Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Scifi and Fantasy => Topic started by: Frank3k on July 09, 2025, 12:04:23 PM
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This is based on Alex Schomburg's cover artwork for the November 1964 issue of Amazing Stories. The issue can be read here (https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/SF/AS/AS_1964_11.pdf).The artwork for the cover story is of a completely different design:
(https://i.imgur.com/zRQUvQm.jpeg)
Ignore the fact that the astronaut's face plate seems to be open. Nothing like fresh vacuum in your face while cruisin' the lunar plains! It took a while to figure out how this hopper is supposed to be controlled. I think the astronaut uses his feet (!) to swivel the engine port and starboard, and maybe in pitch. No idea how yaw would work. I had to make some guesses about the hidden structure, but here's the first 3D iteration:
Not a perfect match, but OK-ish:
(https://i.imgur.com/jEcXGCB.jpeg)
I used a scaled drawing of a seated astronaut to get an idea of where the seat and controls should be placed. It's slightly different than the artwork.
(https://i.imgur.com/yBab5zZ.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/e2ynpOb.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lBp7nuH.jpeg)
I made some 1/35 diamond plate. It should be interesting to see if it prints:
(https://i.imgur.com/g1TIGoP.jpeg)
It looks like I'll be able to fit 4-6 of these on my Saturn 8K's build plate, but the vehicle disappears inside a forest of supports.
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Making inspiration a reality.. that is what Frank does.
Nice render work
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Those spherical tanks remind me of the balls I've been harvesting from cans of Guiness
(https://i.insider.com/5605b64fdd08952f608b46d5?width=1200&format=jpeg)
edited by FH: Image wasn't showing
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Guinness balls?
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I love this idea.
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Guinness balls?
I had to look that one up! Apparently, the widget releases nitrogen when the can is opened. Result, a smooth and creamy Guinness ...
-- https://www.reddit.com/r/beerporn/comments/y95jru/why_does_guiness_put_a_plastic_ball_in_the_beer/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/beerporn/comments/y95jru/why_does_guiness_put_a_plastic_ball_in_the_beer/)
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This is going to be cool! Especially interested to see how it prints out :smiley:
... Nothing like fresh vacuum in your face while cruisin' the lunar plains! ...
Lister's Confidence: "Oxygen is for losers!" ;D
It looks like the Hopper rider in the cover art was wearing a lightweight, Summertime Moon Suit as well.
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This NASA illustration is from around the same period:
(https://i.imgur.com/RYIZdh3.jpg)
Weaver posted this info over at Whatif:
MOBEV F1B (http://www.astronautix.com/m/mobevf1b.html)
It seems to be based on a hopper designed that was tested on Earth:
https://youtu.be/FILvMDSgbZI (https://youtu.be/FILvMDSgbZI)
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Guinness balls?
I had to look that one up! Apparently, the widget releases nitrogen when the can is opened. Result, a smooth and creamy Guinness ...
-- https://www.reddit.com/r/beerporn/comments/y95jru/why_does_guiness_put_a_plastic_ball_in_the_beer/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/beerporn/comments/y95jru/why_does_guiness_put_a_plastic_ball_in_the_beer/)
Thank you for doing the legwork and getting the explanation on the Guiness Widgets. My last exposure to Guiness was in Germany and the experience left me sitting on the street curb with the sensation of riding a Ferris Wheel instead of the usual "why is the room spinning?" experience. Never again.
That said, if anyone that drinks Guiness would be so kind as to save a few of those Widgets and send them to me I would appreciate it very much. Just the Widgets mind you, I gave up drinking a long time ago. :smiley:
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@Frank. How large is this Hopper going to be when printed out? In 1/35th scale I am guessing not very large at all based on the astronaut for size comparison.
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My plan is to try to print one as a single unit. I've broken it down into components as well - I'll fill the rest of the build plate with as many parts as I can.
Depending on how those build, I'll add bolts, a section for the display, an option for a full deck of diamond plate and maybe make a slight mod to make something similar to the MOBEV F1B
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My plan is to try to print one as a single unit. I've broken it down into components as well - I'll fill the rest of the build plate with as many parts as I can.
Depending on how those build, I'll add bolts, a section for the display, an option for a full deck of diamond plate and maybe make a slight mod to make something similar to the MOBEV F1B
The MOBEV F1B looks like a park bench.
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This whole page has good info about different flying hoppers.
http://www.astronautix.com/l/lunarflyers.html (http://www.astronautix.com/l/lunarflyers.html)
One looks similar to the painting I posted.
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That said, if anyone that drinks Guiness would be so kind as to save a few of those Widgets and send them to me I would appreciate it very much. Just the Widgets mind you, I gave up drinking a long time ago. :smiley:
You know how to contact me.
Note: I've been putting aside those harvested from a case as they strike me as perfect hydrogen cells for some SPACE 1889 / TRAVELLER cobble-up
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I usually drink Guinness Extra Dark from a bottle. i should try the cans... for science.
I printed one hopper with all the parts combined and parts to build two hoppers. Unfortunately, the combined hopper didn't print well. I did get two good frames and enough fuel tanks to build one hopper. The print had a couple of issues - the tanks are solid, so a few peeled right off the plate and stuck to the film. This may have caused the combined parts hopper to fail as well. I also had some long and thin parts that either didn't print or were so delicate, I broke them off accidentally during handling.
Here are all the main hopper parts ready for assembly and paint. The diamond tread came out and so did the weight reduction under the plate. unfortunately, the part was very thin (less than 0.4mm in places) so some sections look like a gorilla jumped on them. The discoloration is due to the old resin that had been sitting in the vat for a few days - some of the pigments settled out. I stirred it up, but it didn't fully mix the pigment.:
(https://i.imgur.com/P3jOgmd.jpeg)
Note the wire-wrap wire I used to replace the broken off resin pieces. The loop in front broke off during painting, as well:
(https://i.imgur.com/b2HlLim.jpeg)
Painted. "JY 25" is the month and year. I broke off the front loop antenna and replaced it with wire-wrap wire:
(https://i.imgur.com/IoD1CFk.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/H1V0sqb.jpeg)
The rocket engine looks tilted because the central section is thin and slightly warped... but it's fine since directional control would have been achieved by tilting the engine (although it should have been by just tilting the nozzle). The two vanes below the nozzle are for yaw control:
(https://i.imgur.com/0FXXZOo.jpeg)
I added some basic instrument dials and painted a print support pip that I didn't fully remove as a red start/stop button:
(https://i.imgur.com/BtgCXH7.jpeg)
I have some hard rubber (or vinyl) astronauts that scale out to around 1/35. One of the seated guys fits perfectly:
(https://i.imgur.com/4V1mkcw.jpeg)
Here, his buddy is waiting for a ride:
(https://i.imgur.com/Rs4kJgC.jpeg)
Overall, it was a fun project. The print didn't come out exactly as I wanted and the paint job has dust and cat hairs in it, but it looks OK from a distance. I may paint up one of the seated guys. I think the Badger primers will stick to this plastic. I may print a few other tanks and a new diamond plate platform (thicker this time) to make a second version.
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Neat, simple and pretty much hits the spot :smiley:
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Blink! ... & there it is, in all its completed goodness! ;)
Frank, you complain about dust & cat hairs on all your paint jobs, but I have yet to see any evidence of either! ;D
Slick bit of work, my friend! Very slick! :smiley: :smiley:
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As always, awesomely inspirational.'
Seems like something that'd be seen in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZS9M52Bd_w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZS9M52Bd_w)
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Mighty nifty, Frank. I swear, I think a Sopwith Camel had more instrumentation... ;)
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Thanks for all the comments! It was a surprisingly quick build, if you consider the 3D work as part of the build. I may print enough parts for a second (or third) hopper.
Craig - I guessed at the instruments. Probably just fuel levels, battery and an altitude radar or some sort of heading indicator. There's no significant magnetic field on the Moon, so a compass wouldn't work. Radio and optical would have to be line-of site unless there's a satellite constellation to provide a lunar equivalent of GPS. Maybe the display is some inertial navigation. I think the astronaut would just jump in, line up some landmarks and blast off... then twist and turn until he had the next landmark or destination in view.
@Story - I gave up on "For All Mankind" - it was just turning into a ridiculous soap opera. I do like the spacecraft designs, though.
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Nice one Frank, your 3D printing skills are amazing.
Wouldn't worry about the cat hairs, I can safely say most if my builds have a contribution from one of my three feline companions ;D ;D ;D
Mog
>^-.-^<
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I may print enough parts for a second (or third) hopper.
Thus, the Lunar Hopper Riders Touring Club was born...
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Wearing black jackets!