Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III - Highly Detailed

This is a fully detailed model of the German polar research station Neumayer III, operated by the Alfred-Wegener-Institute in Antarctica (https://www.awi.de/en/expedition/stations/neumayer-station-iii.html). Built entirely on ice, it can accomodate up to 60 scientists and technicians during the summer. In winter, usually nine people continue the research operations, being completely isolated from the outside world for eight months. Temperatures can drop to -50 °C during this time.

 This model made up of several parts and can be taken apart. Each part is fully detailed, including the complete interior and underground structure of the station. All details are as close to the original as possible. Nevertheless, printing is still quite easy. There are some colour changes, but they are all in between layers, such that you can do them “by hand” on any FDM printer.

If you print this model, please post a make on this page! Additionally, we welcome any feedback, questions or messages from you, either by comment or direct message!

Happy Printing!
Theresa and Paul

Print Instructions

For the original version, you need seven different colors: Black, Blue, Grey, Red, White, Yellow and a “wooden” color like beige. We printed the model with PLA and 0.2 mm layer height. The model prints almost entirely without supports, only for the lower part of the station (blue), some support is necessary. Most of the details like doors or windows are glued to the larger parts. Large parts such as the roof are held in place by small pins, allowing the model to be taken apart.

The project can be separated into three independent sections: The station itself ("station"), the under-ice structures ("underground") and the inner part of the station ("interior"). Filenames follow the following convention, with “Number” being the number of copies you need to print for every part:
Section_Name_Number.stl

For the antennas on the roof as well as the hydraulic pistons on the ramp, use pieces of 1.75mm filament. If you want the colors of all the inner doors to be correct (did we mention that this is a detailed model?), have a look at the two attached scheme pictures. There are four different kinds of doors: Normal ones, one and a half ("1.5"), elevator ("E") and one small one ("Hospital").

Colorchanges

For multicolor parts, the following list provides the exact location of the colorchanges.

Station

Blue-White:
StationUp: 3.4 mm

Grey-White:
SatelliteRadome:2.8 mm
AmateurRadio: 2.0 mm

Red-White-Grey:
Roof: 2.0 mm - 2.4 mm

White-Blue:
Letter_Neumayer: 1.0 mm

White-Grey:
Windows_East_D2: 0.8 mm
Windows_East_D1: 0.8 mm
Windows_West_D2: 0.8 mm
Windows_West_D1: 0.8 mm

White-Red:
Staircase_Loft: 0.4 mm

Interior

Blue-White:
Deck2: 0.8 mm

White-Blue-White:
Deck1: 0.8 mm - 1.0 mm

Wood-White:
DeckTween: 0.8 mm

Yellow-Blue:
WallCovering_*: 0.4 mm
 

Underground

Grey-Red:
Staircase_DeckU2: 0.8 mm

Grey-Wood-White:
DeckU1: 0.6 mm - 0.8 mm

Wood-White
Ramp: 0.8 mm