Dec 22, 2015 | By Benedict
Gamers can now 3D print virtually any object from the Fallout 4 universe, as Angus from Maker’s Muse has released a tutorial which shows all the necessary steps to turn game data into 3D printable files.
Since the latest installment of the post-apocalyptic RPG was announced earlier this year, fans of Fallout 4 have resoundingly demonstrated their passion for game-themed 3D prints. Until now, the most celebrated contribution to the Fallout maker community has probably been this replica Pip-Boy 3000 Mark IV, designed by Yvo de Haas. That fantastic design provided a cheap and satisfactory alternative to the official Bethesda Pip-Boy accessory, which became notoriously hard to source when demand for the strictly limited Pip-Boy Edition of the game skyrocketed. Haas’ design proved so popular that 3DHubs even made something of a campaign to allow keen gamers to get their hands on the 3D printed accessory on the eve of the game’s release. Gamer-makers also have a long tradition of 3D printing their own fictional weapons from Fallout and other games. One such enthusiast designed his own AER9 Laser Rifle back in September, whilst this 3D printed MiniNuke really looks the business.
Although 3D printing physical likenesses of in-game characters, weapons and objects is now commonplace, there are two very distinct approaches to going about the process. For artistic or perhaps ethical reasons, many designers prefer to create their 3D designs using only visual references. This means that some talented makers take screenshots of their chosen object in-game, from as many angles as possible, and produce an approximation of that object in their CAD software of choice. This process requires an extraordinary level of skill, a good eye for detail and a certain level of creativity. For some games and platforms, this manual copying technique is the only option available. However, there is a simpler and more accurate second option for other games. For PC games in particular, makers have the option of scouring a game’s data folders for the specific files pertaining to their chosen in-game object, and luckily for Fallout fans, these files are easily discoverable on Fallout 4. This means that, when looking in the right place, users can find the actual 3D images for almost every physical element of the game and turn them into 3D prints.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, in should be noted that the process is not quite as simple as it may seem. The in-game objects do not exist as 3D printable .STL files, so a fairly lengthy conversion process must take place. Luckily, Angus from Maker’s Muse has detailed the process in a handy YouTube tutorial. Using his advice, maker-gamers can now easily take characters, weapons and objects from Fallout 4 and turn them into accurate, scalable 3D prints. The process requires four specific applications: Bethesda Archive Extractor, NifSkope, Meshmixer and Netfabb. With Bethesda Archive Extractor, users can browse the Fallout universe for enemies, weapons and more, with each item listed as a .NIF file. This .NIF format is not really useful for anything outside of the game, so NifSkope can be used to transform these files into the .OBJ format. All 3D modeling software can take these new .OBJ files to be edited. Netfabb can be used to quickly and easily repair the 3D files, which, having been designed for on-screen animation and not physical duplication, will contain numerous holes and dangerously unprintable elements. Since makers may desire smaller or larger replicas of their in-game objects, and since some printers have larger build areas than others, Meshmixer can be used to adjust the scale of the 3D models. For larger 3D prints, makers can also use the Meshmixer slicing tool, which Angus explains in some detail in his tutorial. The YouTuber has also provided tips on how to use XTC-3D 3D print coating to give Fallout 4 models the most professional finish before hand-painting.
The ability to browse files within the game universe gives makers huge potential for customization. For example, 3D prints needn’t be limited to the default shapes given. “For the weapons, for example, you’ll know that a 10mm isn’t just a 10mm pistol file,” Angus explained. “It’s the file plus scopes plus muzzles plus different magazine styles, different handle styles… There’s therefore no reason you can’t have your favorite game weapon reproduced in real life by choosing the parts yourself and stitching them together using Meshmixer.”
Although CAD software can be difficult to master, the Maker’s Muse tutorials offer gamers a simple and followable method for transforming elements of the gaming universe into real life 3D printed objects. The easy accessibility of in-game data should inspire a number of further Fallout 4 3D prints, and we’ll be here to report on the best ones.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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