It’s no secret that the midnight release of Fallout 4 this past Tuesday sent the gaming world into a frenzy. Among other reasons, fans of the popular post-apocalyptic role-playing video game franchise have been waiting patiently for five whole years for the much-anticipated update.
Of course, no significant gaming or pop culture event is complete without some contributions from the Maker community - whether it’s in the form of cosplay costume design or other creative project - and Fallout 4 is no exception. Among other items from the Fallout world that are ripe for Makers and 3D printing enthusiasts is the Pip-Boy (Personal Information Processor-Boy) wrist computer. Worn by the main player during gameplay, the Pip-Boy serves as a portal for in-game navigation, inventory, battle management, player statistics, and even portable games (yes - video games within a video game).
Savas, an Amsterdam-based Maker, recently 3D printed and assembled his own original Pip-Boy design from Yven de Haas as an accessory for his Fallout-themed cosplay costume at the recent PAX Aus gaming event in Australia:
“Having built one of these for a cosplay I put together for PAX Aus, I thought I would demonstrate how it turns out when its built following instructions instead of by the creator,” explains Savas. "It turned out quite well in time for the event, and a big thanks to Yven De Haas for how amazingly well these parts are designed, especially with limited reference."
Savas was also generous enough to provide us with some insight into the process of making his 3D printed Pip-Boy:
1) Some of the smaller screws - particularly those in the smaller nooks and crannies - may take some extra time to work with. Primarily, these include the latch and cassette mechanisms - however, they will still function regardless.
2) Because of the wide variety of smartphones and cases, there’s a chance that your phone might not fit exactly as intended. To compensate for this, you can use insulator foam or another padding material to help secure your phone in place. Alternatively, you can also print out a Pip-Boy screenshot if you don’t intend on using the Pip-Boy app.
3) Since the Pip-Boy is designed for a video game character and not “real-world” humans, the sizing may take some adjustment based on your wrist size. To ensure that his fit properly, Savas used two layers of thick socks as a barrier between his wrist and the Pip-Boy to ensure a snug fit.
4) It is important to use the correct-sized screws so as not to compromise the part designs and final assembly.
“That said, if you intend it to be a display piece, then with the right paint job [this Pip-Boy] is quite the looker,” adds Savas.
Like Savas, other Makers and Fallout fans in the 3D printing community have also turned to 3D printing to create their own one-of-a-kind custom Pip-Boys:
Here is Joshua’s, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;
…and Rufus’, from Southampton, UK:
Are you a Fallout fan looking to stretch your Maker Muscle while navigating the Wasteland?
We’ve made it easy for Makers like you to 3D print your own Pip-Boy.
Just don’t forget to get back to the vault 
Simon
