Apollo Mission
Description
These models are as close to 1:67 scale as I can manage, working from various drawings and dimensions. The Lunar Ascent Module is courtesy of NASA: nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/models.html, which has a lot of free 3D models of spacecraft. I simplified it and made it manifold using Meshlab and Netfabb's cloud service.
Instructions
Everything should be printable without support, though the ascent module may be pushing the limits. I added a thin wall to support the largest overhang, so just snap this off once printed.
I haven't had a chance to print this yet, so please let me know if you have any trouble with the design. I'd also love to see pix!
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Great model. I'll have to print one soon. Anyone willing to put this all on a single plate for a Replicator.... If not, I'll give it a try this weekend.
So, printed the descent module today. I edited the STL to make a thicker nizzle and that turned out okay. The legs were quite flimsy and two broke off, which then had to be glued :(
Just printed the ascent module, I removed the break-off support and the hole in the top. It's awesome! The nozzle came out funny, but that's fine, it's not in view that often. I think it was down to the resolution of my printer. Will post pics when I print the descent module :-D Thanks emmett!!!
Sorry to leave so many comments. When I try to compile the SCAD file it crashes =(
Odd that the SCAD crashes; any messages? You could use automatic support, but it's a pain to clean away, so sometimes it's nicer to just add a strategic support into the file. As for thin walls, I've found single thread walls are perfectly strong (see my cookie cutters and stretchlet), though they might not hold up to children. If you can't manage to change the hole you want in the SCAD file, you could always just print a blind peg to fill that one hole.
Also there shouldn't be a need for the support for the overhang, most 3D printing I've seen that does layering prints its own supports. Anyone else able to comment proving me wrong? I'm not 100% sure, but this seems to be the way things work.
I really want to print this, but looking at the thin walls for the top of the "servicetop" and the rocket nozzle for the "servicebot" parts, I am not sure they are thick enough to have any sort of strength.
Additionally, is it possible to have an alternative ascent module that has no peg hole in the top? This would be to create just the lander and ascent module with no command and service module.
Besides this, I love this model :)
I would love someone to create a 3D model of the hypothetical CO2 filter that could have been beamed to Apollo 13 when they had to fit a square peg in a round hole. Imagine if they had a 3D printer on board and could have just printed the part instead of having to jerry-rig an adapter at the last minute.
License
Hmmm, this is great and all, but alas, the docking maneuver I most enjoy reenacting was during a Gemini mission.