Christmas Lamp Post w/Cardinals (Optional Lighting!)

Add a warm glow for the Christmas Season!

Another addition to my holiday scenes. This model looks great with or without an LED added, but if you choose to: it has a small hole going up the back of the snow mound and through the pole to the top to allow for a small LED light! I used a simple Mini LED Chip Light Kit with a 14 inch (356mm) wire (https://evandesigns.com/collections/hobby-leds) that can be fed through and turned on and off. Once installed, place the removable lid into the light cage at the top. 

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Lamp Post Main -  I printed this in two pieces to make it slightly taller than my build volume could handle in one piece. You can scale it down to fit your build volume (just don't forget to scale every other piece the same percentage). The hole down for the LED is about 1/8 inch in diameter (over 3mm) at the size supplied. 

If you end up printing the lamp post in two pieces, my go-to process is slicing in PrusaSlicer, gluing them together afterward with super glue, filling in any cracks with a bit of wall spackle and sanding smooth. This process is not as long and difficult as it sounds and makes flawless prints that look awesome! I would love to see what a multi-material print would look like with this model.

Secondary Pole - There is a small hole in the side of the main lamp for the secondary pole where a cardinal sits. This can be inserted and glued. The filigree decoration can then also be glued to the secondary pole. Just print the filigree on it's side and it's an easy print.

Removable Light Globe/Top Cap - I printed the globe in a clear filament with a single wall and zero infill for maximum translucence. Then it can be glued inside the provided groove of the light hat and placed over the LED. Then you can easily remove this piece to adjust the LED light as needed.

Cardinals - I experimented with printing the cardinals in different ways (cut in half down the center so each piece lays flat on the print bed), but I ended up just printing them fully upright with supports. My recommended supports (suggested from Makers Muse https://www.youtube.com/@MakersMuse) inside PrusaSlicer is Style: Grid, Pattern: Rectilinear Grid.

One cardinal has a groove cut out of the bottom for placement on the secondary lamp pole. Simple hot glue or super glue would work to hold it in place. The ground cardinal can be glued in the groove in the snow beside the lamp post.

For all pieces, I spray with some primer and then my wife and I hand paint them. Simply printing in the right filament colors would also work well.

Lastly, we hung a nice grapevine wreath on the pole to complete the look (not 3D printed).

All parts and designs (except the wreath and lighting) are original and printed on the Original Prusa I3 MK3S. They were then hand-painted by my wife and myself.

For another fun Christmas scene, check out my other model:

https://www.printables.com/model/14855-a-team-effort-christmas