M35 Mako - Mass Effect

M35 Mako - Mass Effect

This M35 Mako model was created based directly on the vehicle from the Mass Effect game. It features independent suspension, a rotating turret, and soft rubber-like tires.

The model is designed to be easy to assemble, with a minimal number of parts while still maintaining the iconic look. Please note that the suspension does not match the in-game design exactly—this is because the original design from the game is not mechanically realistic and would not function properly in real life. I made some adjustments to ensure that the suspension works smoothly and looks good when assembled.

One of the biggest challenges in developing this model was designing the springs. At first, I thought flexible TPU would be a perfect material. However, after extensive testing and countless iterations, I found that it was not suitable for some types of spring geometry. In the end, the final version uses TPU springs that actually work well in this application.

I’ve included several versions of the springs so you can choose the stiffness that works best for your specific print. It's important to note that the springs will compress slightly over time—after around 24 hours under load, they tend to become softer. This means that at first, the model might sit a bit higher, but as the springs settle in, the vehicle will lower and look more realistic.

If your model ends up sitting too low over time, try printing a stiffer version of the spring and test it. Every filament behaves differently, so it's good to experiment. The default springs in the main profile are the ones I personally use, but I’ve included alternative versions as well.

Assembly instructions are available in video format:

I’ve added a few painting segments to the video — it makes the video a bit longer, but it shows parts of the process I used to make the model look like it does in the photos.

And please, I’m not a painting expert — I probably made a lot of mistakes from a pro’s point of view. But for me, the final look is a big improvement and I’m really happy with how it turned out.