This week’s selection is the popular Star Wars Death Trooper by Sydney-based designer Paul Braddock.
This design swept through the 3D print world in recent weeks, with 3D print operators worldwide producing a great many prints from this now-famous 3D model.
Braddock’s original design was a much smaller version intended as a pendant, with attachment hook at the top. However, the design was so cool that some took it upon themselves to slice off the hook and print a larger version. However, Braddock eventually produced a “clean” version without the hook.
This video by prop maker Clayton Parker, a.k.a. Uncle Jessy shows an example of the print:
What I find most interesting about this design is the massive amount of buzz it generated in such a short time period. I’ve seen countless images of folks printing this object, some in plastic, some in bronze and other materials. They’re all very cool.
The most curious aspect of this object is that it is simply a combination of two of the most common 3D models found in the world of 3D printing: a skull and a Star Wars helmet.
Both of those items have been available online for many years, and there’s likely few hobby desktop 3D printer owners that haven’t printed each of these items previously.
But something magic has happened when the two were combined. The sum was far more than the parts themselves.
I think it’s because the juxtaposition of the two common objects began a kind of story, or beginning of a story: what happened to the dead trooper? Why is the helmet damaged? Who did this to the trooper?
Author William Gibson once said that anything “cool” must have a mystery inside it. This object most definitely poses a mystery.
And that’s why it’s cool.
Via Pinshape and Paul Braddock
