on April 10, 2011, 02:01:49 AM
Silly question. Is this made form parts "printed" on a 3D printer ?

The process starts by scanning in the plans I bought from Jon Rogers (1 sheet) then importing it as a background image into Rhino. I then drew out the components that would eventually become the 3D object. After that was done and the model was scaled to 1/350, I checked that the file was printable and mailed it off to Shapeways in the Netherlands. They printed out the parts.

Here's a screenshot of what it looks like in Rhino:

Ideally I should make a mold of the master printed parts and work on resin copies, but since I have more than one copy, I went ahead and built a master.

GTX · April 10, 2011, 11:56:46 AM

NARSES2 · April 11, 2011, 12:00:48 AM

Thanks for the explanation - interesting

Doc Yo · April 11, 2011, 08:31:54 AM

Thats gorgeous, Frank. I'm really going to have to take a crack at Rhino one of these days.

frank2056 · April 11, 2011, 03:13:03 PM

Quote from: Doc Yo on April 11, 2011, 08:31:54 AM
Thats gorgeous, Frank. I'm really going to have to take a crack at Rhino one of these days.

Thanks Craig. It's not as hard as it seems and the in-program help is very good. The key is to pick a simple but challenging project and set aside a day (or an afternoon) to get familiar with the program. I picked the C-57. It took me the better part of a Saturday but at the end of the day I had something that looked like a C-57 (without the stairs).

Brian da Basher · May 04, 2011, 01:25:07 PM

Wow Frank, that's sooo cool it hurts! I know a couple of vintage shops that'd ask a couple of Frankins for something like this.

Printing out your own models?? I am now envy personified.

Outstanding!!!

Brian da Basher