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FDM · PLA · Replica · June 1, 2023

The Statue of Corgoň

Close-up of the stone Corgoň statue face – reference for 3D scanning
The detailed face of the historic Corgoň stone sculpture served as the reference model for precise 3D scanning and digital reconstruction.

The iconic symbol of Nitra in full size – Corgoň has come back to life thanks to 3D printing. A 1:1 scale replica was created from 26 parts and 55 kg of PLA, to take its place in the city in 2023.

Corgoň is more than just a mascot for Nitra – he is a symbol of the city's pride and identity. When the Central Park cultural and social complex, home of the Corgoň Nitra Wrestling Club, approached us with a request to create a faithful replica of this legendary statue, we knew this was an exceptional project. The goal was clear: to build Corgoň at his full height of 2.6 metres, so he could take his rightful place at the very heart of the complex.

The entire process began with a thorough scan of the original statue. We photographed it from every possible angle – 250 photographs in total – and used photogrammetry in Agisoft Metashape software to assemble them into an accurate digital 3D model. We then divided it in Luban3D software into 26 separate parts that could be printed on our Ratrig printer with a 500 × 500 mm build plate. Each part had to fit together perfectly, so we paid the utmost attention to the split lines and the overall geometry of the model.

The printing itself took a full month of continuous work. For the entire statue, we used 55 kg of Spectrum NX-2 Matt Black PLA filament, which provided a solid foundation as well as an aesthetically clean matte surface worthy of such an icon. The result speaks for itself – Corgoň stands in Nitra once again, this time as a faithful replica crafted using modern technology. The project also caught the attention of the media and was featured in an article on the Nitra24 portal, which only confirmed that some stories go beyond the realm of ordinary 3D printing.

Height
≈ 2.6 m
Weight
55 kg
Material
PLA
Parts
26
Year
2022–23
Location
Nitra

Production steps

01

Reference

3D scan of the original, model prep for printing.

02

Printing

26 parts on 7× Bambu Lab A1 and 2× RatRig.

03

Filling

Gluing, filling and sanding the surface.

04

Final

Painting and installation in Nitra.

Gallery

The detailed face of the historic Corgoň stone sculpture served as the reference model for precise 3D scanning and digital reconstruction.
A low-angle shot captures the sculptural details of the muscular torso and beard of the original statue as reference for precise 3D scanning.
Detailed photographic documentation of the original Corgoň statue serves as a reference for accurate replica production using 3D printing.
A detailed frontal shot of the original Corgoň sculpture served as the reference for accurate 3D digital model processing.
The first assembled segments of the statue's lower section showcase the precise capture of fabric texture and sculptural volume achieved through large-format 3D printing.
The assembled lower section of the statue showcases the precise joining of individual 3D printed segments of the legs and cloak into a monumental composition.
A close-up of the thigh and cloak of an assembled 3D printed statue showcasing the faithful reproduction of the original sculpture's texture.
A close-up of a 3D printed fist demonstrates the remarkable precision of FDM technology in capturing fine anatomical details of the human hand.
The fully assembled 3D printed Corgoň statue captured front-on in our workshop, ready for the next stage of surface finishing.
The fully assembled statue in black finish showcases precisely rendered details of drapery and human body anatomy.
Detail tváre a hornej časti 3D vytlačenej sochy Corgoňa – výrazná mimika a brada verné originálu.
The completed full-size 3D printed Corgoň replica towers over a young visitor, showcasing the impressive scale of the project.
A detailed view of the 3D printed Corgoň statue after surface treatment, captured directly at the installation site.
3D printed Corgoň statue with completed surface treatment installed on location – the result of precise digital fabrication and manual finishing.
An impressive Gorgon statue installed as a structural column feature in a customer's interior, finished with decorative render to achieve an authentic stone appearance.
A 3D printed Corgonus statue installed at the client's premises, finished with decorative render to achieve a realistic stone appearance.

In the media

Corgoň in Nitra — how it was madeNitra24.sk
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