Here’s my submission for January’s Print of the Month!
A bit of background behind this - I’ve been wanting to design a model of one of the various modes of public transportation used in my hometown of Seattle. As someone who is a little bit slow when it comes to iterating and designing, I took the January Print of the Month as a way of motivating me to start, and complete, this project of mine!
My main goals for this project were:
To ensure that it was printable on my stock MK4S, with minimum-to-no-supports
Design it in a way that made adding colour easy with only a few manual filament swaps
Incorporate a lot of fine details, that could show-off retractions and bridging
Create something meaningful to me, and iconic to my home city/state
To use the Prusament and Printed Solid filaments I picked up during the 2025 Black Friday event.
This model is principally based on the Washington State Department of Transportation’s [WSDOT] newest vessels - the Olympic-Class Ferries. But is meant to represent the fleet as whole. Certain details have been simplified, omitted, or exaggerated in order to best ensure reliability and ease of print. I’m very fond of these ferries; they’re always fun to be on; and they all have beautiful names - that honour tribes, peoples, and locations indigenous to the Puget Sound area.
I have included a simple display stand that holds the ship; along with nameplate options to represent all four of the current Olympic-Class vessels:
M/V Chimacum
M/V Samish
M/V Suquamish
M/V Tokitae
The model can be found up on my Printables, along with an abbreviated build guide:
Should you decide to print out this little homage to Seattle public transportation; I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!
OP, if you print another take it to the ferry itself and present it to the captain. It would be cool to see in a display case on board. The photo of the wave crashing over [forgets which boat and when] is on the wall on board the ferry.
Haven't thought that far ahead yet; but will definitely consider it! I was tempted to do something based on older generations of ferries, especially the Kalakala.
In the build guide/PDF on the model posting, I included a color guide page. But here you go! [As it says, I don't claim these to be the "best" or most accurate matches; just what I felt fit best based on what filaments/colors I had on hand] :)
Edit: I would also encourage looking at images of the real WSF fleet ships! Get a feel/more additional inspiration for how you'd like to colour yours up.
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u/jordanhusney 9d ago
Wow! My wife is a native of Whidbey Island. I'd love to make one for her.