Aircraft Engine Model Manufacturing Factory

Case study of high-precision aircraft engine model production

The aim of this project is to create a 1:10 scale display model of a turbofan engine, with a target fidelity of over 90%, highlighting its mechanical structure and industrial feel. Adopting the concept of "modular production and overall aging", a highly realistic visual effect is achieved through the combination of materials, processes, and coatings.

1、 Material selection: Multiple combinations reflect realism

The model selects multiple materials based on the characteristics of different components:

Main structure: High density PU resin 3D printing is used to ensure strength and detail, perfectly presenting features such as the receiver, rivets, and welds.

Blade system: Fan, compressor, and turbine blades are printed with photosensitive resin SLA to accurately reproduce complex aerodynamic surfaces.

Metal components: Hydraulic pipes, brackets, etc. are made of brass and stainless steel miniature pipes, with real metal enhancing visual and tactile levels.

Observation window: Acrylic laser cutting and polishing, simulating the texture of glass.

2、 Production process: Precision assembly highlights the structure

The production process emphasizes modularity and detail refinement:

Printing and trimming: After printing the parts in modules, carefully remove the support and polish the mold line to ensure a tight and seamless assembly.

Detail enhancement: manually drilling and adding rivets, bending metal pipelines, pasting etched grids and labels to enhance mechanical realism.

Fake group debugging: Conduct multiple trial assemblies before coloring to check the blade clearance and structural matching, and avoid interference after painting.

3、 Painting and aging: giving models a sense of life

Painting is the key to presenting realism:

Primer color separation: Spray ash and fill soil to check for defects, and then color separate and spray different components based on the actual engine, such as titanium color for the compressor area and high-temperature dark color for the combustion chamber.

Aging treatment:

Penetrating lines protruding grooves and rivet shadows;

Add rust and oil stains to bolts and interfaces;

Dry scan the edge to simulate wear marks.

Final assembly protection: Finally assemble and paste the label water sticker, and spray the entire product with semi gloss protective paint to achieve a uniform texture.