Nov.10, 2014 | By Alec
Interstellar is a movie that is making headlines in the film world for its gripping tale and gorgeous production, though it should do the same in the 3D printing community for its impressive use of 3D printing technology.
For those of you who don't know, Interstellar is an epic and thought-provoking science fiction movie by British film director Christopher Nolan. Featuring a cast of Hollywood elites – Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Michael Caine and others – the movie explores the concept and necessity of space exploration in the near future. As the planet will be unable to sustain human life, mankind will need to explore new planets and a new way of life. The plot focusses on a team of astronomers who are sent through a wormhole, looking for an inhabitable planet.
Premiering a few days ago, the movie has already been showered in critical acclaim. Amongst others, Interstellar was applauded for its extremely detailed, accurate and gorgeous production work. And those of us lucky enough to live anywhere near London should definitely go and check out this movie at the BFI IMAX in London (Southbank, near Waterloo Bridge) where some of that production work is on display.
For as part of the movie's premiere, the twelve feet long 3D printed (!) model of the Ranger spaceship, that plays a prominent role in the movie, can be admired by the public until November 17th.
For instead of fully relying on computer-generated special effects, Interstellar was filmed using as many realistic props as possible amongst others. This was especially the case for the spacecraft used in the movies, as Christopher Nolan felt that actual models were needed to make flight in space seem as genuine as possible.
Alongside the Ranger that is on display in London, this also means that 3D printed models of the movie's other two space spaceships – the Endurance and the Lander – were created. To realize these highly-realistic models, production designer Nathan Crowley collaborated with special effects company New Deal Studios. While we can only guess at the size and model of the 3D printer used to create these giant models, all three were realised using a mixture of 3D printing and hand sculpting.
All three are 1/15th scale miniatures of the movie's spaceships and used have been used in filming. For those movie-goers paying close attention, the 3D printed models were placed in front of various shots of space while filming. Could you tell it's just a model?
The Ranger was even just the smallest of the three, as the other two reportedly reached sizes of some 50 to 60 feet. As the term 'miniature' is hardly befitting such huge constructions, the crew on-set supposedly referred to them as 'maxiatures'. A testimony to the director's intended realism, all of them were also designed to resemble past, present and future spaceships used by NASA.
Those of you in the Greater London area should definitely try catching a glimpse of this twelve feet long 'maxiature' of the Ranger before its stored away again on 18 November. Even if the movie doesn't particularly attract you, this giant testimony to the potential of 3D printing is a sight worth seeing all by itself.
Curious about the movie? Check out the trailer here:
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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You can redesign your own space ship or replica from movie in Space Engineers game and then 3D print it at: http://www.spaceengineersprints.com
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