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

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Look'n good! By tackling a difficult item such as the 3"50, you are getting a 5 college credit course in 3D printing!

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Well, Thanks Tom!!!

I wonder if those college credits are transferable????



Hank

[BB62vet]

Yesterday I finished the design portion of the 3" gun mount foundation and I now have 2 of these currently printing - so, we'll see what the results are after lunch today. Here are a couple design renderings of the basic mount at this stage:

I'm sure that some people viewing this will think that it doesn't look complete - well, there has to be a compromise of detail and what will print - I think I have that compromise in hand - we'll see I've tried to include all the important pieces of equipment that make up this very complex unit and making decisions on what to include and how much detail to show - all are considerations.

I have set up the printing file with one piece flat and the other at about a 60� angle to see if both correctly print or one does better than the other, etc. Once I have a successful test piece in hand, I can determine whether the additional platforms (3) and ejection rails will fit and what adjustments may need to be made. After this is complete I will return to completion of the left/right gun assemblies and then the RADAR which was a locally added piece of FC equipment - not all ships were so equipped.

Hank

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

Excellent progress so far, and looking very promising for the next steps.
Whatever the process maybe, you are building your own pieces instead of buying a second ship in the aftermarket, and learning a new technique completely --more than I would be willing to do.

I'm sure that some people viewing this will think that it doesn't look complete (...).

Honestly, I don�t think this will be the case.

I'm sure that some people viewing this will think that it doesn't look complete - well, there has to be a compromise of detail and what will print - I think I have that compromise in hand -we'll see I've tried to include all the important pieces of equipment that make up this very complex unit and making decisions on what to include and how much detail to show - all are considerations.

I absolutely concur. There is a limit even for this relatively big 1/144 scale, and if you are able to actually print the graphics that you show us, this will be a glorious 3/50 mount, and period.
IMO, the essence of modelling is to build something that is (a) precise (b) recognizable, and (c) all in all proportionate, and your praphics seem to be all three. I have scratch-built the same thing, three times, and with all modesty, I know what I am talking about, and even in 1/72 it would be no candy to build this.

So Hank keep the good job, and I am really curious to see what comes out of your printer.

Nice going from across the pool,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Willie,

Nice to hear from you again, my friend!!! And thanks!! I've been printing all day and have had various results - I've now got the (what I hope will be) final version ready for printing tomorrow a.m. The next to last version is printing now. Earlier, I did 3 pieces with one coming out acceptable, but it is not a final version part. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow of the final version once it's out of the hopper

I've got further work to do on the gun barrel/receiver assemblies - I've now made separate files for each as they are not the same. Well, they are but have different equipment located on each gun which requires a separate model.

So, hope to hear something new from your build soon, also - fun, isn't it???

Hank

[steinerman]

Nice going Hank! I kind of envy you and your new hobby, but frankly, 3D printing isn't something I care to get into. I don't have time for the hobbies I have now, let alone trying to tackle something as complex and difficult as that. I had to learn AutoCad when I worked in my job and I sucked at it! Was never more happy in my life when I got promoted and could hire a draftsman to do that crap for me.

It looks like you're coming along nice, and what's more important, it sounds like you are having fun. That's what a hobby is all about, right? When it stops being fun, it no longer is a hobby.

Take care and stay healthy!

[BB62vet]

Larry,

Thanks for the kind remarks, again - I appreciate it. However, you used the "A" word (AutoCAD) which to us MicroStation CAD people is like inviting a fight!!! LOL!!!FYI - your abilities don't suck - AutoCAD sucks (and ALWAYS) will, IMHO. Yes, tackling 3D design/printing is a new avenue, but for someone who has bouts of arthritis in the hands, it is a blessing in disguise in that I can still make parts for my models even though I'm not fully "hand making" those items.

It is all shipmodeling whether it's hand made or printed...the shipyard accepts both ways

Hank

[Fliger747]

I watched Hank approach this, with great trepidation, th e mounts, but then he started out making the bases, a doable experiment, then he was already pulling anchor. He sent me some ORD drawings and I sent him back 3D files for the barrels with springs and he as just been adding one box, cylinder or whatnot at a time and is coming up very well towards a real mount, one of the most complex around. It pleases me greatly to see him come along well with this and many other unique bits and pieces for his old home at sea.

Regards! Tom

[BB62vet]

Well Tom, I certainly appreciate the comments!! Thanks!

I was prompted to design a much BETTER part than what I bought in 2017 from Shapeways - it's simply a piece of junk. So, I was inspired to at least try to produce a visibly correct item. So far, it's coming along stage by stage. Viewing Pascal's approach with his various gun mounts and other rather complex parts, I felt that this required several pieces rather than one very busy model which may not even print.

At this point I'm about to print what I hope will be the final version of the mount foundation and then move forward with the individual guns - since neither (left/right) is identical, each is a separate design and will be printed more than likely 100 vertical as other 3D designers have chimed in with advise about orientation. Maybe this week some time!

Hank

[BB62vet]

I find it very interesting that 115 people viewed my posts recently, yet outside of the usual gang of pirates (3 or 4 to be exact), no one cared to comment.

Today, after 3 printing sessions being totally unsuccessful, I got a completely correct set of 3 mount foundations and have (due to the earlier success today) reset the printer and have 3 more in progress (spares, etc.). This was all due to the printing orientation of the parts - so, I have to thank Tom F. for urging me to do it "his way" and it worked. I'm S-O-O-O Happy!!!!

So, after creating a speaking tube this afternoon (tomorrow, I'll print a dozen of them), I'm back to working on the gun assemblies and the Mk. 34 RADAR unit that was installed on the amidships mounts (31/32). Thanks also to Rick E. Davis for providing additional photos for reference. Not a lot of info on this equipment publicly available.

Here is what these mount foundations look like under the UV lamp (sort of like chicks under the hen getting incubated!!!):

I'll let these (and the next batch if they come out ok) cure overnight - this'll teach 'em to mess around with a Vet!!!

Hank

[Iceman 29]

Nice printing Hank!

However, I find your pieces quite shiny, which is usually a sign that there is still a thin layer of liquid resin on them.

I had this problem at the beginning when I cleaned manually with alcohol. Since I've been cleaning with the Anycubic Wash and Cure machine, my pieces are quite matte after drying and before UV. The details come out much better and you don't breathe in the alcohol as much, it's much safer.
I don't know your procedure, but you can gain in precision by this means.

https://youtu.be/lmJNf5RKKAQ

[BB62vet]

Pascal (& David P),

Thanks both for the comments. Well, Pascal you have answered a question I was wondering about also!! I had no idea. I wash the parts 1st in a bowl of alcohol, then a 1st water wash, and then a 2nd water wash. I guess I need to use a soft toothbrush and go over each of those pieces to remove that thin layer of liq. resin. I'll also check out the video link you included. The resin I'm using (Phrozen Model Grey) isn't supposed to require the alcohol, but I've been washing them in it anyhow. Years ago (I mean like 1970's ago!!) the company I had worked at had a sale on all their drafting instruments and ultrasonic cleaners (for Leroy Pens) were included. I wish now I'd bought one of them - most of them were NIB, never used. SIGH.....Hank sad.

Well, we learn something new each day - I'm glad that this was pointed out to me. And here I thought the cleaning crew at night had used too much wax on the buffer!!!

The 2nd batch of (3) foundations came out excellent, as well - in fact, they somehow are just a tad bit crisper in detail than those from earlier today. So, I'm now in good shape with 6 useable foundations. Time to get back to the gun assemblies and the Mk. 34 unit.

Hank

[BB62vet]

what company was that as I was a mechanical draftsman back in the early 80's?

I was a Technical Illustrator (contract) at Western Electric Co. in Winston-Salem, NC - we were working on the SAFEGUARD Anti-Ballistic Missile System at the time and I was hired to become part of the very first computer graphics group to do "drawings" electronically for the MDS system (Maintenance Data System). We all started on the board for 6-8 months as the CGS was incomplete and undergoing 1st initial tests. This was 1972 and the mainframe system (5 Honeywell CPUs) could barely draw a circle let alone other geometric shapes. Yet, in testing you could take a joy stick and "fly" a 3D plane around and thru a set of pylons. Go Figure, right?

There were 5 graphics terminals in the operator room and the computer equipment was behind us in a second enclosed A/C'd room. This system ran for close to 15 years before being replaced by an Intergraph CAD system in the mid-80s. I had left in '76 and actually began Intergraph CAD at DuPont in 1983 in Wilmington, NC. I've been using that type of IGDS CAD system since then (MicroStation being the current PC based offshoot).

The "drawings" we made back at WE were electronically sent to another facility in NC for actual translation and then printed into 11x17 Technical Maintenance Manuals - well, they WOULD have if SALT 1 had not been signed by the U.S. and USSR because that essentially killed the SAFEGUARD system.

As a matter of reference, WE was the prime contractor on the three previous anit-air missile systems - Nike Ajax, Nike-Hercules, and Nike-Zeus - when I was still working on the board, I did revisions occasionally to some of the early Nike-Ajax drawings (1948-50 era) on linen - so one system was in many respects based on the prior project and utilized drawings that were already in use.

I still have some of my old printouts from back in those days. FYI - Bell Systems Practices (on the other side of the bldg.) was basically doing very similar tech. illus. work on the telephone drawings at the same time. I spent 6 mos. over there working on those as a break from the CGS when they did major software upgrades.

All those people and all those drawings & equipment are long gone - once in a great while I run into one of the people I used to work with back then - but even those are getting fewer and fewer.

It was a much more stable work force back then - AND we didn't have a lot of the issues to deal with today because people back then actually were more professional and treated each other with respect - you don't see that today and I'm glad I'm out of the current work environment, etc.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Nice printing Hank!

However, I find your pieces quite shiny, which is usually a sign that there is still a thin layer of liquid resin on them.

I had this problem at the beginning when I cleaned manually with alcohol. Since I've been cleaning with the Anycubic Wash and Cure machine, my pieces are quite matte after drying and before UV. The details come out much better and you don't breathe in the alcohol as much, it's much safer.
I don't know your procedure, but you can gain in precision by this means.

Pascal - Thanks again for the information and video link. That IS an impressive piece of cleaning/curing equipment - however, I will have to think long & hard before sinking that kind of money into this effort. I will however, make some manual adjustments to how I clean & cure my parts - you've pointed out some very good reasons and also educated me on why this is necessary.

I hope to get the parts removed from the supports/raft, cleaned up, and possibly start basic painting and adding the additional equipment - I also drew up the inside foundation hand railings last night and will try printing those in this mornings print session.

[Iceman 29]

You're welcome Hank, prices have dropped since its release and this video, especially since a new, larger model is on sale for large 3D parts.

I don't have any "stock options"in Anycubic, but I don't regret my purchase, I couldn't do without this device now, it would be a bit of a waste of the printing qualities of these printers and the cleaning would be less comfortable.

It is also better to print and clean the 3D piece in a dark place. The polymerization of the thin resin layer before cleaning can be done quickly with very little light, even without sunlight, from the experience.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANYCUBIC-WASH- ... Sw~HBgQeQA

[BB62vet]

Pascal,

Thanks again - Well, that link has certainly got my attention - more in the kind of price range that I could look at seriously. I do my printing & curing in fairly subdued lighting - generally cure under the UV at night with the shop closed up. I will admit that the manual cleaning/curing, etc. is a bit of a chore.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Well, while waiting for the last revision to the Mk. 34 units to print, I discovered a photo of ISHERWOOD that I had and she has an identical access platform on her fwd. stack just like STODDARD's. So, since the BoGP only shows this in elev. view, I make a quick sketch using the kit stack as a guide and created the platform - it's now ready to print this evening:

I'm now starting on creating the antenna wiring box that resides on the side of the stack - it's where all the connections & so forth for the stbd. whip antenna are located. All of this equipment has to be made by hand - or 3D designed. I've already done all the whips. Whip it, Whip It GOOD

Hank

[Fliger747]

Looks good Hank! As you know, being able to print the rails right with the platform is a major frustration saver. Perhaps the most difficult thing is getting the exact curvature of the stack. I did (re did) the searchlight platforms for Alaska but those were luckily against flat bulkheads.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Well, thanks again!! actually, the platform and conn. box are currently in the printer, due out at 1:30pm today. I resized the stanchions/handrails a bit thicker and also scaled up by 0.06% to see if Pascal's calculations are correct. The failed earlier print yesterday did look to be a bit smaller than I designed. So, we'll know shortly.

I oriented two of the platforms in different postures to see which prints and so forth.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Today's printing (4 times) was a bust - for various reasons that only the 3D resin gods understand, everything had either incomplete parts, or failed to print. So, during these printing sessions I was busy working on finishing up the left/right gun assemblies and this was no easy task. The right gun on the dual mount has the Sight Setting Station which was a b-i-a-t-c-h to design. Here is what I came up with and the final result added to the assembly: (and DON'T ask how I got the elevation gear teeth - that's confidential and no one has clearance to know!!!!)

This has taken at least two days to draw up (sight setter). Then, I added a mounting bracket from the left gun and this unit is ready to print. Here is a shot of the left gun:

I have in hand now 6 useable Mk. 34 RADAR units to add to the inside gun on the amidships mounts so those are not part of this assembly. I don't currently have a photo of this equipment that is up to date.

So, taking advice from Monkey Man and Iceman (we sure have a strange assortment of modelers in this crew, don't we !!) I will make sure the gun assemblies are oriented vertical and hope that the resin gods are in good spirits tomorrow

Hank