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

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Will be glad to see those mounted on the RS locker all printed up!

Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Well, still working on the 3D design - maybe today the 3rd edition print will end up being usable - I'm close at this point.

Yesterday I was doing some hull work and noticed one of the seawater intake gratings was damaged. So, that gave me the opportunity to redo the two oval intakes as well as the condenser intakes in 3D and those will be printed later today -

Seawater Intake Grating

Condenser Seawater Intake

The original scratch made parts will be sanded off the hull and replaced with these 3D printed parts - much more uniform, detailed, and hopefully, closer to what the actual item looked like. While it can't be seen, both these parts have a shallow lower portion which will fit into the existing hull opening.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Just don't try it out in the bathtub!

Will look good! Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Thanks!! So, I've invested in a couple small tire tubes to tape to the hull JUST in case it somehow gets near water!!!!

Actually today I got the old, handmade inlets removed and the 3D printed new ones in place:

Keep in mind these are not primed/painted so they may look a bit ugly, but such is model construction!! There didn't need to be much filing after using a scalpel to remove the orig. parts. These fit pretty much as I thought they should. So, on to finishing the propeller shafts & struts and then begin taping off for hull painting - bottom first, then add any upper hull parts (screw guards, for one) and finally the hull side painting.

Hnk

[BB62vet]

So, while waiting for new rolls of Tamiya masking tape to arrive (for masking off the boot topping), I went ahead and continued work on RADAR antenna design - after doing the SC-2 for my T-3 project, I started work on STODDARD's A/N SPS-10 antenna using Dr. PR's excellent drawing he sent me for the one he drew up for his 1/96 scale "Oke Boat". So, after a day of design, I've got a fairly decent representation of this with only the Reflector Framework Supports to design & add to the unit:

One has to take into account the actual size of the part - I've had to simplify some of the details and intentionally leave off some of the very fine reflector frame components for sake of reality.
I still have to scale this down by 0.36% for 1/144th scale from what I drew it - whether it will print or not is a big unknown at this point
I won't be able to get a test print until next week some time due to other items in the print queue. Since Tom had good luck with the SC-2 at this scale, it is quite possible some of this design will actually print. Tom's new printer of course, has a higher degree of resolution than my printer; I'm also considering the purchase of a new Phrozen 3D printer that is currently offered as a pre-production special offer - sort of hesitant as there are no reviews available at this juncture on this printer. But, thinking about it....

Although I've had in my parts box for several years now the A/N SPS-6C unit that I purchased from Shapeways for this build, I don't think it's a very accurate or representative piece - I may choose to design/print this, as well - but haven't made a decision on this yet. Some of these items that I thought were originally pretty nifty don't really seem to be that so now that I've learned how to design parts for myself -

Hank

[BB62vet]

With Tom's assistance I've arrived at a final version with beefed up support struts and corrected reflector which will be given a test print run next week:

So, we'll see how well (or IF) this item prints - I suspect that it will for the most part, so once again a work in progress!

Hank

[BB62vet]

Today's printing of the RADAR antenna did not produce usable results. Of three printed the outer two pieces were lacking ends to the reflector while the center piece did not print in the center of the reflector.

So, the results are that it ALL printed, just not on a single item. So, I've reoriented the piece and supports in a different posture in relationship with the bulding platform and will try again tomorrow. Right now, I'm waiting on other T-3 parts to finish printing.

Tonight I did manage to get the hull boot topping taped off for proper hull painting. A bit of flat black brush painting tomorrow a.m. and it should be ready to tape off the hull sides & main deck to get ready to spray the bottom of the hull.

Slow & steady as she goes!

Hank

[BB62vet]

Latest update on the RADAR antennas:

Several days ago I sent Tom the DSM file for my A/N SPS-10 and just a few minutes ago sent him the DSM file for the A/N SPS-6C antenna. I tried printing both, but got poor results printing both antennas, and after consultation with Tom, it turns out his new, higher res. printer may be the key. So, here is a picture of the design file for the A/N SPS-6C -

As you can see, this is a rather involved design! What did print today gives me assurance that the design is workable and gives a much higher degree of accuracy than is shown in the photo below of the commercial item that I purchased from a Shapeways designer back in 2017 - however, this today is not what I would consider acceptable given that I know I can do one better -

Purchased AN SPS-10

I am going to set up another print file with a different orientation of the part and see if this has an effect on the outcome.

As for the A/N SPS-10, I am awaiting a package from Tom (F&S Lend Lease Program, LTD) which contains a couple of the units he printed for my use. Currently, I don't know of anyone offering the A/N SPS-10 as a purchasable item. Doesn't matter now - both of these antennas are going to work out and be of higher quality than the commercial ones!!!

The hull will get more work this coming week - adding prop guards, deck edge chocks/bitts, etc. in prep for painting the horizontal hull (excluding the main deck, a horizontal or deck gray item).

[BB62vet]

The work on the A/N SPS-6C evolved into a 3rd edition and also Tom printing a beefed up variation of his own. My 3rd version finally came out complete and at this point usable:

The printed version of this (minus the 6 probes that I will still need to add to the finished part):

AN SPS-6C_1.jpeg (73.16 KiB) Viewed 951 times

This is right off the printer, prior to drying and curing. I'll post a further photo once supports have been removed. Now that I know this will give me a more detailed version to use than the commercially purchased one, I can proceed to do further work on the A/N SPS-10 that both Tom & I have worked on a week or so ago (posted prior to these later posts). I have a version from Tom that he sent me after printing on his new higher res printer, so I'll do some further design on my end and see if I can match this ability with my older, lower res printer. Once again, orientation and supports play a big part of how these items print (or WHETHER they print at all!).

Maybe get around to further hull work this week, as well.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

I think the Rapid Black was a good resin choice for that item. Mine were printed with goopy model gray and were OK, bit you should get a bit sharper accutance.

Another good addition to your ship!

Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank: I think the Rapid Black was a good resin choice for that item. Mine were printed with goopy model gray and were OK, bit you should get a bit sharper accutance. Another good addition to your ship!
Tom

Yes, they printed well - only I had forgotten to add the 6 instr. tubes when I printed them (as shown in my last 3D illustration). I printed 3 of these today and they all came out very well. So, 3rd edition with a few beefing up of thicknesses and all is now complete. Back to the A/N SPS-10 which I'm getting close to having redone for 3rd Edition, as well.

Weather being what it is (sunny, warm, nice!), work in the shop/computer on modeling stuff will obviously take a back seat to gardening, yard stuff, and a couple wood shop projects that The Admiral has stated NEED ATTENTION. "Her cat don't lie!!!"

Tonight I hope to complete the A/N SPS-10 back supports and then that antenna unit will be ready for another go.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Well, NOW I know why nothing is moving forward on making progress on the A/N SPS-10 antenna:

The Design Team has all crapped out - disciplinary action to follow; a rude awakening - NO TREATS today or tonight!!!!

You'd think they both had arrived from Wash. D.C. - such behavior will NOT be tolerated!!!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Tom wrote -

Looks like union labor? From the DC firm of Katz, Katz and Katznatskyy?

Indeed!!! I told Fred & Ginger to either get back to work or dance their little catzasses off my desk!!!

I did get a little more of the supports done last night; close to finishing!

Hank

[Rick E Davis]

So we finally see who really is designing those beautiful 3-D printer parts.

One can only work at the computer so long, before needing a Cat Nap.

[BB62vet]

So we finally see who really is designing those beautiful 3-D printer parts.
One can only work at the computer so long, before needing a Cat Nap.

Yep!! They come around when you least expect it (or need it!!!), do a Sherman's March to the Sea across my desktop, carrying off pens, flash drives, paper clips, you name it - to hiding places we've yet to discover!!!

I'll assure them that they've been given undue credit for their Cheshire Cat appearances and Delta Force raiding tactics!!!

Hank

[BB62vet]

Well, I finished the 3rd version of the A/N SPS-10 antenna unit and will take it out to do a print run of 5 in just a few minutes (2 1/2 hours print time). We'll see how this edition comes out!!!

If these units print successfully, I can then turn my attention to getting further hull work/painting done as well as completing the foremast assembly design.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Well, 5 out of 5 printed out pretty good....until I botched 2 of them up removing supports. However, I have 3 left and one of those I had to CA a corner back together and then decided to leave the shop as I had done enough damage single-handedly in less than 5 minutes

Here is a shot of one of the prints that is now awaiting flat black spray -

The other two remaining parts I haven't messed with yet - perhaps leave them in the parts box in order to keep them intact!!!

So, I'm now finished with the two RADAR antenna on the foremast and will work on hull items and also the foremast in order to finish it - I don't have that much design work left on it.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Much like real systems development, some delays and exasperation are involved, with persistence, in achieving the final product. Ant yes, with the more cutting edge objects, sometimes it takes several to get the perfect one realized. There is as you are aware some experience required in placing platform supports to ensure both printing and an ability to remove them.

Good work Hank!

[BB62vet]

Much like real systems development, some delays and exasperation are involved, with persistence, in achieving the final product. Ant yes, with the more cutting edge objects, sometimes it takes several to get the perfect one realized. There is as you are aware some experience required in placing platform supports to ensure both printing and an ability to remove them.
Good work Hank!

Thanks Tom!!! Always good to know at least one person approves

Here is a photo of the two antennae after painting - I've still got to do a tiny bit of careful trimming of "nubs" -

I then got the 12" closed chocks installed - the kit items were too thin and didn't look correct, so these were some of the very first 3D printed parts I designed back almost 2 years ago:

Next will be to tape off the boot topping & bottom in order to spray the hull sides. I've also been doing more design on the forward tripod mast and have it within earshot of being ready for a test run of some sort - either one piece angled or two pieces straight up.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Good luck on the tripod mast, a moderately complex piece. I fully expect there will be a learning curve in producing this item. I had good luck with masts and booms printing them hollow and reinforcing with steel piano wire.

Looking forward to seeing how this adventure turns out!

Cheers: Tom