1/144 Scale USS STODDARD (DD-566) - Kitbash, Revell FLETCHER

[BB62vet]

Steve,

OK, your method (or a modified version due to our differences in program commands) has done very well!!! -

I can now take this and modify & adapt to add all the various items that were on the original stack body. So, I am deeply in your debt, Sir! I've certainly been "schooled" in 3D Design today.

Thanks so much!!!

Hank

[Iceman 29]

Nice method Steve, and Hank, Bravo!

[ModelMonkey]

[BB62vet]

Pascal, Steve -

Thanks to both of you again for both your interest and assistance!! Will be working on design tonight as the printer is waiting on parts

Hank

[BB62vet]

So, the after stack is ready for a test print -

The side intake vent covers will be printed separately. I've made provisions for the after yardarm assembly to be located and have a bit of work to do on that part, as well before reprinting it. I added the ladders, cable tray, and vent pipe as these items are all painted the same and the printer does a great job of printing all the details.

I am still going ahead with construction of the original after stack (kit) to see how the two units compare when all completed. With a new vat on order it will probably be sometime late next week or the following week when I'm able to get things printed.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank

The hilarious part about this is I figured out how to do this but thought the shape was spherical (or oblate spheroid), but it is actually portion of a cone which I made right off the bat using the blend tool. Oh well, with the good help you got there. I hope that the pieces I sent you were of some use! Looking for more progress as your shoulder season of reasonable temps arrives!

Chers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

I did get the stack design finished prior to heading out of town last week, but with the printer AWOL, couldn't follow thru - that's all behind me now!

Well, the stack will print tomorrow a.m. or thereabouts!! I've had a week's vacation and have received some new parts for the printer, some 3D printed parts from Tom, have rebuilt my printer for the 2nd time in 2 weeks and have FINALLY gotten a couple successful prints today after a lot of headaches with the LED Lamps, LCD screen replacement and destruction (that one on ME!!), and a vat failure that caused the LCD screen snafu. At this point, I made two good print runs today and have another one running late tonight.

I now have a couple 3D printed gray resin 01 Level Deck House/Gun Tub parts that Tom printed for me and also a Rapid Black Resin part that I printed today - comparisons will be made to see which came out the best and that will be used. Here's a photo of my final effort today -

It is currently drying under the fan but appears to be complete and highly detailed - what I was expecting in the first place. This was the 5th edition design so once the LED lamps were functioning correctly, this part came out very well.

So, this printer is now around 2 years old and has been a real workhorse, in spite of intermittent problems. Replacement parts are hard to get but I've located an online vendor who has come thru quite well and much faster than going to the manufacturer. This is Ultimate 3D Printing Store (https://ultimate3dprintingstore.com/) - while their parts prices are higher than the manufacturer's, they offer free shipping in some cases, and I had the part within a week or so. Can't happen when you are ordering from an overseas vendor!! If this printer lasts 'til I've finished this project, then I'll be happy. Perhaps then look seriously at a larger printer.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

My sources at FSB tell me that you are printing again, have you filed your paperwork with the government industrial control bureau with regards to the effect on advancing the end of the world? At the rate you are progressing you will be a scratch built with a commercial hull!

Looking forward to seeing how the stacks come out, realest with all the accessory "stuff".

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank: My sources at FSB tell me that you are printing again, have you filed your paperwork with the government industrial control bureau with regards to the effect on advancing the end of the world? At the rate you are progressing you will be a scratch built with a commercial hull!
Looking forward to seeing how the stacks come out, realest with all the accessory "stuff".
Cheers: Tom

Tom,

FSB, is that the Fed. Secrecy Bureau, or Fed. Security Board? - In either case, my salute to them is with both middle fingers!! And, NO - My proper paperwork was deemed redundant and rejected by the Fed. Agency for Reduction of Trash (F.A.R.T.)....

Today's print run went well - I've now got the 2nd edition of both Fwd/Aft Stacks printed and useable. A few parts that go with the stack bodies were also printing and everything will dry overnight and then cure in the morning. I think I will go ahead and paint/assemble both of these as they look a bit more detailed than the kit parts. Well, they ARE more detailed, simply speaking! Here are a couple shots of those parts drying on the turntable -

So, after I print a new cable run part to go into the cable tray, I should have everything necessary to actually get these stacks completed. Unless, of course, I break something...always a possibility these days!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Always hard to evaluate the Rapid Black resin parts in photos before they are painted. I am guessing these will look good indeed. Glad you figured these out!

Tom

[BB62vet]

Always hard to evaluate the Rapid Black resin parts in photos before they are painted. I am guessing these will look good indeed. Glad you figured these out!
Tom

Tom,
Thanks! Yes, the stacks came out very nice - I used 2mm thickness on the stack walls (I think I also did on the T-3 Stack, as well) and that gives a solid part that leaves plenty of thickness for surface indentations/details/etc. I debated (with myself) a lesser amount, but this has come out perhaps as a std. for this scale. Perhaps a bit more for larger scale models, less for smaller scale, etc.

I hope to get these cured and cleaned up sometime today.

Hank

[Willie]

Howdy Hank and all,

Excellent progress so far, as usual. Great to see that the pains you have taken with the stacks have been fruitful, and that you have come to a good solution.

As for the side grills --and with reserves, as I am a Mr. Nobody reg. printers, and the pics are not that clear-- I am nevertheless not so sure about the results on these specific elements. The bars are very, very subtle, and I have my reserves, as I say, as if you will be able to reproduce them. I would use the ones in the kit, which is what I have done in my case. I applied two layers of a very diluted light grey, and two more of a more diluted dark grey (not black), completed with a very subtle dry brush. I would say it worked wonderfully.

Please notice that these pictures are taken using a very strong light (my flash is actually of blinding quality), that highlights the glossy points left by the drybrush, but under normal light the results are excellent, much better than what you can see in the pictures.

Please disregard all this if your grills have come out well. I am sure you will need a good drybrush anyway.

Keep the good work and the pictures coming, and very best regards from the North Atlantic,[/size]

[bwross11]

Hi Willie,

You're handy work is always impressive. Considering where you started this is turning into an excellent build.

[BB62vet]

In reverse order:

Bruce,
Yes, Willie's construction is quite good indeed. He has achieved a high std. for his handiwork.

Willie,
Thanks for the great commentary on the stack intake grilles - as I have chosen to do the stacks COMPLETLEY 3D Design/Print, I have made my own - here is a couple shots of the designed version:

I will, however, try to replicate your methods for painting, etc. - that sounds like a sensible idea.

Hank

[Fliger747]

It will be interesting to see how the methods, angling toward the same result, compare. Will is quite good at using his dry brushing to emphasize detail. I need to work on this a little. I did use it on the military vehicles for my LSM, the grills on the M4 Shermans came out very nice. Geeze those stacks got complicated!

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

It will be interesting to see how the methods, angling toward the same result, compare. Will is quite good at using his dry brushing to emphasize detail. I need to work on this a little. I did use it on the military vehicles for my LSM, the grills on the M4 Shermans came out very nice. Geeze those stacks got complicated!
Cheers: Tom

On this I am a total novice - how about an explanation of how to apply "dry brushing" and what it involves, paint-wise???

Thanks in Advance...er Mocksville, I'm not in Advance, NC

Hank

[bigtodd]

Thanks in Advance...er Mocksville, I'm not in Advance, NC

Bahahahahaaaa, I always think the same thing when I type it! Also your only 13 miles away from there,so close enough.......

[Fliger747]

Close enough for Nuclear Hand Grenade fights.... Willi has explained this a little in some his posts. I used a very thin wash of black ink on my grills fr the M4 Tanks. Willi uses this to great effect which I can see, as our models are usually displayed in rather diffuse light, which obscures the contrast and detail considerably. The model railroaders might be a great source for effects.

Looking forward to seeing the stacks finished! Tom

[BB62vet]

Thanks in Advance...er Mocksville, I'm not in Advance, NC
Bahahahahaaaa, I always think the same thing when I type it! Also your only 13 miles away from there, so close enough.......

BigTodd,

I couldn't resist - I guess I'm a smartass at heart....

[BB62vet]

Close enough for Nuclear Hand Grenade fights.... Willi has explained this a little in some his posts. I used a very thin wash of black ink on my grills fr the M4 Tanks. Willi uses this to great effect which I can see, as our models are usually displayed in rather diffuse light, which obscures the contrast and detail considerably. The model railroaders might be a great source for effects.
Looking forward to seeing the stacks finished! Tom

Tom,

A thin wash of black ink - as in India Ink or ??? And this is brushed on after the part has been sprayed gray, correct? Trying to get a picture of the steps to accomplish this correctly.

Thanks,

Hank

Would a Nuc Hand Grenade fight involve Tactical Nucs or...... would we invite Vlad the Putinski to the fight, or no.....? I'm guessing....not!