My current work in progress of my Saturn V model I’m making. I’m making a 1:72 version first (pictured) and I’m probably going to start the Stage 2 this summer. J-2 engine modeling incoming!
The thrust structure itself has over 20 removable parts with magnets embedded into each part (engines, actuators, fin fairings, etc).
Welcome to the forum MichaelB! Your Saturn V is looking fantastic.
Thanks! Here’s some removable parts. And yes, the Injector plate within the Saturn V is visible, and the interior of the engine (visibile parts) is realistic too.
That’s a great looking Saturn V.
When you say self-made, are you casting parts or 3D printing them?
I do the 3D modeling (Autodesk Maya, Zbrush for some tiny details), the 3D printing (resin, down to 0.01mm layer height), the painting, assembly, photography, etc. I use reference photos/internet images to find what I need and do a little interpolating for the rest. It’s part artistic. I didn’t do the decals for this one as 1:72 decals for the Saturn V are regularly available. I used the ones from the CultTVman shop online.
Google Drive - Michael Saturn V S1C 1-72s - Photography
Link above to initial photos. You can just download the lot and look over them.
With even the injector plate visible at this level of detail, this will be the most detailed model of the Saturn V ever built at 1:72. I will derive a 1:144 scale version as well. Given I already have the F-1 engines magnetized (they can be removed - magnets are in the lox dome and interface panel), the actuators, fin fairings on the thrust structure, towards the top both stages of the LEM will be removable, the legs foldable, a small Lunar Roving Vehicle foldable into the LEM, LES detachable, Crew Capsule & Service Module detachable, dock-able to the LEM, etc.
I use the Elegoo Mars 4 ($160 printer) to do the small details, and a slightly larger Elegoo Saturn 3 for the bigger parts.
The key here is every part is designed by me and explicitely designed FOR 3D printing 
Yet another image to feast your eyes on I’ll probably start Stage 2 this summer and that means starting to model the J-2 engines.
Wow, that is amazing! And HUGE! What great work. How much time on project so far?
I started designing my 1:32 standalone F-1 first. 60 parts. Then reduced it to 24 parts for the 1:72 version. The actual first stage took about 1.5 months of full time work to design, print and paint. That includes all interfaces and other things to ensure everything fits well, prints well, and magnets could be placed properly. had to test the F-1 engines (1:72) to ensure they wouldn’t fall off either and snap / magnet snap accordingly, too.
Full Library of Photos here. I spent 5 - 6months part time 3d modeling this first. I can print off and make another now in a week if I HAD to lol: 3DPrinted Desktop 1-32S F-1 engine 60 parts - Google Drive images
Very cool project Michael! I love all things space/astronomy so, this appeals to me. Things like this are on my to-do list after I accomplish my initial goals! Keep up the great work.
If ever there was a post that made me want to get into resin printing, this is it! Your models are incredible. As someone who has used SolidWorks for 25 years, your modeling skills are pretty fantastic, too. I calculate the height of your finished model to be just over 5 feet. That’s going to be one amazing piece when it’s done.
Michael, I’d like to welcome you to the forum. Very impressive work on your Saturn. All of the details are mind blowing. Thank you very much for posting this and look forward to your next update.
Wow that’s crazy detailed! So the thin pipes and the wires are also 3d printed?
You’re correct - the finished 1:72 Saturn V will be very close to 5’. For work like this, Autodesk Maya (or Blender / any other polygon type modeling tool) is “easier” than SolidWorks/Inventor or “CAD” because it doesn’t need the precision. Once it’s done, I will derive a smaller 1:144 version. Less parts. Less complexity yet still retain all the detail - or most of it. Of course, some of the engine detail will be ‘dropped’ like some of the smaller cables.
Correct. All the details of the pipes are 3D printed, some parts as low as 0.1mm support thickness at the tips. It’s just a simple airbrush job with Alclad 2 lacquer paints - no physical detailing required. For the central column part of the F-1, I modeled all the supports in Maya as it was far too complex for even the advanced support features in Lychee to handle.
What’s even crazier is the printer/price - the F-1s were printed on a $160 Elegoo Mars 4 which has an outstanding 0.018mm XY resolution. And for layer height I do 0.01mm, the lowest it goes.
Hard to tell it’s printed because I explicitly designed each part to avoid/hide supports where possible. Its a model that doesn’t look 3D printed at all.
