[FlyingJ]

I've always been in love with aviation. I've spent countless hours at school staring out the window watching the planes land at Pearson International. I've wanted to fly model planes for as long as I can remember but didn't get the chance until recently (been a member of a local club for 2 years now). Technology took hold of me in high school, I was always tinkering with computers and small electronics. So naturally I've moved to mashing my two passions together. I've flown and programmed multirotors and have a great time with them, I bought a 3d printer to make parts and frames to fly and bash around.

But then I stumbled upon a website that claimed to have a file set for a Spitfire Mk XVI (I love war birds). I've downloaded the files and have started the print. this will be a long one. There's plenty of files to print with times ranging from 10 minutes to 10 hours. Then comes the assembly.

So if there is any interest (and probably still if there isn't) I'm going to log my prints and build right here. I welcome questions and advice and criticisms.

Here's the link to the plane I'm printing. https://3dlabprint.com/index.php?id_...roller=product

Pictures and more to come.

[Max]

What the heck!!!!!???? is this a 3D printed FLYING model?

I looked at the images on the link you showed. Looks amazing- is the framing printed and then you have to cover it with mylar, or will this thing have 3D printed SKIN?

3D is nothing new to me but I haven't seen thin enough skin- if this is indeed what your model will have. If so, there must have been new advancements in 3D printing technology and material. I will be following this thread with great interest. Please keep us posted!!!

[Arrowblitz]

That's cool, what's the weight anticipated to be?

[FlyingJ]

Max, yes it is totally 3d printed. each piece is printed already covered. the exterior which would normally be covered is less than a millimeter thick. I'm using standard PLA as the print material to keep it light.

Arrowblitz the total weight that I estimate with my electronics should be an estimated 744g.

I'm deviating from the motor they suggest as they claim to run this on a 6s battery. The motor they use is only rated to 5s. I'd be worried about burning the motor out, and with the hours required to print the air frame that would be a heart break.

The motor they want to use is a 620 kv motor from hobbyking but I have a suppo motor that runs about 1000 kv and weighs about 100g, 12g more but I'll be running a 3s 2200 as opposed to the 6s 1300 so it should make up for the added weight. I'm just speculating of course only time will tell if it will work out for me. fingers crossed

[michaely]

Interesting and apparently "revolutionary" in terms of model construction.

To access the videos of a model - a spitfire - being constructed: the stages of construction, assembly and flight, you need to go to the link Jeff provides, then download the file at the bottom of that link and there are about a 8 separate videos of the various stages.

what is the composition/chemistry of the "filament" material that the model framework is constructed of?; it appears assembly of the components is done with conventional 'instant/cya" glue.

thanks

[FlyingJ]

Hello Michael the filament I'm using is PLA Polyactic acid or Polyactide, and yes most of the assembly will be with medium ca, and kicker. I've run some tests gluing random bits together before I started printing to make sure my ca didn't eat away at the PLA.

[yorcram]

Looks to be an interesting model. Looking forward to the build.

[ahewitso]

very interesting indeed

[Sukhoi 68]

Amazing.........


Scott

[David_Durand]

I stumbled across that website ( https://3dlabprint.com/index.php?id_...roller=product ) last year and thought about building one myself.

How is yours coming along? If it is complete, does it fly as well as the one in the promo video (

You Tube

You Tube

)?

What type of printer did you use (or are you using) for your build?

It would be great if you could share some of the "lessons learned" during this build.