TRANSFORMARs

thingiverse

This is a 1:50 scale model (metric) of a space rocket that transforms into a Mars base. (well, conceptually) Instead of building vehicles to transport pieces to build a base, it seemed more reasonable to use the whole spaceship as the future inhabitable space. The crew and additional life support can be flown there in a seperate spaceship....this one at least is the getting started kit!...and it is obviously more fun if you can also play around with the objects in real life (or your kids).... ;) Following thoughts went into the desgin: As Mars has a semi hostile environment for humans in terms of cold, radiation and strong winds the whole complex is lowered into the martian soil. The foundations can be digged out and then all the pieces can be put in place and safely connected. The lowering into the earth keeps more heat during cold times and shades a bit from the strong winds and protects from the radiation due to the lacking magnetic field. Additionally martian soil can be stacked upon the capsules and the vaults who will be put upon the walkway that connect the spaces. The big communal space would be used as kitchen dinging, living and also to grow plants. The skin is made out of inflatable cushions and cladded partly with PV-cells. To shade from strong sun but still let light through. The air works as isolation layer. The other capsules are turned into more private and quiet areas. Always 2 people would share one living cell. Similar to the Southpole Research Station. Utility spaces like water treatment plants, a sanitary module, labs, power generators, tool and rover storage, etc. are also available....and by digging more connecting tunnels and bringing more modules to Mars the base can grow... ... if there had been more time, i would have added some spacy details on the surfaces....maybe I do that later if you guys ask for it. to be more (time)efficient I also used some of the amazing design already existing on Thingiverse and scaled and modified them: the capsules are based on http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:34320 the rocket end is derivated from http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:155827 i used this http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:10541 for the mechanical structure parts and adapted this http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8796 for the turning mechanism and this is the wind turbine http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1689 ...thanks for sharing these things! Instructions I didn't have the chance yet to print it and check it out....(if you anyway want to tinker with it go ahead and let me know! :) ...BUT theoretically the files ...capsules_1, capsules_2, rocket_end, vaults and interior mechanics should work printing without support. the others need support! TO ASSEMBLE THE ROCKET: after printing all the parts: add a regular toothpick into the tube of the wind rotor (at least the standard Austrian fits...so i hope it is universal)...if necessary add some glue) turn it upside down and fit it into the rocket_end. klick together all the mechanical pieces (see instructions for orientation!) and connect them to the nut. fold them together check if the turning mechanism of the stage2_body is working...if not maybe use some force to looesen it from the tiny support layer that should be printed in between...if that doesn't work...let me know...then I need to update the design...). let's just hope it works. then place the nut on the spiraled rod inside...there are some rails that keep 3 of the the 6 mechanical arms in place...so that by rotating on the wheel in the bottom the nut should screw itself in.... (if you want you can also add some textile to the arms and fold it somehow in with it...i will check as soon as I have a 3dPrinter) add the 3 vaults (vertically) in the leftover spaces between the mechanical legs. put the assembled stage 2 on top of the rocket-end. then put all capsules together (fitting pieces are diagonal facing each other in the stl-files) and nest them into each other starting with the smallest....screw the whole thing on top of the assembles stage 2 body. add the rocket tip DONE (theoretically TO ASSEMBLE THE MARS BASE: put everything apart again and see the instructions on where to place what or use your creativity and play around as you like! most important have fun!