Catan Junior Organizers and Dice Tower

Updates

• September 2026 - added a picture of a version of the game that is NOT compatible.

• June 2026 - added models with magnets instead of click lock closures. Be sure and read the warnings about using magnets with children.  I recommend trying the click-lock models first.

• August 2024 – added the “taller” variation for a newer version of the game with slightly taller pieces.  See the description for more details.

Description

This organizer set adds a great dimension to Catan Junior, as well as making the game easier to set up and the pieces easier to keep track of. 

Four island-themed cases hold the pieces for the red, blue, orange, and white players.  The resource cost cards even fit in the lid for easy reference.

The stockpile holder keeps all the resources organized.  Resource cards are printed on the front and back, but most are not symmetrical, so each slot is sized to hold the resource cards no matter which way you turn them.  It also has a slot to store the die and the robber when not in use.

The Coco Card holder is like a real treasure chest.

The lair-themed dice tower adds a little clackety-clack to rolling the die and helps little hands roll without disrupting the board.

Watch the assembly video here:

Important Note:

If your Catan set has pieces that look like this, unfortunately this design is not compatible!

Materials Needed:

• Filament - you can, of course, choose your own filaments or colors.  The prints shown in the pictures and videos use the filaments listed below with the approximate amount needed:

  • Overture Matte Red ~120g

  • Overture Matte Blue ~120g

  • Overture Matte White ~120g

  • Overture Matte Orange ~120g

  • Overture Matte Chocolate ~300g

    • The stockpile holder is the hardest part to print, so plan for some failures

  • Sunlu Gold Silk PLA ~120g

    • (the pictures were taken with a filament that is no longer available, but I've had good luck with the Sunlu filament)

  • Gizmodorks Nylon (for hinges) - ~30cm

    • You can substitute PETG or even PLA, though PLA may get brittle over time.

• Pair of pliers

• Pair of side cutters/flush cutters

• CA glue (or another glue suitable for PLA)

• (optional) a 2mm drill bit to ream the hinge holes if they are too tight

Slicing & Printing Guidelines

• The guidelines given below are already set up in the 3mf files in the Slicers folder.  This is the recommended way to make print files.  

• If you want to use the STEP files to slice your own, make sure you separate them into objects before printing.

• The gcode files are just uploaded for stats.  You should choose your filament in the slicer and slice your own gcode.

Slice and print the following items:

• Island Player Piece Holders

  • Print 4 sets in red, blue, white, orange

  • UPDATED:  Choose the pieces_holder_original files if you have an older set. Choose pieces_holder_taller if you have a newer set.  I'm not exactly sure when the change was made, or whether it's everywhere or just in certain regions.

    • The inside clearance of the original model is approximately 20.75mm

    • The inside clearance of the taller model is approximately 22.75mm

    • If you have any doubt or don't have a way to measure them, choose the taller model.

  • Layer heights: 

    • Lid: adaptive layer heights

    • Lower: 0.32 or the max structural layer height for your nozzle

  • Supports:

    • Lid: I use automatic painting to get supports on the cutout inside the lid (this surface is hidden by the cost reference card, so quality is not so important)

    • Lower: No supports needed

• Stockpile Holder

  • Print 1 set in brown

  • Layer heights:   adaptive layer heights

  • Supports:  None

  • These are very large flat parts, so it can be easy to get curling at the edges.  Tips to improve your results:

    • Use a brim

    • Print the upper and lower parts separately (less time on the bed for warping)

    • Increase bed temp

• Coco Card Holder

  • Print 1 set in brown

  • Layer heights: adaptive layer heights

  • Supports: None

  • These are not as bit as the stockpile holder, but the lid still tends to warp, so the tips from above may be useful here as well.

• Dice Tower

  • Print 1 set in gold or a color of your choice

  • Layer heights:

    • Tower: 0.32 or the max structural layer height for your nozzle with adaptive layer heights at the very top

    •  

    • Skull: 0.32 or the max structural layer height for your nozzle

  • Supports: None

Assembly Instructions

• Place a dot of CA glue in each of the four recesses on the back of the skull, then place on the four pegs on the outside of the dice tower.  

• For the stockpile holder, coco card holder and each of the player piece holders, line up the lid with the lower portion and push the nylon filament into the hole in the hinge to form a hinge pin.  

  • If the hole is tight, you can use a pair of pliers to force the filament in a bit at a time. 

  • If it's really too tight, then use a 2mm drill bit to ream the holes.  You might also be able to use a 1/16" drill bit, although it's a bit undersized so you'll have to work it around more.

• Put all the pieces in their respective organizers.

• Discard the plastic insert so everything will fit in the box.

• Enjoy playing! 

Magnetic Closure Models

Several people have had trouble with the click lock closure and asked for models with magnetic closures.  I've created some, and added them to the model set, but read the warnings below before using them:

BEFORE DOWNLOADING THE MAGNET MODELS, READ THIS WARNING:

Loose magnets are dangerous for children if swallowed.  You can read more than about the risks of children swallowing magnets on the CPSC website. Even though the federal order was ultimately vacated, any neodymium magnet will likely exceed the originally proposed flux index limit of 50 kG^2 mm^2. 

If you print these models and put magnets in them, you must accept these risks for yourself and anyone, especially a child, who may use the set.  If you choose not to accept this risk and have already purchased the models, I will issue you a refund.

This model has embedded magnets that are designed for a press fit, but if the tolerances of your printer are too loose or the magnets you have are slightly undersized, the magnets could come loose and become a hazard.  For this reason, you should be ensure that the magnets are a tight fit, and you should use CA glue to glue them in as well.

The magnetic models are in a ZIP file in the Other Files section.  The zip contains both slicer and STEP files for:

• Magnetic Island Player Piece Holders - this model has the same internal dimensions as the "taller" model, so it should work for the newer sets with taller pieces as well as the original sets.

• Magnetic Stockpile Holder

• Magnetic Coco Card Holder

• There's no hinge on the dice tower, so no need for magnets.

The magnetic versions of the model are nearly identical to the snap closure models above, so see those instructions for tips on printing them.

Note that the magnetic models are inscribed with the warning "KEEP MAGNETS AWAY FROM CHILDREN".

These models are designed for 5mm diameter x 3mm deep neodymium magnets.  These are widely available online.  For a full set (4 islands plus the coco card holder and the stockpile holder), you need 7 magnets.

To press the magnets in:

• Align the magnet with the hole and gently but firmly press the part against a hard flat surface. 

• You can also use a pair of adjustable pliers / channel locks to press the magnets in, but the jaws may mar the part. 

• You may find it easier to insert the magnets first, then put the hinge pins in afterward

• MAKE SURE YOU ALIGN THE MAGNETS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PARTS SO THEY ATTRACT AND DON'T REPEL.  If you put the magnet in the wrong way, they are nearly impossible to get out, so check and double check!

• To get the orientation correct, I recommend:

  • Press the magnet in the bottom side.

  • Then place a magnet on the already embedded one so they attract each other.  This shows you the correct orientation for the second magnet.

  • Align the lid along the hinges and with the second magnet, then press the magnet into the lid in exactly that orientation.

  • It's not required that all the magnets go the same way, just that each pair attracts.