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

[Fliger747]

Hank:

The tubes look good and I expect that again you will produce a superior part to what is commercially available. It's rather satisfying to do so! As you well know, sometimes insanely small details will print, sometimes not!

We are all anticipating seeing stuff getting added to the hull and becoming a whole.

Regards: Tom

[BB62vet]

After reviewing a couple photos of the same tubes on DD-537, I made a few adjustments to the control knobs and a few other minor changes. So, here's the current state of this part -

I have created an .stl file but with the nasty weather at hand, I'm not inclined to go out to the shop today, maybe later this afternoon and try a test print. I'm still considering a few other modifications to the base ring assembly below the tubes - sort of a gray area at the moment.

Hank

[Willie]

Howdy Hank and all.

The torpedo tubes look really good, and if you are able to print all this small stuff, definitely hats off to your printer, because these tiny things are really tiny.

Anyhow, you should take a second view to the rear of the tubes themselves, as there are handles and gadgets that would add some further life to them at minimal cost in effort.

I solved the problem with stretched sprue and some PE scraps.

Very best regards from this side of the ocean,

Willie.[/size]

[BB62vet]

Willie,

Thanks so much for the comment as well as the suggestion & photo. Actually, I have added a small more amount of detail since my morning post, but not the handle, gauge, and other small items. Here's where I'm at now -

Your photo will help quite a bit as it is from the back which my current stash of reference photos are not.

Thanks again!!

Hank

[BB62vet]

After a bit more work last night, I now have the torpedo tubes ready for a test print -

If these print well, then I'll stick a fork in them and call them done, if not .....

I've now finished the design of Version 2 of the CL Keel Blocks - this takes into account a couple details I hadn't considered in the original design - the dia. of the #3 screws to be inserted into the block and also the curvature of the bottom of the hull. I still have plenty of the originals to use where the center of the keel in the after part of the hull is actually flat, so that shouldn't present a problem. The new blocks look like this -

I also slightly increased the diameter of the iron grab loops on the sides as the originals, while printing, also had the tendency to not completely print - so this should cure that problem.

Very cold in NC today, so work in the shop is limited. I may get in a print run on the blocks this evening, but the torpedo tubes will have to wait a while as I'll need to change resin for those.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Work progressing on several fronts:
1) Mk. 32 Torpedo Tubes - I've printed a couple pairs (1 horizontal/1 vertical), the vertical ones are good, the horizontal ones are not. I used rapid black resin and here's the result -

The commercially purchased item from Shapeways is on the left, my 3D design/printed part is on the right. I used STODDARD photos as reference, so the details are correct on my example. Last night I reprinted 3 pairs (upright) in Model Gray resin. They are currently drying and have not been removed from supports, but what I could tell was that they did print very well. We shall see My example is not completely painted at this point.

2) Keel Blocks - I've made a few more modifications to height and internal structure and reprinted both the bow end blocks (3) and side blocks a couple times and now have the final ones ready to paint and install. Perhaps will have a photo of the display board & keel blocks shortly.

3) Not satisfied with the results of my 01 Level Fwd Superstructure (bridge/pilot house assembly) which, for the most part was commercially purchased 3D printed parts, I've taken up designing the entire deck house from the 01 Level up. At this point I have the 01 Level deckhouse and Open Bridge Deck just about finished - a few more items to add before running a test print -

The entire unit will consist of 3 pieces, the pilot house being the 3rd and uppermost piece (not yet designed). I will admit that seeing Willie's fine example prompted me to take a 2nd look at mine and I discovered that the entire bridge was 1.5mm short - I have a scaled print of the 1968 BoGP for STODDARD and this error was the main reason to make the parts myself. Even though 1.5mm doesn't seem like a major problem, it actually means that the space in front of the pilot house would be incorrect, and this IS noticeable when all the parts are assembled. I also wish to thank Willie for providing me with a generous number of photos he took of DD-537's bridge area when he was aboard her. The after bulkhead of this deckhouse is seldom photographed and I had questions about the actual configuration of this area. His photos provided me with needed information to hopefully created mine as it should be configured.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

The vents on the O1 level are a bit complex but look good! Joshua Slocum, before his round the world solo rebuilt his boat "Spray" all but one board, so she remained "Spray" in the aircraft world it's what we call a data plate restoration. So what part of the kit will be left when you are done? Many thanks to Willie and RED for their contributions of research!

Best regards! Tom

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

Excelent update.

Mk. 32 Torpedo Tubes - I've printed a couple pairs (1 horizontal/1 vertical), the vertical ones are good, the horizontal ones are not. I used rapid black resin and here's the result -
(...)
The commercially purchased item from Shapeways is on the left, my 3D design/printed part is on the right. I used STODDARD photos as reference, so the details are correct on my example. Last night I reprinted 3 pairs (upright) in Model Gray resin. They are currently drying and have not been removed from supports, but what I could tell was that they did print very well. We shall see My example is not completely painted at this point.

Your tubes look excellent to me. Very good point with the wiring, even if it is (it couldn�t be otherwise, though) slightly oversized. I didn�t want to put any in my own tubes just in case I could ruin the sets, but seeing your solution I almost regret doing so now.

Keep the good progress, and very best regards from Spain,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Tom, Willie -

Thanks so much for the kind remarks! Yes, the angle of that picture makes the vents look out of size, but they are correct. I have begun design of the Pilot House today while continuing on further design of the open bridge & deckhouse.

The torpedo tubes printed in Model Gray resin came out extremely well and a pair of those will be used instead of the one I used in the photo (it was printed in Rapid Black). I hope to post photos of the painted tubes perhaps tomorrow.

Hank

[Iceman 29]

Quite a job, not simple forms!

[BB62vet]

Quite a job, not simple forms!

Pascal, Thanks once again for your positive remarks!! True, these vents are not a common item and each requires a bit of knowledge as to what theire purpose is, and how they fit together. Having been an HVAC designer also helped along the way!!! I will have further venting design on the Pilot House, as well.

Glad you're still following this build (as I am your battleship)!!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

It will be interesting to see how you orient and support the pilot house deck. The big drawback of current 3D SLA printing is it's really three sides printing and with detail on the "bottom" some challenges arise!

Best regards! Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank:
It will be interesting to see how you orient and support the pilot house deck. The big drawback of current 3D SLA printing is it's really three sides printing and with detail on the "bottom" some challenges arise!
Best regards! Tom

Tom,
I've been thinking about that very question. In the meantime, I've been working on the design of the pilot house and have it coming along fairly well at this point -

It's actually a bit further along as I made that screen shot earlier this evening. I've located the doors (3 out of 4) and will continue some design tomorrow. This time around, I'm adding a few details that I had previously made as separate parts but think that incorporating into the main design will save time and effort and also allow for these to be located exactly where they should be located. I also made the pilot house a separate design file from the 01 level deckhouse & open bridge.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Working on several areas at the moment:
1) The Display Board now has all the keel blocks installed and I've added the props to the shafts, so in essence I can screw down the hull unit to the blocks as it will be easier to work on with the hull in a static position:

2) I've finished the Pilot House design and have run 2 prints (both had issues) and currently have a 3rd one in printing. Here is a picture of the design:

The upper Mk. 37 Barbette and HVAC vent have not printed at all, why I don't know, but I've copied those parts of the design to a separate file and have successfully printed both of those parts separately. Here is a picture of their design:

Whether or not this prints correctly on the Pilot House doesn't matter at this point.
I'm still working on the overall design of the 01 Level Fwd. Deckhouse and Open Bridge which will be two separate parts.
3) Today I designed my own 3"/50 R/S Lockers for Mt. 33 as the commerical (Shapeways) purchases were two single lockers joined together which wasn't all that correct. Here's a picture of my version:

I'm currently trying to verify that there were door handles and if not, these can be removed easily. Also, the base of these lockers may have been solid and I will modify that, if needed, prior to printing. Even though I was a 2nd and then 1st loader on Mt. 33, I can't recall how the R/S lockers were configured.
I've also 3D designed/printed the handrails for the Mk. 56 Barbette Deck (P/S) which somehow, I had forgotten about. These are ready to be installed. So, at this point the entire after deckhouse and gun tub components above the 01 level are all my own 3D design/printed parts. This will also be true for the Fwd. 01 Level Deckhouse and everything above.

[NavyShooter]

Looking really good!

I have spent the week working about 15 feet away from a set of twin Mk32 torpedo tubes. I won't go into detail, but I've been doing technical inspection/quality assurance work on a Halifax class ship this week, and I'm working in the Hangar and Stbd Torpedo mag.

Neat to see them in miniature!

NS

[BB62vet]

Brad (NS),

Thanks for the nice comments!! My latest print run of triple torp. tubes came out really well, I just haven't gotten around to getting photos after painting them. I think there are some minor differences in the ones on STODDARD in 1968-69 and those of today - probably in the control boxes, knobs, & wiring. So, I've done mine as my photos show from that period of time.

Glad you're able to "have fun" at work - something most of us can only wish for (well, if you're a bit younger, I guess )

Hank

[Iceman 29]

More and more precise drawings!

[BB62vet]

More and more precise drawings!

Thanks, Pascal - Yes, Indeedy!! Tom & I were recently communicating how both of our parts design has evolved over the 2 years or so that we have been doing 3D design/printing. Like any other "new fangled" tool, it's a learning process and I feel that we are still only on the beginning edge of this technology.

Last night I also designed and have a print running now of the life jacket lockers which were hung from the 01 Level handrails in a couple locations; I designed a single and dual set -

Also, made a slight modification to the top cover on the R/S Lockers previously mentioned, so those are all printing at the moment.

Hank

[BB62vet]

So, at this point I have the hull mounted to the keel blocks -

I've got the after deckhouse almost finished - this is the hybird main deck level superstructure (kit bashed with modifications) with 3D designed/printed upper parts which replaces the scratchbuilt deckhouse & 3in50 gun tub and deck house I had originally started with -

Both the Pilot House and 01 Level Deckhouse Fwd. have been printed out and I'm beginning the painting of the pilot house. The Pilot House took 3 print runs due to proper orientation of the part on the build platform. A couple minor repairs were made and it's fully functional -

The open door is a commercial replacement for my 3D printed door which broke off and like so many Brandon classified documents, all of a sudden disappeared into thin air.

The 01 Level Fwd Deckhouse came out very well on the 2nd printing (flat, directly on the build platform), but I'm going to reprint later today with resized replenishment station details as these came out a tad to small. Overall, the parts printed in Model Gray Resin were exactly as designed, needing no scaling up/down.

Hank

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

For some reason I overviewed this last post of yours.

Both the Pilot House and 01 Level Deckhouse Fwd. have been printed out and I'm beginning the painting of the pilot house. The Pilot House took 3 print runs due to proper orientation of the part on the build platform. A couple minor repairs were made and it's fully functional.

This pilot house looks wonderful, crispy and sharp in all the details that I can see. Superb effort and excellent results.

The open door is a commercial replacement for my 3D printed door which broke off and like so many Brandon classified documents, all of a sudden disappeared into thin air.

Welcome to the CMFC (Carpet Monster Fan Club). It has happened to me so many times that I feel I could have already made enough stuff for two ships. On the other hand, instead of listening to me cursing sotto voce for half an hour, my wife joins me with the torch of his cell phone, and many times it is she who finds the odd piece. I cannot think of anything more humiliating

I am still bogged down with the main mast wiring.

Keep the good work and the pics coming, and very best regards from this side,

Willie.