Summary

Dear fellow makers,

This is a mothership model for the board game 'Under Falling Skies' with LED backlights, so it's glowing menacingly from within.
The model comes in four parts, two of which need to be glued together.

I am not using the base (with positioning cones) - I prefer the looks of the ship on the original game tile.

I hope it's useful - happy gaming!

Best wishes from Munich

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

ELEGOO

                                            <p class="detail-setting printer"><strong>Printer: </strong>                     <div><p>ELEGOO NEPTUNE 4 Plus</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting rafts"><strong>Rafts: </strong>                     <div><p>No</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting supports"><strong>Supports: </strong>                     <div><p>No</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting resolution"><strong>Resolution: </strong>                     <div><p>Fast - 0.2mm</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting infill"><strong>Infill: </strong>                     <div><p>15%</p></div></p>                                                    <strong>Filament:</strong> Elegoo Rapid PLA+ For the center piece: Geeetech PETG transparent                Black

Post-Printing

Additional parts I've used

            <div><p>Battery pack for CR2032 battery - bought on Ebay:<br><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ebay.de/itm/355686887611?var=624784681811">https://www.ebay.de/itm/355686887611?var=624784681811</a></p><p>Left-over LEDs from my brother's electronics workshop.<br>At the base, they are 5.3mm in diameter. The experts among you will know what they are - I'm a dummy when it comes to specifications of electronic parts... :-)</p><p>CR2032 batteries</p></div>                <p class="detail-image"><img src="https://cdn.thingiverse.com/assets/39/0d/90/56/14/CR2032.webp"></p>                <p class="detail-title"><strong>Assembly</strong></p>            <div><ol><li><p>Glue the front and center parts together - I've used 'UHU Alleskleber KRAFT' which works really well.</p></li><li><p>Bend the LED pins close to the base to bring the ends of the same polarity as closely together as possible. </p></li><li><p>Slide the LEDs in to the holders - they should pinch and hold them well. You can choose either one in the center or three in a circle.<br>Be careful - the LED base part is delicate and the bracelets break when being bent too much (layer line orientation!).<br>The LEDs I've used are 5.3mm at the base ring.</p></li><li><p>Solder the pins together; you probably need to use an extra wire when using three LEDs.<br>Mind the polarity of the LED by checking with the battery unit. Connect the unit to the pins.</p></li><li><p>Don't judge my soldering proficiency. I tacked them together while in the LED base part - it's ugly, but it worked  ;-)</p></li><li><p>Slide the LED base and battery pack into the back piece.</p></li><li>Carefully press the front and center pieces together. They should hold firmly. Be careful when you open them up again - the nubs might break (layer line orientation!)</li></ol></div>                <p class="detail-title"><strong>Paint job</strong></p>            <div><p>I drybrushed the piece with Vallejo silver to make the edges pop a bit with a metallic sheen.</p></div>

How I Designed This

Remix and additional design

            <div><p>I used OnShape (my absolute favorit CAD tool, by the way!).<br>Cut the original model by two planes in three parts.<br>Closed the hollow shapes - which was a total nightmare and never worked completely :-D</p><p>Boolean unified the front piece with the center plate of the original model through connecting beams (sketched and extruded)</p><p>Sketched and added nubs to backward-facing side of the center piece; cut a sphere shape where the LEDs of the model back part will sit.</p><p>Closed the positioning cones of the orignal model - I'm not using them because I like the look of the glowing ship on the original game tile for that ship.</p><p>Sketched and substracted the battery pack and cylinder for the LED base.</p><p>Newly sketched and modeled the LED base to slide into the back part.</p></div>

Under Falling Skies - glowing mothership, LED back-lit