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I’m ready for dream time, Mister Bubbles

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I continue to have way more fun with my Makerbot than I ever thought possible.

A few days ago, I printed out a Big Daddy figure, from one of my favourite video games of all time, Bioshock. I used a glow-in-the-dark filament, and the result looks like this:

3d-printed big daddy

3d-printed big daddy glows in the dark

I got the model from Thingiverse. It took 16 hours to print, and I used supports, 5% infill, .1mm layer thickness, and 2 shells. I sliced it in Makerware.

You may notice that some of the pipes around his head are messed up. That’s not the fault of the model, that’s my fault. When I was cutting off the supports, some of them snapped off (probably because it needed more infill to be stronger) and I had to put them back together with epoxy. I don’t really mind that those pieces are a little weird, though, because it gives the impression to me that this particular Big Daddy has been stomping around Rapture for a really long time.

Eventually, I’ll start making practical things, but until then, I’ll be busy making beautiful toys and models, because I can.

 

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3d models 3d printing big daddy bioshock makerbot thingiverse video games
6 January, 2014 Wil

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I am *so* easily amused. → ← There’s a harbor lost within the reeds.

29 thoughts on “I’m ready for dream time, Mister Bubbles”

  1. Mark Cooper (@AstragaliUSA) says:
    6 January, 2014 at 9:46 am

    I see… glow-in-the-dark Bioshock chess set! 🙂

  2. David L says:
    6 January, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Can we expect to see some custom player tokens for use on Tabletop? #WilAsMunchkin

  3. Wil says:
    6 January, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Probably not. However, if we get funding for season three, I think it would be cool to print a custom trophy for each episode, with something that’s thematically relevant to the game we played.

  4. eurydc says:
    6 January, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Wow, a custom trophy sounds amazing! Glad you’re having fun with the printer – I’m having a great time seeing what you create. I loved the Maltese Falcon – was it as tall as the one from the movies?

  5. Paul Zagieboylo says:
    6 January, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Maaaan. I’m pretty sure I need to get myself one of these. Yet another multi-thousand-dollar unavoidable expense. Sigh. Do you recommend the Replicator 2 or the Replicator 2X? Is the dual-color ability really worth it?

  6. Wil says:
    6 January, 2014 at 10:47 am

    No, this one is about 6 inches.

  7. Wil says:
    6 January, 2014 at 10:48 am

    I have the 2, and I really like it. I suppose having the dual color ability would be really great, but since I’m only building from existing models, I don’t know how much of a difference that would make for me, since I don’t know how many dual colour models are available.

  8. Dani Courtney says:
    6 January, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Screw practical. 3D printers are obviously quite cool. Your best thing is still the Maltese Falcon you made earlier.

  9. neilrqm says:
    6 January, 2014 at 11:42 am

    One of my favourite things I’ve printed is Force Ghost Yoda.

    http://www.thingiverse.com/make:36350

  10. Tholomyes says:
    6 January, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    I don’t mean to pry if you don’t want to answer, but above, you said “[…] if we get funding for season three [of Tabletop][…]”. Is there any reason to be concerned, or is it just a matter of ‘G&S hasn’t made any decisions about next season, so while it’s likely it will get renewed, you don’t want to assume anything’?

  11. Tom Clark says:
    6 January, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    Love that game. Also Bioshock Infinite was fantastic.

  12. Tim says:
    6 January, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    thanks to tabletop, received castle panic from wife and daughter for christmas. just happened to be browsing thingiverse the other day and found this: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:139402 . lucky for me, the tech ed department at the school i teach at has a replicator 2 and i’m hoping the tech ed teacher can set me up.

    also, if you’re up to it, check out edh (or commander) for magic. 100 card singleton decks that are of your own making and a ton of fun to play.

  13. Alan Oursland says:
    6 January, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    What sort of useful things do you think you might make?

    Also, the Maltese Falcon was a McGuffin. That means your MakerBot is a McGuffin generator and if you were to print out an egg, you would have an Egg McGuffin.

  14. Michael Kelleher says:
    6 January, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    You’re not our bitch, and you’re not a machine, and I don’t mean to dictate how you spend your day, but PLEASE try your hand at Sparks McGee when you decide to start making your own designs. Enjoy your new toy!

  15. Susan Averello says:
    6 January, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    I am so jealous all I have is polymer clay to work with!

  16. RJ says:
    7 January, 2014 at 5:28 am

    I want a Makerbot to make spare HO scale locomotive and railcar shells so I can custom paint them for my own fictional railroad.

  17. Eli says:
    7 January, 2014 at 5:53 am

    I’m sure there is an Enterprise model somewhere out there, just waiting to be printed. Ahem ahem.

  18. Karen Ellison says:
    7 January, 2014 at 11:38 am

    Figurines are useful. They turn boring shelves into awesome shelves!

  19. Adam Piercey says:
    8 January, 2014 at 3:14 am

    Hey Wil, does the Makerbot support water-soluble support material? If it does, it can drastically reduce damage to the model because you simply drop the completed hulk in a bucket of water overnight and the supports just dissolve away. I’m an engineering technologist, and this has always been the easiest way to instantly produce better prototypes.

    1. Paul Zagieboylo says:
      8 January, 2014 at 8:37 am

      The Replicator 2X does. That’s the primary new feature moving from R2 to R2X, the dual-nozzle ability. I think there’s an automatic setting to print the model in real plastic and the supports in the water-soluble stuff.

  20. WearySky says:
    8 January, 2014 at 7:33 am

    Dammit Wil! Stop making me want to buy expensive toys that I don’t need. 🙂

  21. The Hook says:
    9 January, 2014 at 4:28 am

    You’re a big kid wrapped in an adult’s packaging, aren’t you, Wheaton?
    Good for you!
    Have you given any thought to my “interview” request? (My 5×5 series)
    You’re eternal optimism and childlike sense of wonder would be a perfect fir for my blog.

  22. Awkwardly Alive (@AwkwardlyAlive) says:
    9 January, 2014 at 7:24 am

    That is… adorable.

  23. Oliver says:
    9 January, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    If? 🙁

  24. Kevin Flynn says:
    10 January, 2014 at 11:47 am

    Are you willing to trade/share templates? If you’re concerned with (and it’s understandable) maintaining credit, is there a way to place identity so it is obviously YOUR work and lock that “signature” down?

  25. Kevin Flynn says:
    10 January, 2014 at 11:49 am

    @wearsky In this particular case, I think the existence of the technology alone is enough to compel us! (no offense Mr. W)

  26. scottsea says:
    10 January, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Right in the feels, Wil. I remember when I started looking at my stepfather less as a parent and more as a peer – it was a wonderful feeling; I just wish I’d matured enough mentally to do so far sooner. You are both very lucky.

  27. The Hook says:
    11 January, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Fir?
    My apologies for referring to you as a tree, Wil Wheaton.
    But my request is still valid, I hope.
    Your presence would buoy my readers’ spirits.
    I’m sure all five of them would appreciate it.

  28. Claire says:
    15 January, 2014 at 12:29 am

    This would be great to use for replacement board game pieces! You could make cool little guys instead of the coloured wooden blocks you sometimes get.

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