Summon Shenron with 3D Printing!
With what might be called “cult status”, Dragon Ball is an extremely popular franchise, with cartoons, games, toys, and even a live-action feature film. We’ve all come to know and love many of the characters of the Dragon Ball universe, but aside from the dramatic and over-the-top story arcs and battles, the artwork is amazing and gives us plenty to print.
If you see something on the list you’d like to get 3D printed, try Craftcloud by All3DP. With multiple technologies, materials, and finishes to choose from, you’ll be getting the DBZ model of your dreams delivered right to your door!
So without further delay, let’s jump into the fray!
Logos & Lithophanes
We’re starting off with Dragon Ball logos and lithophanes you can print to set the stage for some epic DBZ characters! The great thing about lithophanes and logos like the ones below is that they’re generally simple prints, but they can still be stunning and beautiful.
Logos
The artwork for Dragon Ball Z is fantastic, but you don’t have to be a spectacular artist to print these logos. They’ll make great display pieces alone, but they’re even better next to your Dragon Ball collection! With some creative lighting, these are sure to stand out even more.
Traditional (pictured above)
- Who made it? AwesomeA
- Who printed it? At least two users have printed this model but we expect it to be pretty simple to print with no special instructions needed!
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Creative
- Who made it? tresdlito
- Who printed it? At least one user has printed this model but it shouldn’t be much trouble to print.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lamps & Lithophanes
These lithophanes and lightboxes are great for anyone looking for some unique lighting and displays. Broly is notorious for going berserk at the sight of Goku, so a Broly lithophane is great for anyone who’s a bit of a hothead!
If you’re a perfectionist, on the other hand, you might try printing a Perfect Cell lithograph. Lastly, we can’t forget about Goku, and you certainly won’t if you light your room with a DBZ lamp like the one here.
Super Saiyan Broly Lithophane
- Who made it? DaMoose
- Who printed it? With 126 downloads and no known community prints, this lithophane looks as straightforward to make as any other.
- Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Perfect Cell Lithograph (self-standing)
- Who made it? relmicro
- Who printed it? One Thingiverse user has made this, but it shouldn’t give you much trouble considering its simplicity.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lamp
- Who made it? zorroronoa
- Who printed it? No known Makes yet, but the model is fairly new and the pieces aren’t complex, so we suspect this should be an easy print!
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Character Models
With such an epic saga, Dragon Ball Z has tons of characters to choose from. If you’ve ever played the games, you know just how many powerful and cool characters there are! While we have a few Super Saiyans on the list, there’s also lots more to choose from.
Let’s take a look at who’s on the team!
Black Goku
Black Goku may look like Goku, but he’s an impostor of sorts, making him a unique character worthy of printing. While he’s an evil twin in many ways, he’s actually Zamasu, so he has a whole backstory and personality of his own. If you’re looking to print a darker character, or just want something a little different, this “Evil Goku” is an awesome choice.
You’ll need to use supports for this model, aside from the base and legs, which need no supports.
- Who made it? von_Phinix (Remixed from Black Goku)
- Who printed it? Five Thingiverse users have made this, perhaps because he’s a relatively new character from Dragon Ball Super.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Goku & Vegeta Fusion
Gogeta is an awesome character in the Dragon Ball Z universe because he’s one of the super-powerful fused versions of Vegeta and Goku. If you’re a fan of the fused DBZ characters, it’s a great print to consider making, as it captures that climactic moment where the characters fuse together. Of course, you’ll have to imagine the fusion dance, but it’s still worth it.
The only maker to print this model reports that you’ll need lots of supports and that it was pretty difficult. If you’re a beginner, you might consider getting some more experience or reading up on printing with supports.
- Who made it? Adonfff
- Who printed it? Only one Thingiverse user has made this so far.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Majin Buu
Buu has many incarnations, and this one looks like “Super Buu”, which is what became of Evil Buu after eating Good Buu. Unlike some of his other forms, this one is more sinister and intimidating than the rest, so you might find it handy for pranking your friends. This model was created from a 3D scan of a hand-sculpted bust, which is why it looks so scary and realistic!
One maker reported that they printed this model in two pieces and glued them together, while another printed it in one piece with supports. You can also hang this model on your wall.
- Who made it? WalkerMckeag
- Who printed it? Only two Thingiverse users have made this, but, being a simple bust, we think it should be a pretty straightforward print.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Korin
Akira Toriyama drew Korin to look like his own cat, so it makes sense that Korin is a legendary martial arts master. If you like cats or the character, it’s a great model to print. It could even be a way to get your cat-loving friends interested in Dragon Ball Z!
We think it’s reasonable to assume that this model will require supports and appears to be quite printable, though the creator didn’t post many details.
Frieza
Frieza is ruthless, and like many villains, he has a habit of appearing to be defeated, but then showing up well after we thought we’d seen the last of him. No matter what form he takes, he’s generally quick to wipe out anyone in his path, making this model a great mascot for anyone with no mercy.
The outstretched arms and tail of this Frieza model will need lots of supports.
- Who made it? MarcoGarripoli
- Who printed it? With one make and over 3,400 downloads, we suspect Frieza is fairly easy to make, despite the heavy need for supports.
- Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Teen Gohan
Gohan has his own saga spanning from childhood to adulthood, and here we see him in his teens as a Super Saiyan. He’s changed a lot over the years, but this model reflects the time when Gohan would have defeated Perfect Cell, if he hadn’t used his self-destruct technique first! Gohan represents the stereotypical child prodigy, so it’s a great gift for high achievers as well.
This shouldn’t give you much trouble aside from having to work with supports.
- Who made it? Meisfeld
- Who printed it? There are eight posted Makes that all look good, though a few users have complained that their prints didn’t turn out quite right.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Super Buu
Super Buu is a scary character, not only because he has the power of Good Buu with his evil side intact. It’s also because he’s prone to fits of anger and capable of creating a rift in the universe. This model is perfect for anyone that’s got a quick temper or an affinity for breaking things when frustrated.
This model will require supports, but other than that, no special instructions are given and no issues were reported by other makers.
- Who made it? FXH Designs
- Who printed it? With over 4,000 downloads and four makes, this model is popular and very printable.
- Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Bulma
Bulma doesn’t mess around, and neither does this model! She’s not only Goku’s oldest friend, but a hero herself. She can even be a gift for that special lady that’s always saving your skin!
Other than requiring supports (it looks like the maker used tree supports), and associated post-processing, this model shouldn’t be too much trouble to print.
- Who made it? Xbertus
- Who printed it? At least four Thingiverse users have made this model, with one Remix available, so it should be no trouble to print.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Props & Accessories
These props and accessories are great for cosplay, or to pair with your other Dragon Ball Z models. If you’re tired of printing character models, these are also great for a change of pace. So let’s check out what kinds of accessories and props Dragon Ball Z has given us!
Scouter
Let’s be honest, we’ve all wanted one ever since we were introduced to Vegeta and Nappa. Sure, there’ve been commercial models out there for a while, but this 3D printed one beats them all! You might be tempted to wear this for Halloween, or consider putting one on before challenging someone to pretty much anything, from arm wrestling to one of the many Dragon Ball Z games.
This print will require some supports, screws, and nylon nuts, but we think it’s worth the effort!
- Who made it? Cronos-FDM
- Who printed it? One Thingiverse user made this besides the creator.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Legendary Z Sword
The “Legendary Z Sword” is a great print for fans of Trunks and Gohan, as they both trained with the Zeta Sword. With it’s similarities to Excalibur, it’s also great for fans of great swords and legends.
The best part is that as a two-piece print, you can always “break” it like in the show to release its power!
- Who made it? Krypto088
- Who printed it? 85 downloads and a simple design lead us to believe this should be relatively easy to print, though only the creator has posted a make.
- Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Power Up
If you’ve ever had a Dragon Ball Z action figure and wished you could watch it power up, now you can! This model lets you print a power-up effect that you can use on just about any character. It’s also great if you want to make non-Dragon Ball characters look even better.
This model needs no supports, so other than needing some calibration to minimize stringing and translucent filament, you should have no trouble printing this model at 20% infill.
- Who made it? RonSolo
- Who printed it? This model has only one Make, but be sure to have calibrated your printer to prevent stringing.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Clock
If you’re looking to upgrade your wall clock and want something different, this a great place to start. It’s a simple clock, but looks fantastic and is sure to excite fans both young and old. This one is also great for anyone with kids that are fans of Dragon Ball Z and just learning to tell time!
No supports or special instructions have been given and no trouble reported by those that have made this print, so it should be great for beginners.
- Who made it? tresdlito
- Who printed it? While it only has two Makes, this model should be a straightforward print to complete.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Capsules
Capsule Corp. is the main corporate entity in Dragon Ball Z, so why not complete your prop collection with some Capsule Corp. designs? We have a RaspDAC casing for those audiophiles that know what a DAC is, and a plain Capsule Corp. box that’s also cool. Both are sure to turn heads at any Dragon Ball Z or cosplay gathering!
RaspDAC Audiophonics
- Who made it? spamozoide
- Who printed it? There aren’t any posted Makes, but seeing as it’s a case design, it should be relatively easy to make.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Capsule Box
- Who made it? KnightwithouthFilament
- Who printed it? There’s only one posted Make, but this is a simple print that should give you any significant problems.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Eight Star Dragon Ball
Dragon Balls are an essential part of the Dragon Ball Z franchise. Without them, there would be no summoning Shenron and no wishes. Of course, we don’t expect Shenron to grant you any wishes, but maybe you can grant your kid’s wish if they find it!
In addition to being a great practice print, this eight star Dragon Ball is great for displaying alone, as a prop, or as a companion to other models.
- Who made it? TaylarRoids
- Who printed it? With four Makes and a simple design, this should be an easy print to complete.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lead image source: DiegoBerko via Thingiverse
License: The text of "Dragon Ball (Z) 3D Print: 15+ Great Models for Goku Fans" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.