RegisteredUser Posted August 19, 2024 Share Posted August 19, 2024 The idea is nothing new but I can't say I've seen or heard of many people trying this. Especially in the UK. I've recently purchased a Prusa MK4 3D Printer and the files needed to print a Lockheed P-38 Lightning & P51-D Mustang. The P51-D Mustang is an easier plane to build and so I'll try that first. Just wondering if anyone else has tried 3D printing planes? If so, how was your experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone-wolf Posted August 19, 2024 Share Posted August 19, 2024 I know a few people that have 3D printed RC model planes, they dont really take a crash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oranjedrol Posted August 19, 2024 Share Posted August 19, 2024 (edited) I have not tried it myself but Bambu Lab do have PLA Aero filament that is meant specifically for plane printing, but as I said I have not tried myself and do not know if it is a gimmick or not. The price is very high so I assume it is not a gimmick. https://uk.store.bambulab.com/products/pla-aero also ASA Aero: https://uk.store.bambulab.com/collections/asa-abs/products/asa-aero Edited August 19, 2024 by oranjedrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted August 20, 2024 Author Share Posted August 20, 2024 21 hours ago, Lone-wolf said: I know a few people that have 3D printed RC model planes, they don't really take a crash That is true. For me, the advantage (if you could call it that) is that if I break it, I can easily reprint it at little cost. 15 hours ago, oranjedrol said: I have not tried it myself but Bambu Lab do have PLA Aero filament that is meant specifically for plane printing, but as I said I have not tried myself and do not know if it is a gimmick or not. The price is very high so I assume it is not a gimmick. https://uk.store.bambulab.com/products/pla-aero also ASA Aero: https://uk.store.bambulab.com/collections/asa-abs/products/asa-aero That's very costly. I'm only using normal PLA. I guess it depends on the design of the plane. I wouldn't want to print a plane that requires PLA that expensive, personally. My first part is almost done. Hopefully it doesn't fail now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted August 27, 2024 Author Share Posted August 27, 2024 (edited) Made some progress. Managed to print the whole plane already. Just used the provided GCodes with no editing at all. Most pieces of the plane are rigid enough. But some are delicate. Should be fine once it's glued together. Edited October 10, 2024 by RegisteredUser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted August 27, 2024 Share Posted August 27, 2024 Interesting project looking forward to seeing how it turns out 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted September 1, 2024 Author Share Posted September 1, 2024 (edited) I've made some progress and learned quite a bit too. Will help me with future builds. Edited October 10, 2024 by RegisteredUser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted October 10, 2024 Author Share Posted October 10, 2024 Been a while but I've made some progress. I have.. Spray painted my P51-D, now known as "P51-D V1", added electronics to the fuselage and added control surfaces (Not yet pictured): Printed an entire Lockheed P38 Lightning: Started to print a second P51-D (Known as P51-D V2): Learned how to resize images so they're not ridiculously big 😆 (see above) Most parts are easy enough to print but the wings can be tricky due to parts lifting off the bed. I had three parts of one wing on my P38 lift a little during printing (before I used an enclosure for the other wing). I decided to use the parts still, as the parts cost about 250 grams of PLA which I don't want to waste, and because the lifting isn't so great as to render them unusable. I just have to use a little more glue! 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted December 15, 2024 Author Share Posted December 15, 2024 (edited) It took way too long, and I had to rip the tail off to remove a servo that died after I glued it in. But it's done! I took it out to fly but couldn't actually do it, on account of there being too many people around. Maybe next time. Edited January 3 by RegisteredUser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegisteredUser Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 (edited) I finally managed to fly the P51-D V1, on Boxing Day. I had a bit of an uncontrolled landing at first. It caused some minor damage that can be fixed with glue. I've started to assemble the Lockheed P38 Lightning V1. It's bigger than I expected. Thankfully, the wings are made to detach for easier transport. It'll be a more complicated build than the P51 V1 was, by far. But I've wanted to build this thing since FliteTest made a video on it, around eight years ago. Happy New Year! 😁 Edited January 3 by RegisteredUser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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