A student team from Kalush, Ukraine, turned one spool of 3DPlast PLA Grey into a weathered, hand-painted model of the Chornobyl (Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant — 40 years after the disaster.
We are DigiComp, a creative group at Kalush Polytechnic Professional College. As part of our work, we decided to take on a project called “Pripyat After the Explosion”, dedicated to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
The idea came from wanting to make something tangible — something that reminds people what the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone looks like 40 years after the nuclear tragedy. We wanted to combine modern 3D printing technology with a historical subject and keep the memory of an event whose consequences are still felt today.
Choosing the 3D model
For the project, we used a ready-made 3D model of the Chornobyl NPP from the Cults3D platform. We decided to print it as a single piece rather than splitting it into parts. The finished model measures 180 × 118.5 × 117.4 mm.
Print settings
We printed the model on a Bambu Lab A1 Mini and prepared the file in Bambu Studio. The filament was PLA Grey from Ukrainian manufacturer 3DPlast. Grey wasn’t a random choice: in our experience, it’s a great base for painting and makes it easier to get the look you’re after.
| Printer | Bambu Lab A1 Mini |
| Slicer | Bambu Studio |
| Filament | 3DPlast PLA Grey |
| Profile | 0.20mm Standard |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm |
| Supports | None |
| Print time | ~6 hours |
| Filament used | ~150 g |
The model was printed without supports and in one piece. The whole process went smoothly, and we were completely happy with the result.
Cleaning up the print
Once printing finished, we inspected the model and checked its surface quality. Since we hadn’t used any supports, there was nothing to remove. The model didn’t need sanding or any complicated cleanup either, so we could move straight on to the next stage — painting.
Painting and creating a realistic look
Painting was one of the most interesting — and most challenging — stages. We used acrylic paints and tried to recreate the appearance of the Chornobyl NPP as realistically as possible.
We paid special attention to the effect of age and abandonment. We built it up with paint as well, to capture the atmosphere of an industrial structure that has been exposed to time and the elements for decades.
Painting is what turned an ordinary grey plastic model into something that looks real. We wanted everyone who sees our work to get a better sense of what the Chornobyl Zone feels like 40 years after the tragedy.
What was the hardest part?
For our team, the hardest stage was painting. Once the printer was set up, printing ran mostly on its own — but with painting, the result depended heavily on our attention to detail, patience and creativity.
We wanted the model to be as realistic as possible, so most of our effort went into its appearance. In the end, everything turned out the way we planned, and we didn’t have to redo the model or reprint anything.
Tips for beginners
After finishing the project, we’d like to share a few tips with anyone just getting into 3D printing:
- Watch your first layer. The success of the whole print depends on it more than anything else.
- Choose the right temperature. It should match the type of filament and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Even failed prints help you understand the process better and build experience.
Our impressions of 3DPlast PLA Grey
We really liked this filament! It laid down well during printing, and the quality of the finished model fully met our expectations.
It’s also great that the manufacturer offers a wide range of colours, so you can pick the right material for all kinds of creative and technical projects. We didn’t run into any problems while working with it, and we hope to keep getting results this good.
What’s next?
Our project doesn’t end here! We plan to present the finished model at the Open Day at Kalush Polytechnic Professional College and to show it at exhibitions our creative group takes part in.
We also want to share our work on DigiComp’s social media — showing the finished model and talking about what modern 3D printing can do, specifically with 3D Plast filament.
For us, “Pripyat After the Explosion” isn’t just a technical project. It’s a chance to remind our community about the Chornobyl tragedy and about why preserving historical memory matters.
Creative group: DigiComp
Institution: Kalush Polytechnic Professional College
Material used: PLA Grey by 3DPlast