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A ToolGuyd writer is using Google Gemini to help design 3D-printable components for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop he is making with his son. Gemini generated editable OpenSCAD code, but the writer reports errors and plans to adjust parts manually; the prop is still in progress.
A ToolGuyd writer is using Google Gemini to help design 3D-printable parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop he is building with his son. The AI generated OpenSCAD code that the maker says helped him develop and revise component shapes, though he also found that it ignored some instructions and produced unwanted features.
The project began after the writer’s son chose a Fallout-related costume idea. A full DIY power-armor outfit was not feasible on their timeline, so the pair settled on a less ambitious costume with a painted chest piece and scavenged-looking details. A cheap motorcycle chest protector ordered online was delayed and appeared to have been lost, pushing the writer toward foam and craft materials for the costume and a more prominent handmade prop.
For one component, the writer wanted a truncated cone with a mounting ring. After multiple attempts, Gemini supplied OpenSCAD code for a shape made from two connected truncated cones. Because the code was editable, the writer could change parameters and test dimensions rather than relying on a fixed image or model. He said an initial print, made with filament he described as very wet, was good enough to guide another revision.
The next version is planned to be larger, with mounting holes to attach it to a wooden box that will serve as the prop’s main body. The maker also used 3D files for air fittings to check how parts might fit with quarter-inch-inner-diameter hoses, while weighing whether to buy inexpensive metal fittings instead. The prop’s design and construction remain in progress; the article does not report a completed item.
AI as a Maker’s Design Aid
The report offers a practical example of generative AI being used within a hands-on design process, rather than as a finished-product generator. Gemini helped turn an incomplete idea into editable geometry, giving the maker a way to test dimensions and visualize a component before committing to a more developed design or print.
It also shows the limits of that assistance. The writer said the AI ignored requests for flush side arms and for pill-shaped holes to appear only on the main face, and added large chamfers he did not want. Those errors required further prompting and human decisions. For makers, the distinction matters: generated code can speed up parts of a project, but it still needs checking against physical constraints, assembly plans and the intended design.
The project is also a family activity with a deadline. The writer’s stated goal is a rough first-version prop that he and his son can build together, with refinement later if time allows. Whether the AI-assisted process saves time overall is not established in the report.
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From Costume Idea to Printed Parts
The writer said he can model familiar objects but finds it harder to build a model when he has not yet settled on the design in his head. The prop presented that problem: it would combine multiple pieces, need to fit together, and include exterior wires requested by his son. He said planning assemblies is more difficult for him than making a single part, and that he has often combined separately made components with hardware, hot glue or epoxy.
He also asked Gemini to break down a fantasy tool shown on game-related wikis into printable subassemblies. He found the suggested breakdown unhelpful, though it supported his earlier thought of using mounting pins for glued assembly. Rather than reproduce the reference tool, he had persuaded his son to allow a more original design, possibly a detector for synths, ghouls or mutants. The son will decide what to call the finished prop.
The writer is considering moving some parts into Fusion or similar 3D software, where he expects to have easier control over dimensions and their dependencies. For this deadline, however, his plan is to attach individually designed components to a small wooden box, possibly around tissue-box size. He described the approach as imperfect but workable given the time available.
“The AI made a lot of mistakes, and I’m also learning how to better constrain dimensions in my prompts.”
— ToolGuyd writer
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Design and Deadline Still Open
The finished prop’s appearance, function and final name have not been decided. The writer said his son may choose what to call it after they build it. It is also unclear whether the current printed parts will fit the final assembly or whether the maker will replace them with manually modeled versions.
The article does not say whether the prop will be finished by Halloween, what materials will ultimately be used for every component, or whether the planned wiring and fittings will be functional or decorative. Gemini’s proposed subassembly breakdown was not useful to the writer, and the report gives no independent evaluation of the generated code or prints. Its account is a maker’s description of one project, not a comparative test of AI design tools.
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A Rough Build Before Halloween
The writer’s immediate plan is to print a low-density version of a handle and test the revised cone component. If the handle works, he may print it in a final color, probably black; alternatively, he may remodel it in Fusion or similar software for more direct control. He also plans to enlarge the cone and add holes for attachment to the wooden box.
The pair intend to assemble a rough V1 prop using separately made parts, with screws, glue or other joining methods as needed. The writer said he hopes to refine the design later, potentially in time for Halloween, but did not give a firm completion date. The next clear milestone is whether the test prints fit the planned box-and-component assembly.
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Key Questions
What is the maker building?
He is making a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop with his son. The design may be a detector for a game creature or faction, but the final form and name are undecided.
How is Gemini being used?
The writer used Gemini to generate OpenSCAD code for shapes and to suggest a breakdown into subassemblies. He can edit parameters in the code to change part dimensions.
Did the AI produce a finished, accurate design?
No finished prop is reported. The writer said Gemini ignored some geometry instructions and added unwanted chamfers, so he needed to revise the output and may remodel parts manually.
When will the prop be finished?
The maker hopes to complete a rough version for Halloween and refine it later, but the report gives no confirmed completion date.
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