Teacher 3D Prints Massive StarCraft Hyperion Battlecruiser

Gambody is a 3D model repository for all that’s awesome in gaming and pop culture. The detail on many of their models is impressive, which is probably why 3D design teacher Sam Fenimore chose Gambody to snag the STL files for his StarCraft Hyperion Battlecruiser.

The ship is predominantly featured in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty—a popular RTS (Real Time Strategy) game developed by Blizzard in 2010. The level of detail on the Hyperion is astounding, considering there was a time when 3D printing resolutions couldn’t match the technical features of injection molded models from companies such as Revell, Bandai or MPC.

To build the Hyperion, Sam downloaded all 100 STL files needed to 3D print the battlecruiser, which was done using a D-Force 400 Delta along with nearly 9 pounds of PLA material. Altogether it took Sam over 325 hours to print the pieces with zero failures in the process.

Sam’s Hyperion is still a work in progress with LED lighting being added for the windows and engines, and plans to paint the ship at some point. And this is just one of his projects. “I just finished another Harley Quinn. I am printing the Mammoth Tank and the Millennium Falcon base at the moment,” says Sam. “I expect to finish the Mammoth Tank next month. Who knows when the Falcon will be finished–I am sure I will purchase all the add-ons for that also.”