Notes on scaling and working with Blender
My target scale for all source files and output STL files is 1:1000, However, I generally recommend 1:2500 or smaller given the detail level of the model. Although these files have not been extensively tested through printing, they are intended to be resized to match common modelling and miniatures scales.
Note: As with many FASA designs, the official ship dimensions often don't make sense with the parts used on the artwork. For instance, The Liberty is officially 240m long, which would not make sense with the TMP era Constitution class saucer and nacelles used in the artwork. So to stay as close to the official values as possible my Liberty has a smaller saucer and shorter nacelles. The one ship I didn't do this on is the Lotus Flower.
The official Lotus Flower stats have it at a relatively tiny 237m long, making the TMP Constitution nacelle vastly smaller than it should be. Rather than try to fix this by resizing the nacelle (which really ruined the looks of an otherwise attractive ship), I've left the proportions as on the original artwork, and kept to the official FASA sizes. An alternative is to ditch the official size and scale the ship up so that the nacelle matches those on other ships. If you'd like to do that multiply the scale number below by ~160%.
Target scale - Scale STL files to: - Notes
- 1/3900 - 0.25641026 - FASA miniature scale
- 1/3788 - 0.26399155 - ADB Starline 2400 scale
- 1/3125 - 0.32 - ADB Starline 2500 scale
- 1/2500 - 0.4 - The Trek modelers "Golden scale"
- 1/1600 - 0.625 - TOS 3-Ship Set scale
- 1/1400 - 0.714285714 - Common resin model scale
- 1/650 - 1.538461538 - Modelling scale
- 1/537 - 1.862197393 - Common scale for TMP models
- 1/350 - 2.857142857 - Large scale
Blender
Blender is free, which to be honest was the primary factor in my decision to learn it. There are many fine video and text tutorials available online if you're interested in learning more. For a basic tutorial on moving and joining objects in Blender(which should be the minimum you need to know when working with these parts), see this instructables tutorial.
You can use File -> Import -> Stl (.stl) and File -> Export -> Stl (.stl) to load or save STL files in blender.
Note: This kit was built using Blender 3.1.
Post-processing STL output
Although all of the STL files included have been tested as valid watertight meshes, joining the parts together and exporting new STL files can introduce small errors that may cause issues with slicing programs. I recommend any STL files you create are checked using a program like Netfabb Basic free edition. Doing a simple "Close All Holes" repair has fixed most of the issues I've run into so far. If you do run into issues with mesh quality, please let me know.
File manifest
Parts
The Fed-noncombat1v2-parts-stls.zip file contains all of the part STL model files listed below.
Part - Description
- aakenn-deflector-module.stl - Top deflector module.
- aakenn-impulse-module.stl - Impulse engine module
- aakenn-main-hull.stl - Main hull.
- aakenn-nacelle-TMP.stl - Motion Picture era warp nacelle.
- aakenn-nacelle-TOS.stl - The Original Series era warp nacelle.
- aakenn-pylon-center.stl - Center warp nacelle pylon.
- aakenn-pylon-port.stl - Port warp nacelle pylon.
- aakenn-pylon-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle pylon.
- cochrane-hull-bottom.stl - Bottom hull section.
- cochrane-hull-main.stl - Core hull.
- cochrane-hull-top.stl - Top hull section.
- cochrane-nacelle-TMP.stl - Motion Picture era warp nacelle.
- cochrane-nacelle-TOS.stl - The Original Series era warp nacelle.
- cochrane-pylon.stl - Warp nacelle pylon.
- laweya-front-hull.stl - Front semi-saucer hull
- laweya-main-hull.stl - Main hull.
- laweya-nacelle-port.stl - Port warp nacelle.
- laweya-nacelle-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle.
- laweya-pylon-port.stl - Port warp nacelle pylon.
- laweya-pylon-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle pylon.
- liberty-cargo-section.stl - Round external cargo modules.
- liberty-command-module.stl - Bridge and top saucer decks.
- liberty-lower-sensor-dome.stl - Lower saucer sensor dome.
- liberty-main-hull.stl - Rear main hull.
- liberty-nacelle-port.stl - Port warp nacelle.
- liberty-nacelle-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle.
- liberty-pylon-port.stl - Port warp nacelle pylon.
- liberty-pylon-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle pylon.
- liberty-saucer.stl - Saucer.
- lotus-flower-cargo-section.stl - Cargo modules.
- lotus-flower-main-hull.stl - Main front hull section
- lotus-flower-nacelle-pylon.stl - Warp nacelle pylon.
- lotus-flower-nacelle-TMP.stl - Motion Picture era warp nacelle.
- lotus-flower-nacelle-TOS.stl - The Original Series era warp nacelle.
- lotus-flower-rear-hull.stl - Rear hull section with "outriggers".
- sunshine-command-module.stl - Bridge and top saucer decks.
- sunshine-impulse-module.stl - Impulse module.
- sunshine-lower-sensor-dome.stl - Lower saucer sensor dome.
- sunshine-nacelle-port.stl - Port warp nacelle.
- sunshine-nacelle-starboard.stl - Starboard warp nacelle.
- sunshine-saucer-deflector.stl - Saucer integrated deflector module.
- sunshine-saucer.stl - Saucer.
- sunshine-secondary-hull.stl - Rear main hull.
Combined ship STLs
The Fed-noncombat1v2-ship-stls.zip file provides the printable ships created using the parts included in this kit.
Part - Description
- ship-aakenn-TMP.stl - Aakenn class with TMP era nacelle.
- ship-aakenn-TOS.stl - Aakenn class with TOS era nacelle.
- ship-cochrane-TMP.stl - Cochrane class with TMP era nacelle.
- ship-cochrane-TOS.stl - Cochrane class with TOS era nacelle.
- ship-laweya.stl - Laweya class.
- ship-liberty.stl - Liberty class.
- ship-lotus-flower-TMP.stl - Lotus Flower class with TMP era nacelle.
- ship-lotus-flower-TOS.stl - Lotus Flower class with TOS era nacelle.
- ship-sunshine.stl - Sunshine class.
Blender files
The
Fed-noncombat1v2-blender-files.zip file contains parts files, containing the STL parts arranged as used in the sample ship designs, and parts source files, containing the raw blender objects used to create the parts.
License
I'm releasing this under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. You're free to distribute and modify these files (even for commercial use), provided you attribute the creator and distribute your contributions under the same license.