Articulated Spirit Dragon (FIXED, rugged, blunted, Alt HEADS!) - V9.5

prusaprinters

*** Free to print, NOT to sell ***Thanks to sunset and sunset_3d_design for uploading this great model!UPDATE 12/11/2023: Added v9.5. Fixed the fused segment from the new PrusaSlicer updates. I moved the “Spikey” models into the archive folder, there is little difference in appearance and the blunted one is nicer all around.  It also gives me 3 less models to update every time the slicer changes something.  It is very tedious updating all my dragons :)NEW REMIX POSTEDCrystal Night Dragon - https://www.printables.com/model/559094-articulated-crystal-night-dragon-v1-low-poly-remixUPDATE 2/26/2023: V9! Multi-head variants and blunted spikes.Updated original head to remove overbite, change angle of horns, and thicken them more.This should make them easier to print cleanly.Added a ‘blunt’ version of the dragon, with blunted spikes, due to comments. Original  body is renamed ‘spikey’. Spikey version are v9. Fixed version of blunted bodies will be v9_4, as it took a couple tries to get them right.NEW HEAD VARIANTS! Linked Model A, Model B, and Model C.Model A is the original head (with my changes, of course)Model B is the Night Dragon head from MZ4250. Night Dragon by MZ4250 | Download free STL model | Printables.com. I had to modify it to work with this model. Scaled, flatted jaw, reduced overhang from the of the base fins.Model C is the same Night Dragon, but I added bumps to attempt to better match this model. Articulated Night Spirit (Dragon) by AKinferno | Download free STL model | Printables.comLet me know what you think, or what other dragon heads you would like to see. Have some plans I am pretty excited about, if I can pull them off.  Keep an eye out for the next major update.-----------------------------This remix does several things:Fixes the pieces that were fused together (especially the tail)Strengthens & redesigns the horns and tail, so they don't break as easily.Fills the fragmented base around the shoulders.Netfabb error correction, as well.PRINT SETTINGS (Scales down as low as 70%).10mm - .20mm3 walls minimum for durability20% preferred (Not needed for strength, I like the heavier feel)sunset suggests 0%-10% with 4 wallsWHY?I have printed at least a dozen of these for my daughter, her friends and my friends.  After the first one, I edited the file to prevent the fused pieces. The tail was the hardest. Started playing in Blender to reshape those segments then replace the piece on the model. There was some learning, but I have been editing and modifying the model based on prints or feedback in comments.All the dragons my daughter and her friends have, now have their horns broken off.  So, I beefed up the base of the horns, edited the tail, moved segments around, and making changes whenever anyone reports an issue, or makes a suggestion I think I can do. I have spent gratuitous amounts of time messing with this model.  Hope you enjoy!UPDATE HISTORY4/11/2023 - V9.4 Update. Special thanks to Miguel_358621 for finding a fused segment on the Blunted model. All blunted models have been corrected to 9.4 and don't appear to have any fused segments. As I said previously, the conversion to STL seems to cause shifts.  But so far, it all looks good. Please let me know if you find anything else. Spikey version has been good since V9.  3/6/2023 - Added v9.3 for Dragon C, thickened frills. I also decided to figure out a better way to manage all these models. The purpose of this listing was to make the Spirit Dragon, the best it could be.  I think I got there with v8.3.  But every change I made since has needed work, and makes it hard to determine which model is the good ‘fixed’ model you came here for. The original spikey body is solid. Blunt body took a couple revisions to get right. So going to change things up. I am going to move Dragon A to the “Fixed Models” folder and name it Spirit Dragon. Then in the 'Experimental Models" folder,  I will put the variants, for testing. Once they are tested and I get feedback on them (how they look, how they print, suggested names), I will give them their own separate listing and link it in the description. That way I am not posting a bunch of junk variant listings, I can keep this model solid, and you can bookmark and track whichever dragon you like.   So, I posted Night Spirit. Formerly Dragon C here… Articulated Night Spirit (Dragon) by AKinferno | Download free STL model | Printables.comThere, he is V1. Here, he is 9.4.  I will straighten up all the text on the photos this weekend. In the meantime, I hope you appreciate the work and Happy Printing!3/3/2023 - Cascading issues with the Blunt body. I messed up the bottom on a couple segments when blunting the spikes, which was affecting adhesion. I corrected that with 9_1, then noticed a single connected segment, which I fixed with 9_2. I also realized the points on the fins of the Dragon C don't print easily because they are so thin.  I am modifying them to make them thicker along the back, maybe slightly up front.  The goal is not to affect the appearance much.  I think it looks awesome. 2/10 - 8.3 rocks! Can be printed at 70%, and all pieces were easily separated. It fully articulates. Think the fixing is done. From now on, just mods :) If you have ideas for improving it beyond what I have done, let me know!V8.3 - Fixed the weird fragmentation on the shoulders from the original model. Converting to STL from SuperSlicer was slightly shifting things. This is technically 8.3.  I got it cleaned up, converted, reopened and there were more. So did 8.1, then 8.2… 8.3 didn't require any changes that I could find. So, it is now attached. Happy Printing!V7 - Fixed segment next to tail, identified by mcpea. Flattened inside, rounded top of post and spread bottom to keep reinforcement intact without contact. Thanks to mcpea for pointing out the issue in comments.  I had to redesign the piece before the tale. I flattened the base so the tail has adequate clearance and stretched the post out a bit to keep the extra reinforment. I reuploaded and checked every link. It appears good to go. Enjoy the model.V6 - Fixed an issue identified by Frederic Bauer, links 13 and 14 from tail.  I rotated and slide back 14 and slide back 13.V5 - Properly flattened the bottom of the last few segments, which should improve adhesion.  The bottoms are flat and I tweaked the geometry a bit to remove some of the weird angels.  I am still far from a Blender expert, but I am happy with the model now.V4.1 - Last two segments have rough bottoms, causing poor adhesion.  The piece before the tail is tilted in V4.  This is a quick fix to prevent poor adhesion, and make a larger contact area given the uneven bottom.  I will make corrections to the model and post as V5 once it is properly flat. Thanks to Grooviee for pointing out the issue.  Noone said anything for a month :)V4 - Improved last 2 tail segments, separated touching pieces, and Netfabbed. Separated pieces that were touching and reworked the last two tail segments in blender.  I curved the rear post on the segment before the tail and beefed up the base and top to prevent breaking. I also did a better job on the tail segment.  It should have better freedom of movement and more clearance.  Ran Netfab on the 4 segments that needed it.  Let me know if there are parts that stick.  I won't be able to test print until tomorrow.  Printer working until early in the morning.V3 - modified the horns to thicken out the base, making it more rugged.V2 - modified the tail to make it less likely to break when “unsticking” it after print. V1 - spaced out the segments to prevent fused sections.Timelapse here:  DRAGON VARIANTSNIGHT SPIRIT - Articulated Night Spirit (Dragon) by AKinferno | Download free STL model | Printables.comCRYSTAL NIGHT DRAGON - https://www.printables.com/model/559094-articulated-crystal-night-dragon-v1-low-poly-remix