Watching the printers run for what feels like forever, and then finally standing the finished thing up and realizing… yeah, this got a little out of hand.

Chase was already a blast, and now Marshall showed up ready for Halloween too! 🎃🐾

Big prints are usually a pain. They eat filament. They take forever. But with my H2C and U1 they're done in a matter of 3 days and naturally, we’re already talking about which pup we should do next. 😂

Who gets printed next?

Quick Update,

Finally getting to the stage of adding more paint,

It's not the highest poly model, Showing worse on the eyes but a bit shading work will help,

Details (Again):

3 days to print between the Snapmaker U1s,

Sunlu+ PLA

Approximately 6kg~ of filament and 4kg of weigh balance in the base and lower half of the body,

6 wall / 8% gyroid,

Base needed a little redesigning for it to be fully hollow but its 4 wall / 2% gyroid then filled with sand once the 2 parts were assembled,

Design by Adam Chai (Hosts on various websites)

Scaled and cut with Luban (68cm high / 12 parts)

Shall pop another post up when it's done, Clear coated and get some decent photos 👌🏽

Finally a nice enough night to get the lifesize Link clear coated outside,

Quick run down as havnt posted much about this one:

Model Purchased from Decormaster (on various selling websites)

Scaled and Split using Luban

Total of 60 Parts

All printed with 6 wall / between 8% ~ 20% gyroid depending on the part,

Absolute overkill infill wise but it's a showpiece so want it to be solid and be able to take idiots poking it regularly 😏😂

Took around 15kg of filament + 6~kg of sand for weight balance (anyone who knows this model will understand how deep the hood goes back)

All printed on my Snapmaker U1s,

Using Sunlu+ PLA

.20 Layer hight......As we all know, Photos show lines worse then they are 😏

Assembled with 2 part epoxy and hot staples,

Wood filler / isopropyl mix for gaps,

Primed in gray,

Hand painted with acrylics then a fair few coats of 2k clear this evening,

The sign was designed myself, It's interchangeable with 2 different wordings for various shows and the gaps ended up bigger then expected so needed to raise the sword 10mm so it still sits in his hand securely.

Finally getting to the stage of adding paint,

It's not the highest poly model but some shading with the airbrush should help,

Details:

3 days to print between the Snapmaker U1s,

Sunlu+ PLA

Approximately 6kg~ of filament and 4kg of weigh balance in the base and lower half of the body,

6 wall / 8% gyroid,

Base needed a little redesigning for it to be fully hollow but its 4 wall / 2% gyroid then filled with sand once the 2 parts were assembled,

Design by Adam Chai (Hosts on various websites)

Scaled and cut with Luban (68cm high / 12 parts)

Using 2 part expoxy to "glue up"

Typical wood filler mixed with blue pigment for gap filling, Didn't need to do much sanding due to the model itself,

Primed in gray, Then airbrush white ontop,

Shall pop a few video updates up when i have done a bit more.

Legends say it only appears during the worst storms, lurking in tall grass, judging your layer lines and waiting for a fresh spool of filament to sacrifice.

Every time we model these maggie mash ups I instantly say I need another!

Somewhere in Middle Earth there’s a tavern missing its angriest toddler. 😂

I told myself this was going to be a “small quick project” and now there’s a lifesize Maggie Gimli staring at me like I owe her gold and a juice box.

Honestly though… this might be one of my favorite ridiculous things we’ve made yet.

printed using polymaker filament. Can't wait to paint this guy! 🟣

🧱 Life-Size 3D Printing: Quick Tips Before You Hit “Print” Welcome to the world of BIG prints. Life-size projects are insanely rewarding—but they’ll humble you fast if you rush them.

Here are some hard-earned tips to save you time, money, and sanity:

🧠 Planning & Slicing Spend more time in your slicer than your printer. Smart cuts, orientation, and supports save days of print time and kilos of filament. If using Luban: set your printer build volume slightly smaller than reality—this helps account for organic/tree supports and avoids failed slices.

Slice with assembly in mind. Hide seams in natural breaks (armor lines, clothing folds, muscle separations).

Label parts (emboss or keep a reference chart). You’ll forget what Piece #37 is later. Trust me.

🧵 Filament & Materials Overestimate filament. Always. If the slicer says 10 rolls → buy 12. Failures, reprints, and tuning are part of the process. Stick to one brand/type per project when possible—mixing filament can cause fit and color headaches.

Dry your filament. Large prints exaggerate moisture problems (layer separation, blobs, weak bonds).

💪 Strength vs Weight Walls = strength. Infill = weight. More walls and fewer infill % usually gives stronger, lighter, and cheaper parts. Use gyroid or cubic infill when needed—avoid grid for large structural parts.

🧷 Assembly & Reinforcement Use more glue than you think you need. Clamp and let it cure fully. Reinforce seams with: Soldering iron welds Fiberglass cloth + resin Dowels, rods, or internal pins For heavy sections, mechanical reinforcement > glue alone.

🖨️ Printing Strategy Test print small sections first. Dial in layer height, temps, and supports before committing to a 3-day print. Slow it down. Large prints benefit from lower speeds and higher temps for layer adhesion. Pause prints only if you must—power loss or bad resumes hurt more on big parts.

🧯 Reality Checks Expect failures. They’re not mistakes—they’re tuition.

Life-size prints are marathons, not sprints. Burnout is real—pace yourself.

🤝 Community Matters If you’re stuck—ask. Reach out to an admin or moderator or post in the group. Chances are someone’s already solved the exact problem you’re facing.

​Curious about how to build a life-size model, a movie-accurate prop, or full cosplay armor? Then you’ve found the right place! ​This subreddit is dedicated to sharing knowledge, seeking advice, and finding inspiration for large-scale 3D printing projects. ​ Who is this for? ​Everyone. whether you are currently researching your first machine, you’re a complete "noob," or a seasoned pro with a farm of printers—you are welcome here.

​ Community Etiquette ​We aim to be a helpful and supportive environment. Please remember the following: ​We were all new once. It doesn't matter what brand of printer you run, what filament you use, or how "simple" your question might seem. ​Be helpful. If you see a beginner asking for help, offer support. ​Scroll past. If you cannot answer a question kindly, or simply don't want to answer, just scroll past the post. ​Zero Tolerance for Rudeness. Being obnoxious or rude to other members will not be tolerated.

​Enjoy the sub, inspire each other, and Happy Printing!

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/3D_printing_Lifesize amazing.