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A maker is using Google Gemini to help design and 3D-print parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween costume prop with his son. The AI generated OpenSCAD code that the maker could adjust, but it also ignored design instructions and produced unwanted features; the project is still unfinished.
A maker is using Google Gemini to help design parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop he is building with his son, turning text prompts into editable OpenSCAD code and test prints. The project is still in progress, and the maker says the AI made design errors that he had to identify and correct.
The costume plan changed after an inexpensive motorcycle chest protector ordered online was delayed and apparently lost, according to the maker’s account on ToolGuyd. Rather than attempt a full set of power armor on a short schedule, he and his son are planning a simpler outfit, including a hard hat and a custom-built prop intended to stand out. The maker says they may use foam and craft materials for the costume, while the prop will be assembled from printed parts and a small wooden box.
For one component, the maker asked Gemini for help modeling a truncated cone with a mounting ring. After several iterations, he settled on a design made from two connected truncated cones. Gemini supplied OpenSCAD code, which he could adjust by changing dimensions and other parameters. He reports that an early print was useful enough to move the design forward, though the filament was wet and the next version is expected to be larger and include mounting holes.
The maker also tested AI-generated ideas for a handle and other parts. He says one result failed to follow instructions about keeping side arms flush and limiting pill-shaped holes to the main face, and included chamfers he did not want. He modified generated code to add mounting-plate holes and change slot dimensions, and was printing a low-density version while writing. A separate attempt to divide a fantasy-style tool into printable subassemblies was not useful as a complete plan, though it reinforced his idea of using pins to join parts.
AI as a Practical Modeling Assistant
The account offers a concrete example of how generative AI can fit into a hands-on creative project: not as a finished design service, but as a way to get from an incomplete idea to editable geometry. For this maker, the value was partly in receiving code he could revise and partly in seeing a proposed shape in three dimensions before committing to a more detailed model.
The limits are part of the result. The maker still had to judge whether the output matched his intent, correct dimensions and features, and decide how separate pieces would fit together. AI-generated geometry did not remove the need for design experience or testing. Readers considering similar tools should distinguish between a model that looks plausible on screen and a part that fits, prints, and works in an assembly.
The project also shows a trade-off between speed and control. OpenSCAD’s parameterized code let the maker change measurements, while he said conventional 3D software such as Fusion might make it easier to manage dependent dimensions and a cohesive assembly. With Halloween approaching, he may use individually modeled parts fixed to a wooden box rather than redesign everything in a more integrated workflow.
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From Costume Plan to Printed Parts
The maker’s son wanted a costume connected to Fallout 4, but the original idea of DIY power armor was judged impractical for the available time. The maker instead proposed a character with faction-inspired chest decoration and a wasteland-survivor look. The delayed chest protector changed the approach further, shifting attention toward a prop that could carry more of the costume’s visual identity.
The maker describes himself as comfortable modeling objects he has made before, but less certain when a design is new and not yet fully imagined. He says translating a mental picture into a model, then into parts that assemble together, is the harder task. He has considered putting the printed components on a small wooden box, potentially using screws, glue, or other adhesives, and adding external wires as his son requested.
He has not settled on the prop’s final identity. He is trying to persuade his son to make it a detector for a synth, ghoul, or mutant, but says his son can name it after they build it. The report describes an early-stage project, not a completed costume or a test of AI design performance across users.
“The AI made a lot of mistakes, and I’m also learning how to better constrain dimensions in my prompts.”
— The maker, writing on ToolGuyd
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The Prop Is Still Unfinished
The maker had not completed the prop or confirmed that the parts would fit together as intended. The low-density handle print was still underway, and he said he might print the final version in black or remodel it in Fusion or similar software. It is unclear whether he will switch tools, how the parts will ultimately attach, or whether the planned design will be ready for Halloween.
The report also does not establish that Gemini can reliably produce printable models for other projects. The maker describes one personal workflow, including repeated prompting, code edits, and print testing. No independent assessment of the models’ accuracy, strength, or performance is provided.
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A Rough Version Before Halloween
The maker’s immediate goal is to assemble a rough Version 1 prop with his son, using the printed parts and a small wooden box as a base. He plans to test the pieces in a real assembly and make further changes if needed. The final materials, exact design, and any functional features have not been settled.
He says he may refine the prop later, potentially by rebuilding parts in conventional 3D software to make it easier to control dimensions and how components relate. For now, limited time is shaping the project: he expects to combine separate pieces with screws or adhesive and continue experimenting. The next useful update would be whether the print fits the assembly and whether the finished prop is ready in time for Halloween.
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Key Questions
What is the maker building?
He and his son are making a Fallout-inspired Halloween costume and a custom prop. The prop’s final identity has not been decided.
How is Gemini being used?
The maker used Gemini to generate OpenSCAD code for proposed 3D shapes, then adjusted parameters and printed test versions. He also tried using it to break a tool concept into subassemblies.
Did the AI produce a finished design?
No. The maker reports that it ignored some instructions and added unwanted features. He edited the code and was still testing parts at the time of the report.
Will the prop be finished before Halloween?
That is not confirmed. The maker’s stated plan is to build a rough first version and refine it if time allows, but the project remains in progress.
Source: rss
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