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

[Iceman 29]

Hank, if you send me your file ( Wetransfer ) with the supports, I can try a print to see the difference.

I don't remember what printer you use?

[BB62vet]

Pascal,

Thanks - I've PM'd you on this.

My printer is the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K - I think the same as yours.

The current print should be done around 4pm EST (it's now 2:23pm EST), so we'll see!!!

Hank

[Iceman 29]

I have sent you an email.

Ok, I mainly use the Anycubic Photon Mono X, and occasionally the Phrozen mini 4K with another resin color, crystal clear.

The Mono X is 3 times faster and the quality is very good if not better.

When the screens get older, you have to gradually increase the exposure time.

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Looking good, yes, having thought about it after seeing the rails on either side, I figured out that was the walkway between the aft torpedo area and the 53 mount (WWII config). Seems like kind of a flimsy area for a transfer mast?

Looking forward to seeing your next submissions!

Tom

[Willie]

Hi there hank and all,

Again superb progress. This thread is supplying me with an inmense knowledge on detailing, to be used in my own Fletcher class.

Each mount consists of 16 separate pieces and 17 if you include the Mk. 34 RADAR dish which only is installed on top of the inside gun on the amidships mounts (31/32). So, here are two shots of this mount:

This mount took me approx. 4 hours to assemble and touch up where needed. Tomorrow I hope to assemble Mts. 31/32 and add the Mk. 34 RADAR to each mount.

These guns are wonderful, and some specific elements are simply fantastic, e.g., the ammo drums, the barrels and the fire director kit. Without a reference (a pencil, for example) it is difficult to realize how delicate all these elements are, and how intrincate the whole set is.
Maybe some day I will have to get into printing...

Keep the good job, Hank, and nice going and all the best from this end to all of you,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Iceman - Thanks so much - we've communicated since and hopefully (with your and Tom's identical advice) the evening printing will come out as it should. Also, thanks for the heads up on the printer, etc.

Tom - I figured that sooner or later you'd guess what this was and where it was located. The I-beams beneath it (in spite of their small size) I guess are enough to support the kingpost and what it's designed to do.

Willie - Thanks so much for chiming in!!! I really appreciate your support and comments. Yes, we'll both help each other work thru our respective builds. FYI - I will be using various items out of the spare parts box you sent me. I also like those small plastic containers/boxes - they will be put to good use, for sure!!!

More to come....

Hank

[Iceman 29]

I tried to print verticaly with both printer, grey: Mono X ( 1 hours 37mn), cristal: Sonic ( 2 h 17mn).

Two configurations, without the supports on the hand rail, and with, the best.

This piece to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 1h37 to re-materialize in France, faster than Concorde! Blue ribbon!

Sent you the Chitubox project file by mail, Hank.

[BB62vet]

Pascal,

Thanks so much for your input & assistance - Yes! I got your email and have a print file set up ready to go later today. While my 3D design is improving, my print setup experience has not kept up as quickly, so I really appreciate the outside advice and help - this is what this forum really does provide - giving other modelers a nudge now & then to help them in the craft.

I added a 2nd piece (just for an additional spare!) and the print time on my printer is estimated to be 3hr. 28 min. So, I have one item ahead of it this morning, I will probably get this going in early afternoon.

Hank

[BB62vet]

And here is the result this evening:

This is just out of the printer without any cleanup yet. So, orientation and supports are a BIG factor in how these parts will print and the end result.

My thanks again to Pascal & Tom for their able assistance.

Hank

[Iceman 29]

Well done!

A tip here is to cut the brackets before you UV the piece, wait an hour, so the railling gets straight again.

[BB62vet]

Well done!
A tip here is to cut the brackets before you UV the piece, wait an hour, so the railling gets straight again.

Now you tell me!!!! Well, I'll do that on the NEXT item that gets printed - however, I do see your logic. Maybe reprint the deck again just to try that out.

Thanks, Pascal - always good to learn these tidbits!!!!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Sometimes the thin rails will be wavy, but straighten out as the piece dries, a function of shrinkage which straightens things out.

Looking forward to see how your latest 3" 50 mounts come out!

Cheers: Tom

[Iceman 29]

I remembered it while looking at your picture... Sorry Hank.

By the way, on my pictures the supports are cut if you look carefully. The same expansion problems with parts of different thicknesses.

[Fliger747]

Indeed, I discovered a minor issue causing distortion, the rear interior of the M36 wasn't hollowed out as much and the shrinkage caused a little dimpling here. So there is a bit of engineering required!

School of hard knocks...

[BB62vet]

George Costanza Knows Shrinkage - blame him!!!!!

I've now run 3 sets of new mount prints and all with various problems. But, the good news is that I think I've fairly well established what is causing these to happen:
1) Supports either non-existent or incorrect positioning
2) Thin walls of parts that will be thickened as some of these items won't be seen anyhow.
3) Proper Orientation of the part on the printing platen

So, I've already instructed the yardbirds in charge of material fabrication to get their asses in gear and straighten up!! or else!!!

I've actually begun some of the wall thickening on various parts and will continue tomorrow and perhaps the next edition will bear fruit. Sound phophetic, doesn't it?

While waiting for the printer this evening, I did get some work on the 01 Level After Deckhouse handrails & stanchions done - 2/3 of the way to getting them in place!! Small progress....

Hank

[Fliger747]

Remember the "Zero Defects" era at the Naval shipyards. Obviously they weren't into 3D printing.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Remember the "Zero Defects" era at the Naval shipyards. Obviously they weren't into 3D printing.
Cheers: Tom

Actually, no I don't - must have been after my service time.

Well, over the last couple weeks I've been working on redesign of the 3"/50 gun mounts to where I could reduce the separate parts from 15/16 down to as few as possible. At first I didn't think that this freeware 3D program would handle such a large file, but IT DOES!!! So, I am now printing out the 2nd run of new complete gun mounts which will only need the addition of the right and left controls/seats and then the mount is complete.

Turns out that it is a combination of both the design of the part(s), the orientation of the part for printing, and most importantly how the part is supported in the print file. Today, after 3 unsuccessful attempts, I finally hit the right combo - the TriFecta - The Perfect Third Date - if you catch my drift!!!

So, the mounts are UV curing and 2 more are printing and hopefully I'll have some photos after assembly and painting in the next day or so. In the meantime, this is what the 3"/50 gun file looks like now:

One other advantage is that the guns are both angled identical and there isn't any difference between them to make the unit look out of wack.

So, this is a big step forward in this build!

Hank

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

So, the mounts are UV curing and 2 more are printing and hopefully I'll have some photos after assembly and painting in the next day or so.

Well, my friend, I am really curious to see what is coming out of such an immense effort as you are investing in these little beasts.
I can�t wait to see the whole lot together and painted.

Nice going in NC, and warmest regards from this side,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Willie,

Nice to hear from you!!! And thanks for the comments! In addition to the newer version, I also have found a spray paint that is very, very close to the Testor's Lt. Ghost Gray bottle paint that I've been using - and, I will be painting these mounts with the spray which should give a better and more consistent application.

Thanks for commenting, Willie - always welcomed!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Looking forward to seeing the mounts, with makeup, lipstick and whatnot, very pleased you have pressed on through frustrations to finally get results!

Regards: Tom