This post is an overview of some of my successes and failures in experimenting with how to cleanup and finish PLA prints using methods such as modge pods, plastidip, and good old fashioned sanding

3D printing using my Ender Pro 3
(printing: compensator used in my Fallout sniper rifle)

Printing: scope used in my Fallout sniper rifle. It had to be printed in two pieces because my print space wasn't tall enough.

A second printing of the scope and compensator, with all their supports intact.

Removing the supports from the scope. Tedious and I had to be very delicate, but worth it!

The scope after assembling the two halves. I've done a rough sand job at this point in the picture. I still had to work on covering the seam where the halves connected, which meant more sanding and body filler.

The scope and compensator after being thoroughly sanded and getting a few coats of plastidip. I love plastidip for giving my prints an even smoother surface while also priming them for paint.

Trying out mod podge for filling in the layer lines. The left is painted without cleanup and modpodge, the right is without cleanup but it had a few layers of mod podge. I think I'll stick to plastidip and body filler, mod podge looks a bit... lumpy :(

This character is from Destiny 2. This was another mod podge test, where I used thinner layers to make it less lumpy. (continued in next picture)

Rather than being lumpy, the thinner layers seemed to not have covered the lines as much as I wanted. I could have used more layers of mod podge, but plastidip is faster and looks better in the end. Paint job courtesy of my boyfriend.

Unsanded parts for my Sigma cosplay gloves.

Sanded, plastidipped, and halfway painted!