Tealight holder: Hot air balloon

thingiverse

My daughter's eyes sparkled with excitement as she requested a hot air balloon of her very own, so I took on the challenge and created one just for her. I designed this remarkable contraption using Blender and Tinkercad. The basket is an incredibly useful feature that can be repurposed in two unique ways. Not only can it hold tealights with batteries to create a warm ambiance, but it also serves as a cozy ride for Lego figures, allowing them to soar high up in the sky - even Superman needs a break from saving the world sometimes. I printed the balloon at an incredibly fine resolution of 0.25 using PLA filament, while the basket was crafted with precision from wood filament at a slightly coarser resolution of 0.2. To attach the balloon to its basket, you can use any type of string or chain that catches your eye - I opted for a delicate necklace chain. The entire assembly took around 8 hours to print at a leisurely pace, which is my preferred speed, while the basket required approximately 3 hours to complete. Fortunately, this design doesn't require any support material, and I found it easiest to use a raft on the balloon to ensure a smooth print.