Happy game day, Dutchies! To celebrate the World Cup and Dutch success, designer Flip Vossen tested his 3D modeling skills to create the one and only, Flying Dutchman! We interviewed him about the process because it’s instances like these that remind us why we love what we do. 3D printing allows everyone to create, produce and show off products so quickly, they are still relevant.
How long did it take for you to model this?
Creating this model actually took me longer than I had expected it would take me. It was the first time I 3D modeled a human figure and I decided to use the idea as a learning experience. In the past I had modeled many 3D printable product designs but never a model like this. I spent many days and night struggling with new programs and techniques to achieve the model I had set to design.
Can you share your design process with us?
I wanted to use the pros of many different programs so:
1. I started by 3D modeling a figure in poser
2. I then added soccer clothing
3. Closing surfaces and adding hair in Rhinoceros
4. Creating the Base in Solidworks
5. Merging & fixing meshes in Netfabb Pro
6. Uv Mapping in Rhinoceros (I would now found out this is easier to do in Zbrush)
7. Exporting file as VRML + textures.
How long did it take for your receive your model?
I received my model really fast! After uploading it I received it within 3 days so that was a great experience
Obviously that awesome game inspired you to do this, any reason in particular you chose this “move” over a general soccer/football figurine?
Well this match was the kick-off for the Dutch football team during the World Cup and it was immediately against the Spanish team who, as all Dutch people remember, won during the finals in the previous world championship. So I guess you can say it was time for payback.
To be honest I was really skeptical and I think a large portion of the country did not expect our players to win that night, but once the goals started pouring in this was the moment the entire country started to believe that there is a chance we might be able to win this tournament.
The goal from Robin van Persie was the perfect goal with precise timing and he did it with so much feeling for the ball it might well become the World Cup goal of the tournament. The image of him diving through the air quickly became an iconic image for the nation showing the strength and confidence the Dutch team brought to the World Cup. As an ode to this icon I decided to accept the challenge of turning this into a 3D printable object.
Would you have made this without 3D printing?
Without 3D printing I would never have bothered trying to create this model. 3D printing makes it really easy to produce an object in a short time period. Can you imagine producing this 2 years after the goal has been made? Without 3D printing I would have needed a fortune to invest in molds to start creating a figure like this.
What is your favorite part about 3D modeling/printing?
My favorite part about 3D printing is being able to create ideas and concepts and being able to hold them and look around them in real life. There is a big difference between seeing a product on your computer screen and holding it in your hands and viewing it in a certain environment.
3D printing makes it possible to share designs with others without the hassle of difficult production techniques and large budgets. Everybody can become a designer and share their creativity with the rest of the community.
AMAZING work, Flip! These are the stories that remind us how wonderful 3D printing is, ever expanding the possibilities of production, imagination, and creativity! Good luck today!