Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer – Page 2

German battleship Scharnhorst 1/500 scale ww2 recognition replica complete

Scharnhorst is complete, I’ve been able to take advantage of a relatively warm weather window and print the resin parts for Scharnhorst, Scheer and Graf Zeppelin (GZ is actually still printing, again…). While recreating these recognition replicas has been a blast, I’m finding that without an example in hand, it’s difficult to stick to the original designs as seen from pictures on the web. I inevitably need actual pictures of the real ships to fill in the blanks and when I start designing from them, it’s painful to stop, and retain the often inaccurate design elements of the actual recognition models.

When I get all the ships completed I’ll likely make a project page to contain them all but for now this post is it for Scharnhorst.

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set in 1.500 scale check out the results.

Graf Zeppelin joins the German 1/500 scale, replica, recognition fleet

Aircraft Carrier Graf Zepplin joins the Blender recognition fleet

While waiting for a weather window to print the resin parts for Scharnhorst and Admiral Scheer I got a jump on the Graf Zeppelin‘s Blender design. As was always her way, she’s not quite done yet! I did have a couple days in the low 50’s and after a totally preventable screw-up (I forgot to screw the vat down!) managed to get both their resin parts printed. The 10 day forecast says we’ll get warmish days in a week or so. With luck, I’ll get to print Graf Zeppelin’s resin before spring.

Should have Scheer and Scharnhorst built shortly. Recreating the WW2 German recognition set, has been a fun and fast project.

Update:
Links to posts for the now completed models mentioned above:
Admiral Scheer
Scharnhorst
Graf Zeppelin

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set (and then some) in 1/500 scale, check out the results.

Admiral Scheer German 1/500 scale recognition replica, joins my Blender fleet

The Blender work on Admiral Scheer is done, I had a good weather window to print my finished Scharnhorst design but blew it working on Scheer instead. Printing Scharnhorst will have to wait. With some luck I’ll be able to print the resin parts for both if another good day comes along.

Scharnhorst, Joins My WW2 German Fleet of Recognition Replicas in 1/500 Scale

3D Printed WW2 German recognition Fleet Replicas 1/500 Scale

Scharnhorst is almost ready to join my 3D printed WW2 German recognition replica fleet. The blender model still needs some finish work. I need to hollow out the resin parts and clip objects that are partially embedded in other parts but will be printed separately. With any luck I’ll have some warmish days to print the resin parts before the cold sets in for the season.

I don’t have an original Comet model of Scharnhorst, I searched online and used the few halfway decent pictures I could find and diagrams of the actual ship. When printed she will fill a whole in my collection nicely.

I’ll likely have plenty of time this winter to design the rest of the set. I’ll be starting the Blender design of Admiral Scheer next. I don’t have an original model of her either…

3D printed Tirpitz 1/500 scale model

October 11, 2023

After completing the Prinz Eugen replica Comet recognition model, it was only natural to follow up with Tirpitz.
Again I used the Ender 3 Pro for the “Wooden” hull parts and my Elegoo Saturn for the parts that would have been cast lead on the Comet models.

As with Prinz Eugen, the pictures with two ships show my printed model next to an original. And again like Eugen, this Tirpitz is not a perfect replica – minor improvements were made as well as a few mistakes…
My next version should be close to perfect 🙂

This was a small, simple build, so no project page, just this post.

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set (and then some) in 1/500 scale, check out the results.

3D printed Prinz Eugen model

August 31, 2023

After completing my 1.5 year long magnum opus called Charles Martel, I wasn’t ready for another long term commitment but I did want to putter around with something…
I remembered the 1/500 scale WWII German recognition models made by Comet and thought they’d be perfect. Here is the first: Prinz Eugen.
I also wanted to fire up the Ender 3 again and thought it would be a good fit for the “Wooden” hull parts. I used my Elegoo Saturn for the parts that would have been cast lead on the Comet models.
She’s not a perfect replica – I made some minor improvements and a couple mistakes but at less then a month from design to done – close enough!

This was a small, simple build, so no project page, just this post.

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set (and then some) in 1/500 scale, check out the results.

Introducing my 1/450 scale IJN Mogami project page

Completed shortly after USS Helena CL50 and using all the same tricks, my IJN Mogami project was a fun and easy build. Like Helena, it was created using both a Creality Ender 3 Pro filament printer and an LD-002r resin printer.

My m26 Pershing is complete!

Posted: Jan 1, 2021.
Happy New Year everybody!
My WW2 US m26 Pershing heavy tank project is complete!
I’m very happy with the Blender design and my Creality Ender 3 Pro & LD-002r 3D printers did a great job rendering the parts for this project. Assembly and painting went well and tricking her out and weathering her was a blast.

I’m totally remembering why my 15 year old self loved building armor 🙂

Check out the m26 Pershing project page for all details and pictures.

US Pershing Heavy Tank, Assembled and Primed

Posted: 12/23/2020
The hard parts are done, now my favorite aspect of model building starts, the finish painting and weathering.

If I ever make this model again I’ll definitely make some design changes. shown is my third turret design and I’m still not 100% happy with it. Also missed a flaring out of the tread covers on the rear insides. The treads and wheels were a pain to assemble and I wasn’t able to pull off functional treads as I had hoped, ended up gluing them all together, oh well, in a larger scale it would have worked!

All in all though, I like the looks of her so far.

Update: 1/1/2021
My m26 Pershing is now complete, visit the new project page for more details and the finished model pictures.

M26 Pershing Project, 3D printed parts using Creality Ender 3 Pro and LD-002r printers

WW2 US Pershing Heavy Tank model 3D printed parts

Posted: 12/21/2020
Printing for this project went smoothly, even though the LD-002r bits were printed in my unheated shed with temps in the mid to upper 30s. The turret shown is my 3rd printed – due to poor designs on my part and no fault of the printer. The first just looked too fat and the second one’s rear extension was all wrong. As I mentioned in an earlier post much of the hull assembly is already done so, initial build pictures may be up before Christmas.

Update: 1/1/2021
My m26 Pershing is now complete, visit the new project page for more details and the finished model pictures.