These are general recommendations – feel free to adapt to your printer and experience level.
Printer type & material
• Recommended technologies:
- FDM/FFF (most common home 3D printers)
- SLA/DLP resin printers for smaller, ultra‑detailed versions
Suggested materials:
- PLA – easy to print, great for display and cosplay
- PETG/ABS – if you want better heat resistance
- Standard resin – for high detail, handle carefully (more brittle)
Suggested FDM print settings:
For the multi‑part version (recommended for large prop prints):
• Layer height: 0.12–0.20 mm (0.16 mm is a good balance)
• Nozzle: 0.4 mm
• Perimeters/walls: 3–4 walls
• Infill:
- Body segments: 15–25% gyroid or cubic
- Thin horns/jaw if printed separately: 25–40% for strength
Supports:
• Yes – required for the mouth interior, teeth, and horns
• Tree/organic supports are ideal to reduce scarring on the surface
• Bed adhesion: brims or rafts if your printer struggles with tall, thin parts
• Orientation tips:
- Print upper head and lower jaw with the mouth opening facing slightly upward to minimize supports on visible surfaces.
- Print body and tail laid horizontally along the bed for maximum strength.
For the solid one‑piece versions:
• Recommended only if your printer has enough build volume and good cooling.
• Use dense supports under the jaw and horns.
• Consider 0.16 mm layer height or finer, to preserve the scale details.
Suggested resin print settings:
• Layer height: 0.03–0.05 mm
• Orientation: tilt the model 30–45° and support under non‑visible areas (belly, underside of tail, bottom of jaw).
• Use medium supports with a few heavy supports under horns and jaw.
• Wash and post‑cure as usual, being careful not to warp long thin sections.
Assembly & finishing:
• Multi‑part version:
- Dry‑fit all parts first.
- Lightly sand the mating faces for a tight and clean join.
- Glue with cyanoacrylate (super glue) or 2‑part epoxy.
- For extra strength, you can drill small holes and use pieces of filament or metal rod as alignment pins between sections.
• After assembly you can:
- Fill seams with putty/filler, sand smooth.
- Prime, then paint with metallic or pearlescent paints to match the golden/bronze look in your renders.
With‑air vs no‑air versions
• WithAir_Pipe model: includes an internal air channel.
- Print with no supports inside the channel (orient so the pipe bridges properly).
- After printing, run a length of string, filament, or flexible wire through the channel to clear any stray plastic.
- It can produce a basic tone, but it is not a tuned musical instrument.
• NoAir_Pipe model: best choice for pure display, maximum strength, and minimal risk of print failure from thin internal walls.
Safety notes:
Decorative / cosplay use recommended.
Keep away from small children – sharp teeth and horns can be hazardous, and small parts can be a choking risk.
Resin prints should be fully cured and not used for food contact.