How To Print & Assemble The SPACESHIP-S2

How to print the SPACESHIP-S4

If you want to save this How-To instruction as a pdf file (and print it out later if needed), simply copy the URL of this page and paste it to https://www.printfriendly.com/ . Printfriendly will generate a printer-friendly pdf of the page with all the texts and images for you.

The STL package of this model includes an “All-In-One” Print Profile created for Bambu Lab X1 and P1 Series 3D printers. If you intend to use any of those printers to print the model, follow this instruction to print all parts: How to use Bambu Studio’s All-In-One Print Profile

If you don’t have access to any Bambu Lab X1 and P1 Series 3D printers. All of the STL files are really straight forward to print. All you need to do is load them into your slicer software (e.g. Cura), select your desirable settings (e.g. layer height, infill percentage, etc.) and slice the parts. I used 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height to print large parts and 0.1mm layer height to print small parts (e.g. Raptor engines)

Please note: I already saved the STL for each part in the orientation I printed them on my FDM printer. Hence, when you load the STL in your slicer software, you don’t need to orientate them again, unless you want to try to print them in a different orientation.

Below are some tips

All magnet holes can be printed without support regardless of their positions/orientations on the model. Please don’t generate support for these holes (unless you really need to). Otherwise, you may struggle to remove support inside the holes due to restricted access. The easiest way to stop Cura from generating support inside these magnet holes is to use support blocker to cover the holes.
All internal stiffeners (inside the Skirt Section, Thrust Dome Section, LOX Tank Section, Common Dome Section, Forward Dome Section and Nose Cone Fairing Section) can be printed without support. To stop Cura from generating support for them, you can select ‘Touching Buildplate’ in the ‘Support Placement’ box. You don’t actually need any support at all to print most parts (since they are designed specifically for FDM printers), especially if your printers are good at bridging so just simply untick the box ‘Generate Support’.
This model is designed in such a way to allow you to assemble and disassemble the model into piece part level, because almost every part is held together by magnets. However, if you prefer to glue everything, or some parts, together, that’s also fine – but please be aware that if you do, it may be difficult to update the model later on.
There are two STL’s in folder ‘STEP 01’ called ‘Starship Assembly_S4.stl’, and ‘Starship Assembly_Propellant Distribution System_S4’.
If you load these files (separately), you’ll see the fully assembled SPACESHIP-S4 model, and the internal plumbing of the ship. This will help you understand where each and every part is fitted on the model.
There are two parts of this model that you can print with two colours on the same print (if you have a dual-extrusion, or a multi-colour printer):
1) Nose Cone Section (STEP 08)
2) Forward Dome Section (STEP 06)

In the folders which contain these parts, you’ll find a sub-folder called “Multi-Colour Version”. If your printer is capable of printing at least 2 colours at once, all you need to do is load both of files (Black, and Silver) into your slicer software, assign the correct colour to the part, and print.

Please note: Both the Black and Silver parts are saved from the same coordinate in relation to each other. Hence, when you load them into your slicer software, they should merge together correctly. You don’t need to align them manually
When you slice all the main ring segment parts of the model in Cura, align the seam to the back side so the part will look perfect from the front side (which all the features are visible). Once you install the Heat Shield Tiles on these main parts later on, the seams will be covered so they remain hidden
This model is designed at 1:96 scale and I highly recommend you to print at this scale to achieve the highest quality. However, if you decided to print it at a smaller scale, please be aware that the magnets I selected for this model will no longer fit and you will have to glue the parts together.

How to assemble this model?

So now you’ve got all your parts printed? Great! Let’s assemble the model. I’ll take you through the assembly process step by step but before that, you need to purchase some items:

5mm dia x 3mm thick N42 Neodymium magnets (LINK) | Qty: 99-off
3mm dia x 2mm thick N42 Neodymium (LINK) | Qty: 92-off
Super glue (LINK) | Qty: 1 bottle

STEP 1: ‘Dry’ assemble the model

At this step, all I want you to do is try to stack all the parts together to get a good understanding of where they are located. Because there are a lot of magnets you need to fit during the assembly process, doing this first step will give you an idea of how to fit the magnets in each part correctly. Please use the files in STEP 01 folder, and the photos below if required.

STEP 1

STEP 2: Assemble the Skirt Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Skirt Section_S4 (a)
2x Location Pin_S4 (b)
10x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
4x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 2a: Glue 4x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Skirt Section
STEP 2b: Glue 10x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Skirt Section
STEP 2c: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the Skirt Section

STEP 3: Assemble the Thrust Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Thrust Puck_S4 (a)
1x Thrust Dome Section_S4 (b)
2x Location Pin_S4 (c)
10x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
17x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 3a: Glue 7x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Thrust Puck
STEP 3b: Glue 10x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Thrust Dome Section
STEP 3c: Glue 8x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the top & bottom faces of the Thrust Dome Section
STEP 3d: Glue 2x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the front face of the Thrust Dome Section
STEP 3e: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the Thrust Dome Section
STEP 3f: Glue the Thrust Puck to the Thrust Dome Section. IMPORTANT: these two parts must be aligned correctly to each other!!! – see pics below for reference

STEP 4: Assemble the LOX Tank Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x LOX Tank Section_S4 (a)
2x Location Pin_S4 (b)
6x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
8x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 4a: Glue 8x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the LOX Tank Section
STEP 2b: Glue 6x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the LOX Tank Section
STEP 2c: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the LOX Tank Section

STEP 5: Assemble the Common Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Common Dome Section_S4 (a)
2x Location Pin_S4 (b)
8x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 5a: Glue 8x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Common Dome Section
STEP 5b: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the Common Dome Section

STEP 5

STEP 5a

STEP 5b

STEP 6: Assemble the Forward Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Forward Dome Section_S4 (a)
2x Location Pin_S4 (b)
2x Forward Dome Cap_S4 (c)
2x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
8x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 6a: Glue 8x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Forward Dome Section
STEP 6b: Glue 2x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Forward Dome Section
STEP 6c: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the Forward Dome Section. Press fit the Forward Dome Caps (you can also glue two halves of the cap together)

STEP 7: Assemble the Nose Cone Fairing Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Nose Cone Fairing Section_S4 (a)
2x Location Pin_S4 (b)
1x Payload Door_S4 (c)
1x Payload Door Stop_S4 (d)
6x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
12x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 7a: Glue 12x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Nose Cone Fairing Section
STEP 7b: Glue 2x Location Pins to 2 holes located on the top face of the Nose Cone Fairing Section
STEP 7c: Glue 3x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Payload Door, then slide the Payload Door into the Nose Cone Fairing Section
STEP 7d: Glue 3x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Payload Door Stop, then glue the Payload Door Stop to the Nose Cone Fairing Section.
IMPORTANT: STEP 7c and 7d must be completed in the correct order as described above. Failing this means you won’t be able to install the Payload Door
STEP 7e: Test to make sure that the Payload Door is working fine (by sliding up and down)

STEP 8: Assemble the Nose Cone Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Nose Cone Section_S4
8x Magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
5x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 8a: Glue 5x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the Nose Cone Section
STEP 8b: Glue 8x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into their locations on the Nose Cone Section

STEP 8

STEP 8a

STEP 8b

STEP 9: Assemble the Raptor/RVac Engines

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

3x Raptor Engine_S4 (a)
3x Raptor Engine Shield_S4 (b)
3x RVac Engine_S4 (c)
6x Magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 9a: Glue 1x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into the magnet hole on each Raptor Engine Shield, then glue the Raptor Engine Shields and the Raptor Engines together
STEP 9b: Glue 1x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into the magnet hole on each RVac Engine

STEP 9

STEP 9a

STEP 9b

STEP 10: Stack Thrust Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Skirt Section from STEP 2 (a)
1x Thrust Dome Section from STEP 3 (b)
3x Raptor Engine from STEP 9 (c)
3x RVac Engine from STEP 9 (d)
3x Engine Floor_S4 (e)
6x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 10a: Glue 2x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on each Engine Floor
STEP 10b: Install 3x Raptor Engines on the Thrust Puck
STEP 10c: Install 3x RVac Engines on the Thrust Puck
STEP 10d: Install 3x Engine Floors on the Thrust Dome Section
STEP 10e: Stack Thrust Dome Section on Skirt Section

STEP 11: Install plumbing to Thrust Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 10 (a)
1x CH4 Manifold_S4 (b)
1x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
1x Magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 11a: Glue 1x magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) and 1x magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into their locations on the CH4 Manifold
STEP 11b: Install the CH4 Manifold into the Sub-Assembly from STEP 10

STEP 11a

STEP 11b

STEP 12: Stack LOX Tank Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 11 (a)
1x LOX Tank Section from STEP 4 (b)
1x CH4 Main Tank Downcomer (Bottom)_S4 (c)
2x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 12a: Glue 2x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the CH4 Main Tank Downcomer (Bottom)
STEP 12b: Stack LOX Tank Section to Sub-Assembly from STEP 11, and install the CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom)

STEP 12a

STEP 12b

STEP 13: Stack Common Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 12 (a)
1x Common Dome Section from STEP 5 (b)
1x LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom)_S4 (c)
1x CH4 Main Tank Downcomer (Top) (d)
1x Common Dome Sump_S4 (e)
1x CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid3)_S4 (f)
1x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
2x Magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 13a: Glue 1x magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) and 1x magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into the magnet holes on the CH4 Main Tank Downcomer (Top). Glue 1x magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the Common Dome Sump.
STEP 13b: Install the CH4 Main Tank Downcomer (Top), Common Dome Sump, and CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid3) to the Common Dome Section
STEP 13c: Install LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom) to Sub-Assembly from STEP 12.
STEP 13d: Stack Common Dome Section to Sub-Assembly from STEP 12

STEP 14: Stack Forward Dome Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 13 (a)
1x Forward Dome Section from STEP 6 (b)
1x Tesla Battery_S4 (c)
1x CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid2)_S4 (d)
1x LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom)_S4 (e)
2x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 14a: Glue 2x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the Tesla Battery
STEP 14b: Install the Tesla Battery on the Forward Dome Section
STEP 14c: Stack Forward Dome Section to Sub-Assembly from STEP 13, then install both CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid2) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom) pipes.
IMPORTANT: ensure that the CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid2) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Bottom) pipes are at the same height before proceeding to STEP 15

STEP 14a

STEP 14b

STEP 14c

STEP 15: Stack Nose Cone Fairing Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 14 (a)
1x Nose Cone Fairing Section from STEP 7 (b)
1x CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid1)_S4 (c)
1x LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Mid)_S4 (d)
2x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 15a: Glue 2x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid1) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Mid)
STEP 15b: Stack Nose Cone Fairing Section to Sub-Assembly from STEP 14, then install both CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid1) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Mid) pipes to Nose Cone Fairing Section
IMPORTANT: ensure that the CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Mid1) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Mid) pipes are at the same height before proceeding to STEP 16

STEP 15a

STEP 15b

STEP 16: Stack Nose Cone Section

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 15 (a)
1x Nose Cone Section from STEP 8 (b)
1x CH4 Header Tank (Bottom)_S4 (c)
1x CH4 Header Tank (Top)_S4 (d)
1x LOX Header Tank_S4 (e)
1x CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Top)_S4 (f)
1x LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Top)_S4 (g)
14x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)
4x Magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 16a: Glue 4x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the CH4 Header Tank Downcomer (Top) and LOX Header Tank Downcomer (Top) pipes
STEP 16b: Glue 4x magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) and 10x magnets (3mm dia x 2mm thick) into the magnet holes on the Header Tanks
STEP 16c: Install the Header Tanks, and the Header Tank Downcomer pipes together
STEP 16d: Install the Header Tanks, and the Header Tank Downcomer pipes into the Nose Cone Section
IMPORTANT: ensure that the Header Tanks and and their Downcomer pipes are correctly oriented inside the Nose Cone Section
STEP 16d: Stack Nose Cone Section to Sub-Assembly from STEP 15

STEP 16e

STEP 17: Install Flaps

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Sub-Assembly from STEP 16 (a)
1x Upper Flap (LH)_S4 (b)
1x Upper Flap (RH)_S4 (c)
1x Lower Flap (LH)_S4 (d)
1x Lower Flap (RH)_S4 (e)
22x Magnet (3mm dia x 2mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 17a: Glue all magnets into the holes in each Flap
STEP 17b: Install all Flaps to the Sub-Assembly from STEP 16 (a)

STEP 17a

STEP 17b

STEP 18: Install Heat Shield Tiles

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Top)_S4 (a)
1x Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Front)_S4 (b)
1x Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Rear)_S4 (c)
1x Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Bottom)_S4 (d)
2x Upper Flap_Aerofoil Cover (Top)_Heat Shield_S4 (e)
1x Upper Flap (LH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom)_Heat Shield_S4 (f)
1x Upper Flap (RH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom)_Heat Shield_S4 (g)
1x Nose Cone Fairing_Heat Shield_S4 (h)
1x Forward Dome Section_Heat Shield_S4 (i)
1x Common Dome Section_Heat Shield_S4 (j)
1x LOX Tank Section_Heat Shield_S4 (k)
1x Thrust Dome Section_Heat Shield_S4 (l)
1x Skirt Section_Heat Shield_S4 (m)
2x Lower Flap_Aerofoil Cover (Top)_Heat Shield_S4 (n)
1x Lower Flap (LH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom1)_Heat Shield_S4 (o)
1x Lower Flap (LH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom2)_Heat Shield_S4 (p)
1x Lower Flap (LH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom3)_Heat Shield_S4 (q)
1x Lower Flap (RH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom1)_Heat Shield_S4 (r)
1x Lower Flap (RH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom2)_Heat Shield_S4 (s)
1x Lower Flap (RH)_Aerofoil Cover (Bottom3)_Heat Shield_S4 (t)
1x Upper Flap (LH)_Heat Shield_S4 (u)
1x Upper Flap (RH)_Heat Shield_S4 (v)
1x Lower Flap (LH) Heat Shield_S4 (w)
1x Lower Flap (RH) Heat Shield_S4 (x)

Assembly process

The process to install the Heat Shield Tiles on SPACESHIP-S4 is very similar to that on the SPACESHIP-S1. Therefore, you can follow this detailed instructions for this STEP: “How to print & assemble the SPACESHIP-S1 Heatshields”.

STEP 18

STEP 19: Install PEZ Dispenser

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

20x Satellite_S4 (a)
1x PEZ Dispenser_S4 (b)
1x PEZ Dispenser Retainer_S4 (c)
Nose Cone Fairing Section from STEP 18 (d)
24x Magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 19a: Glue 1x magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into the magnet hole on each of the Satellite.
IMPORTANT: Ensure that you invert the magnet poles from one Satellite to the next so they can be stacked together!
STEP 19b: Stack all 20x Satellites into 2 stacks on 10 each
STEP 19c: Glue 4x magnet (5mm dia x 3mm thick) into the magnet holes on the bottom face of the PEZ Dispenser
STEP 19d: Load all 20x Satellites into the PEZ Dispenser
STEP 19e: Install the PEZ Dispenser Retainer on top of the PEZ Dispenser
STEP 19f: Install the whole PEZ Dispenser Assembly into the Nose Cone Fairing Section
STEP 19g: Open the Payload Door and test the Satellite deployment – all 20x Satellites can be deployed manually one by one using any small metal tool you can find in your house.

And that’s it! Congratulations, you have completed your 1:96 SPACESHIP-S4 model!