A Special Note:

There are MANY parts to a ship, and this document will try to encompass and guide you in understanding the naming
convention and usage for printing your own. The amount of file options and variants may be daunting at a glance, but it
is to assist you in building the ship design you want.

This is an early version of this document, and will evolve and change as print testing continues, and feedback is received.

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Index

Contents
A Special Note: ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Index........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Ship Assembly: Basic concepts................................................................................................................................................ 3
Ship Assembly: Lower Deck/ Lower Hull ................................................................................................................................. 4
**Lower Deck Option: Ladders, Stairwell and walls ........................................................................................................... 5
Ship Assembly: Upper Deck .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Decking ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Rails: ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Ship Assembly: Risers .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Ship Assembly: Fore Castle ................................................................................................................................................... 15
Ship Assembly: Stern Castle .................................................................................................................................................. 18
Ship Assembly: Bowsprit ....................................................................................................................................................... 26
Ship Assembly: Masts............................................................................................................................................................ 29
Multipart Crows Nest Assembly: .......................................................................................................................................... 30
Rigging Assembly instructions: ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Swivel Weapons Instructions ................................................................................................................................................ 35
EXAMPLE LAYOUT SHIPS – THE WIDE SHIP ........................................................................................................................... 38
Wide Ship Layout: Starting with the lower deck............................................................................................................... 40
The Tall Ship layout ............................................................................................................................................................... 45
Standard Ship Layout ............................................................................................................................................................ 49
Printing notes/ recommendations: ....................................................................................................................................... 54
Floor Tiles ...................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Wall Panels .................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Masts ............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
Yard Arms ...................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Stern Castle parts: ......................................................................................................................................................... 54

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Ship Assembly: Basic concepts
Ship pieces are connected via Clips. There is slots in the bases and/or sides of the pieces that clips clip into.

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Ship Assembly: Lower Deck/ Lower Hull

Recommend printing 8 clips for every 2 Hull wall panels printed. Each Hull panel can connect to it’s neighbor with only
one clip attaching them- but for situations where more rigidity is desired- I generally would recommend 2. The other 4
clips are for floor tile connections.

Order of Connection:

Prow Nose -> Prow Curve -> Flat Hull -> Stern

Prowbeaks or figureheads connect on the lower OpenLOCK connection port on the prow nose.

Bowsprit’s connect into the upper port on the prow nose. Bowsprit extensions connect into the square slot on the top of
the bowsprit.

A Lantern or bell can slot into the bowsprit’s front facing hole (Bowsprit lantern) or (Bowsprit bell)

 It takes 2 “2x2” tiles per section of flat wall panel as the lower deck is 4” wide.
o I recommend attaching them side to side in a pair, then attaching each pair to the section behind it.
Then attach the hull walls to either side.

Common mistake: If the side walls don’t connect- check your stern!! The MID> arrows should point at
each other!!

Example Single Mast Ship layout:  Dark Blue: Lower Deck Stern Hull
 Grey: Lower Deck Nose Hull  Lower Decking Nose
 Dark Green: Lower Deck Prow Curve L/R Hull  Lower Deck Prow Curve Floor L/R
 Orange: Lower Deck Flat Hull sides (cannon, flat,  Gridded 2x2 – 8x
ladder, window) – 8x  Lower Deck Stern Decking L/R
NOTE: THE PURPLE BELOW DECKS MAST SECTION IS A FACEBOOK GROUP EXCLUSIVE. FIND IT AT:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/533211393745282/?ref=bookmarks

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**Lower Deck Option: Ladders, Stairwell and walls
Ladders and stairs to the upper deck as well as lower deck sectional walls are available as options. Replace a 2x2
tile with the stair or Ladder section as desired.

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Ship Assembly: Upper Deck
Each section of Upper Deck (for the flat hull wall sections) requires 2 Edge tiles, a 2x2 tile, and a rail or edge tile.

Figure 1 Rails diagram- assuming forecastle and sterncastle

Decking Rails:
 Contains Stern Deck L/R (RED)  4x – Upper Deck Flat Hull baluster rail ( Dark
 8x – Upper Deck Decking outer small tiles Blue)
(Green)  Upper Deck Forecastle Prow Curve baluster rail
 3x – 2x2 tiles (Blue) L/R (Grey)
 1x – Mast base (Brown)  2x - Upper Deck Flat Hull baluster rail with
 Prow Curve L/R (Purple) rigging connect (Dark Green)
 Nose (Yellow)

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Example 1 mast deck layout:

Contains Stern Deck L/R (RED)

8x – Upper Deck Decking outer small tiles (Green)

3x – 2x2 tiles (Blue)

1x – Mast base (Brown)

Prow Curve L/R (Purple)

Nose (Yellow)

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Ship Assembly: Risers
If you’re assembling a single mast ship with Risers – I recommend a additional row of decking, and assemble your upper
deck like so:

Figure 2 Example Risers 1 mast deck layout:

Contains Stern Deck L/R (RED)

10x – Upper Deck Decking outer small tiles (Green)

3x – 2x2 tiles (Blue)

1x Grating section (White)(with or without row boat holder)

1x – Mast base (Brown)

Prow Curve L/R (Purple)

Nose (Yellow)

Clips Needed (minimal): 45

*Attach the decking into 3 sections. The Stern (and one deck strip), the middle 4 rows, and then the prow.

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Attach your riser sections together using the clips

To join them

Into one section

Repeat for the other side

Similar construction for the Prow riser section.

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Secure your rails to the sides of your prow section and stern sections as indicated:

Figure 3- Prow 1

Figure 4 - Prow 2 (with rails attached)

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NOW – attach the rail transition pieces on the sides of the Stern and Prow Riser sections to the middle decking section,
like so:

Then doing the same with the Prow section:

Your Prow and Stern decking plates should now slot on or off nicely 😊
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Add your two railing sections to either side!

Stairs can be clipped in or not- at your choice. I personally leave them unclipped.

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Note- if you want to have the stairs down to below decks in place, remove the middle 2x2 tile from the last row like so,
and clip it into the below decks tile that corresponds.:

Otherwise, incorporate the second set of stairs like so:

Putting in the Stairs access doors: After installing stairs, put the hatchway in place (connect it to the upper decking
section if desired.).

Doors for the stairs access slot into the frame, and are connected via a section of paperclip, filament, or wire. They will
open and close 😊
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Ship Assembly: Fore Castle

Figure 5Top Down view of connecting Forecastle Left/Right 1 and 2

Figure 6 View Looking down toward Prow -Connecting Forecastle Left/Right 1 and Left/Right 2

Figure 7- Side View, Connecting Forecastle Left/Right 1 and Left/Right 2

Figure 8Forecastle Roof Deck and Rail (either small print bed- top) or large- bottom

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Blue: Upper Deck Prow Forecastle curve edge Baluster Rail Left / Right

Green: Forecastle Right/ Left Wall 1

Orange: Forecastle Right Wall 2

Purple: Door Hinge Cap and Ladder or Stairs (personal preference)

Red: Forecastle ForeCastle Door Wall galley ver (will have a plain wall version as well)

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Figure 9Fore Castle Version 2 assembly

Blue: Upper Deck Prow Forecastle curve edge Baluster Rail Left / Right

Green: Forecastle Right/ Left Wall 1

Orange: Forecastle Style 2 - Balconied Prow Right Wall 2

Purple: Door and Door Hinge

Red: Forecastle ForeCastle Door Wall galley ver (will have a plain wall version as well)

Yellow: Forecastle Balcony

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Ship Assembly: Stern Castle
Part Count: 19-25

You’ll need:

1x: Stair R

1x: Stair L

One Stern Balcony (If desired, or – a Straight Rail edge if you’d rather)

Stern Rear Left

and Stern Right (with or without Integrated Supports - see printing notes).

Stern Stair Wall L

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And Stern Stair Wall R:

Stern Door Wall Left

Stern Door Wall Right

Stern Shroud Left

Stern Shroud Right

Two Flat Baluster Rail sections

One Ships Wheel

3: 2x2 decking pieces

Stern Upper Decking L

Stern Upper Decking R

Optional (6)
Door Lintel

Door

Captains Bed

Map Table

Globe
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Bookcase

Figure 10 - Lower Section of Stern Castle Overview.

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Figure 11 Stern Castle Lower Section- with Stern Wall Door in place. Door Walls Clips into Left and Right Stair Walls.

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Figure 12 Stern Castle Middle (Shroud) and then upper floor layout.

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Figure 13 - Side View, Exploded.

Color coded guide:

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Figure 14 Top Down SternCastle Walls, color coded

Red: Stern Castle Rear L/R

Purple: Stern Castle Bonnet L/R

Orange: Stern Shroud L/R (although rails work fine too!)

Yellow: Stern Castle Curved Rail Wall L/R

Blue: Stern castle door Wall L/R

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Figure 15 Top Down - SternCastle upper decking Color coded

Red: Stern Deck L/R

Purple: Stern Stairs – L/R

Green: Upper Deck Decking outer small tiles (2x)

Blue: 2x2 tiles (1)

Grey: Stern Deck Side Balcony

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Ship Assembly: Bowsprit
Parts needed:

Step 1: Prepare the filament scrap.

Melt the end of the filament scrap slightly- and press it flat on a metal or other smooth (non-plastic) surface.

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Step 2:

Socket your bowsprit into the ships hull nose. Then attach the Connector for running ropes, and lantern’s hanging
connector. Use a touch of glue if you want a secure connection with the connectors to the bowsprit. Then run your
filament with the flattened end through the lantern.

Step 3:

Run the filament scrap through the lantern’s hanging connector, and about a third of it’s length should protrude past the
top. Now slightly melt the end of the filament piece, and press it flat. Your lantern will then hang freely at the end of the
bowsprit.

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Step 4:

Socket your bowsprit jib into the bowsprit jib’s connector. Then press the Bowsprit Jib connector’s peg into the
corresponding socket on the bowsprit.

Your bowsprit is complete!

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Ship Assembly: Masts

Due to the amount of variation of printer and material tolerances, it is recommended that masts are glued, or to utilize
small amounts of blue-tac to help secure the sections to each other.

The Base connection is very stable on our prints – and should not require it.

Mast Section 1: Grey

Mast Section 2: Red

Mast Section 3: Green

Mast Section 4: White

Masts slot into each other 1 plugs into the base. Section 2 plugs into the socket of Section 1, etc.

Crows Nest Assembly plugs in between Sections 2 and 3.

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Multipart Crows Nest Assembly:
Step 1: Parts overview:

Step 2: Align the Basket and the Bottom:

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Step 3: Fit the loops into the bottom to secure the top and bottom of the basket.

 Note: These will potentially be tight and tighter fits as the assembly is fitted together.

Step 4: Begin fitting the Hooks into place. (These are what hold the rigging, as well as ‘grab’ the mast section.

*Helpful note: Do not fully seat the hooks yet. Get them just into the basket’s base, as this allows for easier fitting onto
the top of the mast.

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Step 5: Fully seat the hooks while pushing Mast Section 2 into place.

Step 6: Press Mast Section 3 into place.

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Rigging Assembly instructions:

Rigging clip pieces are used to secure the different rigging sections together. The Lower pins are used to secure the
rigging bottom to the rail with rigging connect of your choice. The reasons for the 4 lengths of clips are to help account
for printer tolerances.

Note: Rigging top is designed to be used for the wide or standard ship.

For the standard ship, trim it like so at the upper ‘thick rope’:

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Step 2: Clip your rigging clips in (recommend 6x 3mm extension clips per side as shown, but use the clips that best work
for your printer tolerances).

Step 3: Insert the rigging pins (x4).

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Swivel Weapons Instructions

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EXAMPLE LAYOUT SHIPS – THE WIDE SHIP

Note: None of these have stairwells, risers, or masts that you will want to put in place before calling your ship ‘done’.
These will be covered in other sections.

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First – a preview of the main hull options, using the wide ship as a reference ‘hull’. Use these images as a guide towards
building your own ship- in the layout that works best for you.

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Wide Ship Layout: Starting with the lower deck
The Lower Decking layout:

Note: it uses a rounded stern for this build. For Sterncastles 2 or 3, you need the Flat Stern. This is important!
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The Tall Ship layout

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Standard Ship Layout

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Printing notes/ recommendations:
 Printing was done in CURA (Free!)
 Print settings were:
o Layer Height: .2mm
o Wall Thickness: 1mm
o Top/Bottom Thickness: .6mm
o Enable Ironing: Checked (this seems to give improvements to the Rails adhesion, as well as improving
overall appearance. It’s worth the little bit of extra time!!!
o Infill: 10%, although 15-20% works great as well. Exception: Masts. I printed them at 60% infill for
strength. Also noted that floor tiles tend to have pinprick holes in the grain at 10, less at 15%, but it
vanishes at 20%.

 Some parts may need supports- I’m working on integrating supports from MeshMixer, and as these are
completed the files will be marked with -integrated supports, or -needs supports.
o Support settings that seem to be easiest to remove on my end are:
 Support placement: Touching Build platform
 Support Pattern: Concentric
 Support Top Distance: .15mm

Floor Tiles
 Floor Tiles: Ensure that you do NOT enable supports. It will make them painful to clean.

Wall Panels
 Wall Panels do NOT need supports and stayed secure to my print bed with a brim of 6-8mm. Again, individual
printers may vary.

Masts
 Masts do not require supports, as the only area that needs it has integrated supports. We recommend printing
them vertically, with the larger end down and a brim of 6-8.

Yard Arms
 Print with your own supports, or integrated supports.
 Yard Arm connectors- Do NOT need supports.

Stern Castle parts:

 Stairs: Do NOT require supports if printed on their side. I recommend rotating and printing the R Stair on it’s R
side if “Looking down the stairs from the top of the stairs”. They do print beautifully with concentric supports
however when printing as they sit on the deck- but lose some strength. Printing on the side tends to lose some
of the woodgrain detail however, so it’s a personal pro vs con choice.
 “Bonnet” : Bonnets do NOT require supports or angle adjustment.
 Balcony: Balcony’s do NOT require supports or angle adjustment.
 Rear sections DO NOT require supports overall- if you find you have issues with bridging- use the integrated
support file, or generate your own.
 Forward / Stair walls do NOT require supports- but if you feel more comfortable with them, concentric required
zero removal effort. They have been successfully printed with and without. Brim is STRONGLY advised, as with
all wall segments.

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General Guidelines:

If you see these little vertical bars (in circles) cut them out FLUSH to the top/bottom of the gap.

DON’T CUT THESE THOUGH!! (the triangular piece in the middle of the sets of two

If you’re finding that your print bed is printing clips too thick or tiles too thin- print a clip at 60-80%thickness
and test if it works better. I’ve salvaged a few prints that would otherwise not work due to bed
leveling/warping or other layer issues by doing so.

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