Introducing the ultimate* 1:6 2001: a Space Odyssey EVA pod

[3Dsf.info]

Hi, all! So I've stopped by the site from time to time over the years, but never actually signed up for an account. Finally have. And now I'm announcing a new work in progress that may be of interest: my 1:6 scale model of the EVA (extravehicular activity) pod from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, 2001: a Space Odyssey.

Basically, since late 2020 I've been researching, designing, and now building a superdetailed 1:6 model of the little one-person spacecraft from the movie. The digital model is complete, and I'm working on making it into a physical reality.

(330mL drink can for size)

Only production images, created from 1965 to 1966, were used as references for this model. Almost every detail is present and correct, including many aspects to the pod never correctly reproduced before.

My digital model is mostly 3D printed, and its size matches the main original shooting miniature. That's 13.5 inches tall, or 343mm in modern units.

The primary material is 3D-printed industrial resin, reinforced with fibreglass and a lightweight aluminium subframe. Smaller parts mostly use lighter-weight resins capable of printing to higher levels of detail. Other materials include custom-machined aluminium, sintered PA 12 printed nylon, brass and aluminium tubing, custom-etched sheet metal, glass watch covers, miniature glass optical lenses, neodymium magnets, PETG sheet plastic, nylon and styrene posts, and sheet styrene.

The electronics consist of four ESP32-S3 microcontrollers driving high-resolution animated displays, and secondary microcontrollers driving arrays of smart LEDs. Paint is primarily airbrushed acrylic with a bit of enamel.

It's taken 5 years to get to this point, and it'll be a while before the whole thing is finally done. I'll be posting occasional updates here and also on my site:

https://sites.google.com/site/3dsfinfo/a-2001-odyssey/the-ultimate-16-2001-eva-pod

Note that this build is a one-off personal project. Regrettably I have no plans to make a kit or digital files available. Sorry about that. I'd be happy to answer any questions about it, though!





* For varying values of "ultimate."

 

[Edbert]

I was about to ask if you planning to sell the files, then read the last bit. I guess there's so much more to what you are building, electronics and metal.

Just hoping you make frequent updates, I'd love to see this become reality!

 

[3Dsf.info]

There are many complications involved with rendering this whole thing as a kit or whatever, I'm afraid. And my priority is indeed getting it out the door in a physical form! Which will definitely happen - I've put too much crazy work and money into it over the past half decade to abandon it now...

Here's a view of one of the earmuffs. The size of the pod is one of the reasons I had to get the parts printed at an industrial prototype facility. But they had printing orientation issues at the factory, and so I ended up with several parts with a ton of support divots on the sides.

So - before and after. Days of sandpaper and epoxy putty and primer.

 

[BOATMAN]

HI Iloved 2001 BUT was a bit confused by the ending which spoilt it for me BUT i loved the 2010 film which to me made perfect sence an hope you build your pod ok
ATB
CHRISB

 

[blakeh1]

Incredible stuff!

 

[Edbert]

a bit confused by the ending

You're not the only one confused by the movie. The book explained it very well, but cannot blame Stanley, the actual ending would have been hard to put into film for anyone!

I recommend the book very much, a pretty short one for Arthur, also 2010, it explains why HAL killed everyone except Bowman.

Back to the EVA Pod...

This has been on my wish-list for a while. Anyone able to speak to the quality?

 

[Edbert]

Incredible stuff!

FOR SURE, truly off the charts for us plastic-melters. I could only give a love or a shock emoji, maybe we need a combo one?

 

[BOATMAN]

YES Edbert im really glad that they done 2010 as you say it exsplains more about the first film an i really loved the bluedanube being played in the first film as it siuted the film to a T an Edbert HAL did try to kill bowman dint he as he went out in the pod without his space helmet an ole HAL wont let him back in so bowman went in by the exmegency hatch an done Hall in like i would have if it had been me lol an yes ive read both books as its does exsplain about what happened a bit clearer but i still enjoyed both films an got them both on dvd so when jen an i feel like a space evening we put them on one after another an get the popcorn out lol
chrisb

 

[3Dsf.info]

HI Iloved 2001 BUT was a bit confused by the ending which spoilt it for me BUT i loved the 2010 film which to me made perfect sence an hope you build your pod ok

Well, I'd argue that the ambiguous ending of 2001 is one reason why people still watch it today, whereas the movie sequel is kind of forgotten!

 

[3Dsf.info]

This has been on my wish-list for a while. Anyone able to speak to the quality?

The Moebius kit? Well, depends on your goals, I guess. Personally I think it's a disappointing product that falls far short of what it could have been. But a lot of people seem to like it.

I couldn't get past the facts that the kit is cheaply manufactured and has almost none of the details correct. And it's actually one of the reasons I decided to make my own model.

https://sites.google.com/site/theageofplastic3d/moebius-models-2001-a-space-odyssey-eva-pod-review

 

[BOATMAN]

Well, I'd argue that the ambiguous ending of 2001 is one reason why people still watch it today, whereas the movie sequel is kind of forgotten!

WELL SIR i dont aggree with you about 2010 bein forgotten as it was on our tv twice over xmas an i an the missus love it on dvd as in the first moive bowman became a star child dint he but it dint mention who the aliens were who came through our solor system millons of yrs ago to put the TMA-1 on the earth to teach the primitaves apes to make wepons out of bones an the second one buryied on the moon as soon as heywood flyod touch it it senced intelligence an sent that message to juptiter which is what the film is all about from what i can see
chrisb

 

[Edbert]

https://sites.google.com/site/theageofplastic3d/moebius-models-2001-a-space-odyssey-eva-pod-review

Is that your website? AMAZING!

(also, the 1st time I've heard "letraset" in at least 30 years)

 

[Edbert]

HAL did try to kill bowman

Oh yeah, the attempt was made, but Dave lived his life out in comfort (but alone) and died of old age in his sleep.

 

[3Dsf.info]

Is that your website? AMAZING!

(also, the 1st time I've heard "letraset" in at least 30 years)

Yep, it is.

And I bought vintage Letraset sheets that match the ones used in 2001, and made new digital fonts based on scans of the sheets. I'm going to be printing 1:6 rub-down transfers for the lettering for my pod.