Hi All,
I am building KM Prinz Eugen in scale 1/200 and have run into a problem I have real difficulty resolving.
How do I construct the domes for the four tall range finders (same as used on KM Bismarck).
If someone could please lead me in the right direction it will be most appreciated
DavidP wrote:solid or hollow, what material & do you have or access to a drill, drill press or a lathe?
Material doesn't matter - I'll get whatever is needed/affordable.
I have already tried a solid 20mm ball (wood) but I cannot carve out for the optics in a way that looks acceptable.
I don't have access to a lathe - only to drill/drill press.
This is not really helpful for scratch-building the thing, but maybe if you have the Trumpy Bismarck, you may be able to cast resin copies of the piece? If not, you may be able to ask others to send you an unused piece, or ask them to cast copies for you. But I would recommend you to better try scratch-building; skilled modelers are rare!
Anyway please do post pics of your Prinz Eugen!
Aop.
@ ModelMonkey: Thanks a bunch, but unfortunately I don't have access to a 3D printer
@ DavidP: Yes, that's what I have been trying without success
Wow your build is really nice! I have been following that thread for a while, but didn't recognize your username!
You don't need a 3D printer! You can directly buy it here when Steve finished the design and upload it on his Shapeways page! Shapeways will take care of the printing process, packaging, and delivery! http://www.shapeways.com
Here is a link to Steve's Shapeways page: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey
Poul, there are many ways to approach this, but explaining can be challenging.
One way would be to hunt through craft stores, toy stores, sports stores for a ball of some sort that is the correct size. Material isn't a big issue, as long as it can be cut and painted.
Next comes measuring and eyeballing. Mark a centreline. Turn 90 degrees and Mark another centreline. This should help keep things symetrical. To get a good centreline, push three pins into the ball in a small triangle equidistant apart. Balance it on a flat surface and slowly spin it with a pencil marking the half way point. To find the halfway distance place the ball between two perpendicular objects, like blocks of wood and measure the distance between. Half that distance is the height the pencil needs to be held at. You can cut wood and glue or tape it on to keep the pencil steady.
Where the two lines cross on one side, use that as your bottom. It doesn't matter which one you pick. Remove the three pins. From the top crossing, use a compass to mark a line part way down the side at the level of the bottom of the cut out.
Now Mark another centreline.
On each side, at the point where this new centreline crosses one of the vertical centrelines, use the compass to Mark rings where the cutout sides will be.
Now you should have the cutouts marked. You can darken the areas if it helps you, but it isn't req'd.
At this point, you either cut the areas out with a saw or knife, or cut the whole top piece off, then cut the two side pieces off that top and then glue it back on. If the ball is hollow, you will need to put some plastic walls in the cutout. If the ball is hollow, and you cut the whole top off, a thin piece of plastic covering the hole will give a good platform the glue the top back on to and fill the area the saw blade took away.
You can use tape or plastic for the ridge that goes around the outside.
Clear as mud!!
Good luck!!
Darren (Admiral Hawk)
In the not so tropical climate of the Great White North.
