XCOM Terror From The Deep Aquanauts 3D Print Model

Intended for 3d print.

A squad of 3d-printable sub-aquatic soldiers, suitable for miniature tabletop games. The soldiers are based off of the Aquanauts from the computer strategy game XCOM: Terror From The Deep (1995).

The model pack contains 31 Aquanaut models, and 6 bases. The Aquanaut models use the weapons initially available to XCOM, plus the human weaponry researchable later on. I.e Dart Gun, Jet Harpoon, Gauss Rifle, Torpedo Launcher et cetera. The models print as one-piece. In other words, you don't need to assemble the models beyond gluing them to a base of your choice.

Designer's Notes

The following section is information about the design process, what the idea behind the models were and why they turned out the way they did, et cetera. It is not strictly speaking something you as a customer need to know, but you may find it interesting.

This project originated in an earlier project to design a set of 3d-printable weapons based off of the arsenal used by the alien and XCOM side in Terror From The Deep. The original idea was to design a single, unarmed Aquanaut model and include it in the weapon pack, so that customers had an appropriate model to attach the weapons to. I ended up making an entire squad of armed Aquanauts instead, mainly because some of the weapons have strange shapes and it is difficult to design a single Aquanaut model that suits all weapons.

I based the design off of the Aquanaut graphics in in the loadout screen shown prior to going into battle. I've altered the proportions somewhat, mainly making the Aquanauts slightly less bulky. The Aquanauts all wear the diving helmet, except a single model with the helmet removed and the Aquanaut sporting the classic Guile-style hairdo.

The poses are mostly the standard aiming, kneeling, running etc poses you'd expect from tabletop miniatures. I've tried infusing a bit of the paranoid, claustrophobic feeling you get from the game, which is why some Aquanauts have startled poses, or are firing blindly from behind cover, or run in a panic, or simply lie on the ground wounded or dead.

The default scale when you load the Aquatoids into your slicer will be roughly 3cm in height. This is supposed to match a normal human soldier at 28mm scale. Feel free to alter the size of the models before printing if you prefer some other size or scale.Note that, depending on the quality of your printer, the oxygen tank valves may not print properly at 28mm scale. If you experience problems with the valves, try increasing the size of the models. Or just accept that the Aquanauts will have to do without the valves.

The bases are quickly thrown together. They work fine with the Aquanauts, but I'm sure you could find better aquatic-themed bases out there.