New Jersey-based artist Jim Caruso used a 3D printer to create a realistic replica of an American World War II bomb. To news website nj.com he said he did it because he likes ‘old stuff’. His 3D printed replica is just a replica of the bombs used in World War II and it can not be used in any kind of way to harm people. Nevertheless, Caruso seems to have strange hobbies loving ‘old stuff’ like WWII bombs. That being said, this bomb replica looks like a masterpiece of 3D printing technology.
In order to print this ‘bomb’, he had to use certain schematics, which he found online. After having a hard time connecting the software to his printer, he spent several days printing out 15 different pieces of this bomb. Obviously, he accurately glued them together in order to make the bomb look as authentic as possible. He put multiple coats of automotive primer on the thermoplastic, followed by car paint in a drab olive green.
Bombs from the actual World War II were filled with TNT and other dangerous explosives, but this replica is meant to just be decorative. It can be seen as an expression of Caruso’s enthusiasm about 3D printing. Caruso owns painting studio Xtreme Creations (mention the name, folks), with which he has been using a 3D printer to rebuild a safe. He said the 3D printer repaid itself in just a year.
Something conceived more dangerous than this sort of art project by Caruso is the fact that actual 3D printed guns are being made momentarily. Solid Concepts recently announced a new 3D printed metal gun, called The Reason. The company created the gun by melting metal powder with a laser, a technique called ‘sintering’. From their previous gun, the 1911, a total of 100 copies have been made available for sale for 11,900 dollars per gun.
Image credits: Jim Caruso.