Rick,
Thanks so very much for the kind remarks and input - and ESPECIALLY those photos (I have the last one, but it's a small one, so this is a BIG help!!!
).
Well, I agree - this is a VERY large challenge - so, in order to make these parts (at least, fairly accurate at the smaller scale of 1/144) one has to decide how much detail is acceptable, and what are your printing capabilities. At this point, Tom & I are both learning how much can actually be printed with the fairly low-end 3D printers we are using (Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K). Include with us Pascal (Iceman29) who is also using this particular printer, but designing with a much higher level 3D program than Tom & I are using.
I am using the TFD Ord. Pamphlet for the 3"/50 RF dual mount and the top/side drawings as the basis - so, these are 92mm wide which, when reduced to 1/144 scale is a part 31.52mm wide, so I figured that a lot of the detail I was designing into it would be lost. Not necessarily so as I am finding out. So, in creating these additional parts I am actually adding in some of the finer details I left off the basic foundation & gun carriage. I may go back and redo some of the earlier part of the basic structure to include things such as nuts and so forth that I left off (never leave your nuts off!!!). This pamphlet's drawings unfortunately do not include many of the ancillary items that actually make up the entire gun mount (as shown in the photos), so with these I am having to "guesstimate" their sizes. I am also printing these as separate items so I can control both the amount of detail, size, and be able to adjust the printing orientation to allow for the best print possible. Orientation at the printing end is very important in this medium - get it wrong and you won't get your part!! Another aspect of this process is the type of resin you use for printing - Tom and I are using different resins (same mfgr.) and they do produce different results. So, we're learning which ones work best for solid items and which work best for long, linear items (handrails, yardarms, etc.). This is a total learning process.
At the present time I'm a bit on hold until I receive the gun barrels/assemblies from Willie as these will need to be dimensioned so that my gun carriage is sized correctly for those particular parts. I can, however, still proceed on items located on the right, front of the mount which don't involve the guns themselves.
Rick, you mentioned 1/350th scale - you are aware that Veterans Models makes a 1/350th scaled dual 3"/50 mount, right? And, I might add - a rather impressive one at that!! Don't know what they sell for or who has them for sale; I've actually thought of purchasing one unit simply for reference, but haven't pursued that at this time.
Personally, I think that 3D printed parts ARE the future of plastic modeling - there is just SO much more that can be designed into these parts than by the old molded method it's simply astounding! With time, I think the evolution will move to more "user friendly" materials - this medium is still in its infancy. Just my opinion, and we all know what THAT's worth!!!
This particular build has taken me down some different paths and in doing so I'm learning what can & can't be made with this medium. I'm not all that happy with the Revell kit anchor "chains" they provide and may explore creating these also in 3D. This is where having the printed version of TFD FLETCHER Plan Book comes in handy: A dimensioned anchor chain link right in front of me - NOT taking up valuable computer screen space.
OLD SCHOOL assisting new tech - right?!!!
Hank
) I've been able to get quite a bit done to date. I am thinking about making the entire mast assembly in two main parts - the platforms and above as one unit and the tripod legs/support braces as another separate unit. I'm also designing the various lamps, instruments, etc. as separate part files in order to print multiple items with a certain amount of leeway in scale due to resin shrinkage during printing. Anyhow, here's a design shot of the work in progress:
) to exchange parts for our concurrent builds. However, even without the gun assemblies in place, the mount foundations, gun carriages, and all assoc. equipment, etc. are going to be quite a design effort.
) However, I'm not under any gun to do so - my own timetable. Having the reunion postponed actually helped me out!!
