3D printed "Konga" head shatters to pieces!

[Tim Casey]

Yikes!

My wife accidentally knocked over my styrene "Konga" kit, which fell about three feet to the floor.

The replacement head, which was 3D printed, shattered into too many pieces to repair.

Are 3D printed kits all like this? I mean, jeez - it didn't weigh much, so I wouldn't expect it to hit the ground with too much force.

[tay666]

That is quite shocking!
I think a lot depends on what kind of resin it is printed in. I know there is a wide variety of printing resins on the market.
Some are stiffer, and more brittle, while others are much more flexible.

[bucketfoot-al]

In short - yes, some of the time. The printed figures are more brittle - like the Fay Wray figure on Tony Cipriano's 'Kong Up Top' kit which I dropped ... Tony sent me another one ... but I have dropped the spare Kong head for that kit several times with no ill effect. Its solid, so that probably helps.

I suppose it depends on the type of resin used, along with whether the head is hollow or not. Solid is probably stronger.

[Tim Casey]

Well, at least I don't have to worry about finding a place to display it anymore...

[bucketfoot-al]

Well, at least I don't have to worry about finding a place to display it anymore...

Yes you DO! You're not gonna let a "model museum accident" ruin your masterpiece are you? Just get another replacement head and - FIX - the bugger!!!

[Stormheart]

One thing to be conscious of with 3D printed models is exposure to UV light. Do not leave parts laying on your workbench for days on end...unless they've been primed. Un-primed parts will continue to cure with exposure to light. Which can lead to over curing, and the parts becoming more brittle. Best to store them in a closed box until primed.

[tay666]

One thing to be conscious of with 3D printed models is exposure to UV light. Do not leave parts laying on your workbench for days on end...unless they've been primed. Un-primed parts will continue to cure with exposure to light. Which can lead to over curing, and the parts becoming more brittle. Best to store them in a closed box until primed.

Does that apply to PLA as well?
Asking because I have had one of those sitting on a shelf for almost a year now unprimed. (of course the auction showed a resin print, but I received PLA instead)

[Tim Casey]

Well, at least I don't have to worry about finding a place to display it anymore...

Yes you DO! You're not gonna let a "model museum accident" ruin your masterpiece are you? Just get another replacement head and - FIX - the bugger!!!

Nope - I hated that damn ape! It took a lot to make the replacement head blend in with the body.

I only bought the kit because it had a cool base.

[derekc62]

Well, at least I don't have to worry about finding a place to display it anymore...

Yes you DO! You're not gonna let a "model museum accident" ruin your masterpiece are you? Just get another replacement head and - FIX - the bugger!!!

Nope - I hated that damn ape! It took a lot to make the replacement head blend in with the body.

I only bought the kit because it had a cool base.

Well, at least it lives on through your photos.

[bucketfoot-al]

Yes you DO! You're not gonna let a "model museum accident" ruin your masterpiece are you? Just get another replacement head and - FIX - the bugger!!!

Nope - I hated that damn ape! It took a lot to make the replacement head blend in with the body.

I only bought the kit because it had a cool base.

Well, at least it lives on through your photos.

I Major League second what Derek said!!

[Stormheart]

tay666 asked:

Does that apply to PLA as well?
Asking because I have had one of those sitting on a shelf for almost a year now unprimed. (of course the auction showed a resin print, but I received PLA instead)

To the best of my knowledge, no. It only applies to models printed with UV cured liquid resin. That being said, I would avoid leaving any 3d printed model in direct sunlight as many types of plastic will breakdown under those circumstances.

[kevtk135]

Wow, that sucks. But sometimes the maker, in trying to save on weight will make the part wall pretty thing. what can always be done is to take some Liquid UV resin, pour it into the head and then with the UV Light, spin the head as you light it up to build up the layers on the inside. Just a thought.