Submarine designed by seven-year-old gets 3D printed by Dstl

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Apprentices at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have turned a seven-year-old boy’s submarine design into reality.

Dstl says that Suffolk-based Jacob Bland (below) drew his water-propelled design and then wrote in to ask if they would make it and use it for “sneaking and spying”.

Dstl’s scientific apprentices worked up the design and printed out a 3D model using a 3D printer. Dstl says that the project provided an excellent opportunity for the apprentices to take a concept design and produce an actual model – a contribution, also, to their National Vocational Qualification evidence.

Verity Jackson (main image), 19, has been an engineering apprentice at Dstl for two years and supported by the Platform Systems team within Dstl, she was able to create the 3D submarine.

She explains: “It was really great to be able to reproduce this for Jacob. It was a bit tricky and took quite a bit of work to get the model ready to print, but we are all thrilled with the outcome and equally thrilled we were able to bring Jacob’s drawing to life. On the plus side, the mini project will help towards my qualification.”


IMAGE CREDITS: Dstl Press Office