How To Print & Assemble The SPACESHIP-XS3

How to print the SPACESHIP-XS3

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.
The round magnets are used to hold all the main sections of the SPACESHIP-XS3 together, which then allow you to quickly strip the model apart. If you don’t intend to disassemble the model at all, then the magnets aren’t required. Instead, you can print out a bunch of “Location Pin” in folder “STEP 07 (OPTIONAL PARTS)”, and use them to help align/glue all the main sections together.
There is an STL in folder ‘STEP 00’ called ‘SPACESHIP-XS3 Assembly.stl’. If you load this file, you’ll see the fully assembled STARSHIP-XS3 model. This will help you understand where each and every part is fitted on the model.
In STEP 05 folder, there are two STL’s – you only need to print one of them.
If your printer is well-tuned/accurate, you can print the 0.3 clearance part. If not, use the 0.5 one.
When you slice all the main sections of the model, align the z-seam to the back so the part will look perfect from the front (which all the features are visible). Once you install the Heat Shields on these main parts later on, the seams will be covered so they remain hidden
This model is designed at 1:200 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 different 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: 33-off
25x8x2mm thick Bar Magnet Neodymium (LINK) | Qty: 8-off (You can also use slightly smaller sizes as long as the Length, Width, and Thickness of the magnet do not exceed 25, 8, and 2mm respectively. The most important dimension is the Width – should be 8mm. If less than 8mm, the Flaps may not function as intended)
Super glue (LINK) | Qty: 1 bottle

STEP 0: ‘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 ‘SPACESHIP-XS3 Assembly.stl’ and the photos below if required.

STEP 0

STEP 1: Assemble the main parts of the SPACESHIP-XS3

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Spaceship Nose Cone Section_XS3 (a)
1x Spaceship Nose Cone Fairing Section_XS3 (b)
1x Spaceship Forward Dome Section_XS3 (c)
1x Spaceship Common Dome Section_XS3 (d)
1x Spaceship LOX Tank Section_XS3 (e)
1x Spaceship Thrust Dome-Skirt Section_XS3 (f)
33x Magnets (5mm dia x 3mm thick) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 1a: Glue 3x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the bottom face of the Nose Cone Section
STEP 1b: Glue 6x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the top, and bottom faces of the Nose Cone Fairing Section
STEP 1c: Glue 6x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the top, and bottom faces of the Forward Dome Section
STEP 1d: Glue 6x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the top, and bottom faces of the Common Dome Section
STEP 1e: Glue 3x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the top, and bottom faces of the LOX Tank Section
STEP 1f: Glue 3x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets into their locations on the top face of the Thrust Dome-Skirt Section, then glue 6x (5mm dia x 3mm thick) magnets in stack of 2 each into their locations inside the RVac Engines. IMPORTANT: Ensure that these magnets are pushed all the way in so that there would be a 1mm gap between the bottom face of the magnet and the bottom face of the Thrust Dome-Skirt Section

These magnets are used to hold all the main sections of the SPACESHIP-XS3 together, which then allow you to quickly strip the model apart. If you don’t intend to disassemble the model at all, then the magnets aren’t required. Instead, you can print out a bunch of “Location Pin” in folder “STEP 07 (OPTIONAL PARTS)”, and use them to help align/glue all the main sections together.

STEP 2: Assemble the main Heat Shields of the SPACESHIP-XS3

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Spaceship Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Top)_XS3 (a)
1x Spaceship Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Bottom)_XS3 (b)
1x Spaceship Nose Cone Fairing Section_Heat Shield_XS3 (c)
1x Spaceship Forward Dome Section_Heat Shield_XS3 (d)
1x Spaceship Common Dome Section_Heat Shield_XS3 (e)
1x Spaceship LOX Tank Section_Heat Shield_XS3 (f)
1x Spaceship Thrust Dome/Skirt Section_Heat Shield_XS3 (g)
1x Spaceship Assembly Tool_XS3 (h)
All Main parts from STEP 1 (i)

Assembly process

STEP 2a: Install the Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Bottom), and then glue the Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield (Top) to the Nose Cone Section.

Use the Assembly Tool to help install the Nose Cone Section_Heat Shield Bottom – place the Heat Shield up side down on the Assembly Tool, then use a mallet to gently tap the Nose Cone Section down into the Heat Shield.
STEP 2b: Press fit the Nose Cone Fairing Section_Heat Shield into the Nose Cone Fairing Section. Use glue to secure if needed.
STEP 2c: Press fit the Forward Dome Section_Heat Shield into the Forward Dome Section. Use glue to secure if needed.
STEP 2d: Press fit the Common Dome Section_Heat Shield into the Common Dome Section. Use glue to secure if needed.
STEP 2e: Press fit the LOX Tank Section_Heat Shield into the LOX Tank Section. Use glue to secure if needed.
STEP 2f: Glue the Thrust Dome/Skirt Section_Heat Shield into the Thrust Dome/Skirt Section Section.

STEP 3: Assemble the Flaps

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Spaceship Upper Flap_LH_XS3 (a)
1x Spaceship Upper Flap_LH (Front)_XS3 (b)
1x Spaceship Upper Flap_RH_XS3 (c)
1x Spaceship Upper Flap_RH (Front)_XS3 (d)
1x Spaceship Lower Flap_LH_XS3 (e)
1x Spaceship Lower Flap_LH (Front)_XS3 (f)
1x Spaceship Lower Flap_RH_XS3 (g)
1x Spaceship Lower Flap_RH (Front)_XS3 (h)
1x Nose Cone Section from STEP 2 (i)
1x Thrust Dome/Skirt Section from STEP 2 (j)
4x Bar Magnets (25x8x2mm) (highlighted in RED)

Assembly process

STEP 3a: Glue 1x Bar Magnet (25x8x2mm) into the rectangular pocket in the Upper Flap_LH, then glue the Upper Flap_LH (Front) on top. Repeat process for the RH Upper Flap
STEP 3b: Glue 1x Bar Magnet (25x8x2mm) into the rectangular pocket in the Lower Flap_LH, then glue the Lower Flap_LH (Front) on top. Repeat process for the RH Lower Flap
STEP 3c: Glue 2x Bar Magnets (25x8x2mm) into the rectangular pockets on both sides of the Nose Cone Section
STEP 3d: Glue 2x Bar Magnets (25x8x2mm) into the rectangular pockets on both sides of the Thrust Dome/Skirt Section

Check magnet polarity before gluing them into place! The Flaps should be able to attach to the Nose Cone Section and Thrust Dome/Skirt Section in the end

STEP 4: Assemble the Engines

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

3x Raptor Engine_XS3 (a)
1x Thrust Dome/Skirt Section from STEP 3 (b)

Assembly process

STEP 4: Glue 3x Raptor Engines into their locations at the bottom of the Thrust Dome/Skirt Section

STEP 4

STEP 5: Assemble the SPACESHIP-XS3

Parts required (refer to the photos below)

1x Nose Cone Section from STEP 3 (a)
1x Nose Cone Fairing Section from STEP 2 (b)
1x Forward Dome Section from STEP 2 (c)
1x Common Dome Section from STEP 2 (d)
1x LOX Tank Section from STEP 2 (e)
1x Thrust Dome/Skirt Section from STEP 4 (f)
1x Upper Flap_LH from STEP 3 (g)
1x Upper Flap_RH from STEP 3 (h)
1x Lower Flap_LH from STEP 3 (i)
1x Lower Flap_RH from STEP 3 (j)
1x Spaceship Inner Compartment_XS3 (k)

Assembly process

STEP 5a: Stack all main sections together apart from the Nose Cone Section
STEP 5b: Insert the Spaceship Inner Compartment into the core of the model, and slide it in all the way until it couldn’t go any further
STEP 5c: Stack the Nose Cone Section
STEP 5d: Attach the Flaps to the ship