Summary

This is a model of the Advent House from Chevy Chase’s movie Christmas Vacation. It was only used in a couple of scenes, where opening the windows was used to mark the passage of time in the movie. Read the Christmas Vacation Build Notes PDF for detailed assembly instructions.

The whole design can be 3D printed, or the walls and base can be made out of hardboard wood. DXF files so the wood parts can be laser cut. And PDFs of the wood parts, which can be printed to size and used as templates to cut out the parts. Some gluing will be required.

Many found it painful to get the numbering right, so I added a file called Numbers.STL. It creates keystone shaped parts with raised numbers on them, which can be glued to the tops of the windows. Just switch from the background to the text color at 1mm print height. And I added a photo of a test print that I did so you can see what they look like.

The Window frames are designed so the hinges can be put on either side. It was pointed out to me that the windows on the left side of the house opened to the left, and those on the right, opened to the right. Now you can set the hinge to open them whatever way you choose.

I uploaded the pictures that I used in the windows, and the pattern that I used for the bricks, but only discovered after beekerzz noticed that they are not included in the ZIP file when you download all the files. So I just uploaded AdventCalendarPictures.zip, which includes all the images that you can see posted above.

I made this a couple of years ago, and made the mistake of storing it in the attic over the summer. The PLA windows warped so badly, they wouldn't open. So DON'T do that. I just rebuilt it. I'm posting it now, so there is time if one wants to make it for this Christmas. Since it is 3D printed, I put a lot more detail in the design of the window frames, etc., than the one in the movie.

The skylight, windows, front door, and roof trim are 3D printed. The main case is made out of fiber board, with a piece of 3/4 in pine for the base, so it will also require some wood working tools to make it.

Enjoy

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

I3 MK3S

Rafts:

No

Resolution:

1.5mm

Filament:

Paramont PLA British Racing Green