Solid Pokeball for Miniatures

thingiverse

This is a solid pokeball designed to be a miniature for use as a prop with dolls and figures in tinier scales where functionality isn't necessary and makes pieces fragile. I tried a couple of the other files I found here and struggled to get prints that were sturdy enough to even paint and assemble. The file is scaled for Breyer's Traditional scale which is roughly 1:9, the final piece is approximately 8.2mm in diameter. Increase by 30% for use with 1:6 (Barbie and the like) or decrease by 30% for use with 1:12 scale (1inch dollhouse scale). To print these with my resin printer I place each one on a single 5mm tall support (directly on the lowest point of the ball) with a raft a little bigger than the diameter of the ball. For my support I doubled the size of the point where the support meets the model. With my first batch, using the default support settings I had about a 50% failure rate for my prints. They were getting ripped off right at the support attachment. When I reprinted a batch using the larger attachment point I had a 0% failure rate. After printing I recommend leaving the print on the support/raft for the cleaning, curing, and painting stages. Again, with my first batch I removed them and am struggling to get them painted nicely. With my second batch I've left them on the supports and rafts and they're proving much more amenable to the painting process. This is why I recommend a single support. I've had my best luck spraying the entire model white then just hand painting the top with a small brush and the ring with a needle. If you want to use a design with a non-white bottom, spray with the base color then brush on the detail colors. When finished they can be clipped off the supports with flush cutters, leaving you with just a tiny spot that can be touched up with a small brush.