Levitating DHV Magellan

While playing Death Stranding 2, I really wanted to create a 3D print related to the game. Surprisingly, the game itself gave me the idea for a model during one of my first visits to a distribution center headquarters. Just take a look for yourself:

No! I'm not talking about Dollman, but about the spinning model of the ship that accompanies us throughout the game — the DHV Magellan. This wasn't an easy task because I had to learn how to create a properly balanced model to use with the official magnetic levitation kit available in the Bambu Lab store. But the result was worth it. The ship rotates identically to how it does in the game — as if it's waiting over the landing pad, ready to pick up Sam.

Using graphics available online and screenshots I took in the game, I was able to replicate the ship's shape in a few attempts, adapt it for FDM printing, and achieve good balance.

The initial design involved mounting the magnet inside the model, but finding the levitation point proved to be nearly impossible in that form. Even the positioning frames I created didn't help. Additionally, the levitation height was too low, and the model's spheres would rub against the base. Unfortunately, chiral crystal technology and floating carriers are still not available 😞. This is why the final version is placed onto the already-levitating magnet inside its original protective case.

The detailed assembly of all the parts is explained in the PDF document available on this page. You will need to use cyanoacrylate glue. Pliers for removing print supports and tweezers for holding small parts will also be helpful. To print the model, you'll need filaments in two shades of gray and one accent color (preferably gold) for the hook and vents. The prototypes shown earlier were made with the following filaments:

• PLA Basic Gold (10401)
• PLA Basic Light Gray (10104)
• PLA Basic Black (10101)
• PLA Matte Ash Grey (11102)
• PLA Matte Nardo Gray (11104)
• PLA Metal Iron Gray Metallic (13100)

Notes:

• The model has a carefully chosen infill to float stably on the magnet and not cause it to overheat. The final result largely depends on the materials and their density. The official PLA Basic, Matte, and Metal filaments I used maintained levitation for many hours, but this doesn't give a 100% guarantee that your printed copy will behave the same way. In some cases, you may need to manually modify the infill settings to correct the balance and maintain stable levitation.
• The promotional images in the background feature the "Desk Stranding" lamp by Nils Kal and the BB-pod from the collector's edition of the first Death Stranding.

If you like my model, don't forget to leave a like and a follow. I also eagerly await photos of your prints.

Part List:

Light Gray

• left/right engine
• front camera
• left/right wing
• left/right minigun
• upper ship body

Dark Gray

• left/right large sphere part
• left/right small sphere part
• crane arm
• left/right minigun
• lower ship body

Gold

• left/right ventilation
• crane hook