Model Monkey Sneak Peeks

[ModelMonkey]

This thread will highlight upcoming Model Monkey 3D-printed products as they are being designed. It is an opportunity for all to comment and provide advice during product design.

For those not familiar with acrylic plastic 3D-printed by Shapeways, here is some advice:

Cleaning your parts: during the 3D printing process, a waxy substance is used to support certain part features. Although the parts are cleaned by Shapeways afterwards, some waxy residue may remain. It can be safely removed with water and a mild water-based detergent like "Dawn" dishwashing detergent, baby shampoo (no conditioner), or "Simple Green" using an old, soft toothbrush, Q-tips or pipe cleaners. Customers report that "Bestine" and "Goo Gone" also work well. Do NOT use any cleaner containing acetone, acetate or thinner containing Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK). Acetone will attack acrylic plastic and damage it.

Curing and smoothing surfaces: during the "Frosted Detail" printing process, liquid resin is cured by ultraviolet light. Microscopic bits of resin may remain uncured. Let your parts sit in direct sunlight or under a UV or fluorescent lamp for a few hours to fully cure the resin. After your parts have fully cured, if desired, careful use of an inexpensive "air eraser" emitting common household baking soda can help smooth surfaces of Frosted Detail parts and remove any unwanted "frost" without harming detail. An air eraser, like an airbrush but much cheaper, can be found on Amazon.com. Models by Harbor Freight and Paasche are popular.

Primer and painting: for primer on "Frosted Detail" acrylic plastic, Tamiya "fine gray" is a good choice. Only acrylic paints meant for plastic are recommended. Enamel paint may not harden on "Frosted Detail" plastic. For "Strong and Flexible" products, a kind of nylon, only primers and paints intended specifically for use on nylon should be used. Other hobby paints may not adhere. Simply Google "primer for nylon" and "paint for nylon" for several good choices. Do NOT use any cleaner containing acetone, acetate or thinner containing Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK). Acetone will attack acrylic plastic and damage it.

Here are some views of scale model 40mm Bofors at about 75% complete.

[blacman]

[Miguel]

It will be completed after the design for USS Portland's aft superstructure is finished.

Hello Steve... any preview of the aft superstructure?

Regards

[ModelMonkey]

Hello Steve... any preview of the aft superstructure?

Regards

Almost ready. I'm making adjustments now according to photos. The more I study photos, the more I find subtle details and think, "Oh, look! That feature is not in the plans but it has to be on the model!"

Sometimes when studying photos I find some new feature or shape correction and feel like the proverbial dog saying, "Squirrel!"

Portland has taken much longer than expected but the time spent is well worth it. Thanks for your patience!

[biggles2]

What with MM's (and others) upgrades and AM, a $100 kit becomes a $1000 kit! The Horror!!
What about new depth charge launchers? And the depth charges themselves - if you use a PE set, you end up with empty racks!

[ModelMonkey]

What about new depth charge launchers? And the depth charges themselves - if you use a PE set, you end up with empty racks!

I'll have to pass on these in favor of other designs.

[biggles2]

Where's the replacement funnel for 1/700 Arizona?

[ModelMonkey]

Where's the replacement funnel for 1/700 Arizona?

In the queue for January. [edit: available now.]

[Admiral John Byng]

Hi Steve, any chance of a replacement funnel for Trumpeter's HMS Belfast?

[ModelMonkey]

Hi Steve, any chance of a replacement funnel for Trumpeter's HMS Belfast?

I'd like to take on several RN projects for 2016. I'd need help with research for Belfast. Presently, I have no decent plans for any Town class ship.

Photo: Scalemates.com.

[Cliffy B]

Steve,

Picked up your BB-38 bridge and wow! Completely worth it! Pennsy will look great with it

Is there a possibility you could scale down your Mk-56 Gun directors to 1/700? I could use a good dozen plus of them for multiple projects and no one makes them. Also, what about the Mk-37 (late) directors with the Mk-25 radars? I'm sure the tubular radar support won't print at such a small size but could you include the radar dishes? What about your Fletcher class bridges?

-Mike

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Mike! So glad you like the Pennsy bridge!

I'll rescale the items you asked for in 1/700 tomorrow and see if Shapeways can print them. The open dish Mk.25 will certainly be unprintable and the solid dish may not be either. But let's see about the rest - they will definitely push Shapeways' technology! [edit: Mk.56 Directors are not printable by Shapeways in 1/700].

I sent the CAD files for the Mk.37s with Mk.25 radars to Carl Allsop at 3DModelparts.com. If Shapeways can't print them in 1/700, maybe he can. He uses an entirely different technology than does Shapeways. He is great at small items. Shapeways is great at large items. They compliment each other.

[Cliffy B]

Awesome, thank you very much sir

[Miguel]

Almost ready. I'm making adjustments now according to photos. Thanks for your patience!

I'm eagerly awaiting for it ...thank You Steve,love your stuff ,I got some Pennsy parts and now the Portland and everything is simply superb, I told You earlier,but want to ask again ,any chance in developing a 1/350 IJN Hiei superstructure, there is quite enough references to do so,maybe I'm wrong ,but I don't think ,neither Aoshima or Fujimi will pull a 1/350 HIEI version in the next year, and IMHO IJN Hiei is a beautiful warship

Regards

[ModelMonkey]

I'm eagerly awaiting for it ...thank You Steve,love your stuff ,I got some Pennsy parts and now the Portland and everything is simply superb, I told You earlier,but want to ask again ,any chance in developing a 1/350 IJN Hiei superstructure, there is quite enough references to do so,maybe I'm wrong ,but I don't think ,neither Aoshima or Fujimi will pull a 1/350 HIEI version in the next year, and IMHO IJN Hiei is a beautiful warship

Regards

Thanks so much for your patronage, Miguel!
Due to lack of market interest, I'll have to pass on Hiei in favor of other designs. Conversions simply don't sell.

[Admiral John Byng]

Hi Steve, any chance of a replacement funnel for Trumpeter's HMS Belfast?

I'd like to take on several RN projects for 2016. I'd need help with research for Belfast. Presently, I have no decent plans for any Town class ship.

Photo: Scalemates.com.

Research might be tricky as apart from Anatomy of the Ship Belfast (AOTS), I don't remember anyone having plans of the ship. I remember a big thread about this but can't find it. There is this in CAS: Southampton class:


viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6548&start=40

[John W.]

Steve -
Strongly suggest you make about twenty 3D printings of self in order to do all the suggested parts or assemblies. Use five to start, then bring more on-line as folks swoon over completed work and come up with more ideas which will increase like the square of the number of views of each part's CAD drawing. Hopefully orders will improve like the square of the number of kits.
Take head.
John

[ModelMonkey]

Research might be tricky as apart from Anatomy of the Ship Belfast (AOTS), I don't remember anyone having plans of the ship. I remember a big thread about this but can't find it. There is this in CAS: Southampton class:
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6548&start=40

Generally income from this work is insufficient to pay for research and I must rely on material available in the public domain or provided by the requester. Having said that, I'll keep perusing Amazon. Sometimes an AOTS book comes up there for pennies. Have AOTS Hood!

Steve -
Strongly suggest you make about twenty 3D printings of self in order to do all the suggested parts or assemblies. Use five to start, then bring more on-line as folks swoon over completed work and come up with more ideas which will increase like the square of the number of views of each part's CAD drawing. Hopefully orders will improve like the square of the number of kits.
Take head.
John

I sent out a signal to the Borg. Once assimilated, and with replicators in hand, all your modeling dreams will come true.

[ModelMonkey]

Is there a possibility you could scale down your Mk-56 Gun directors to 1/700? I could use a good dozen plus of them for multiple projects and no one makes them. Also, what about the Mk-37 (late) directors with the Mk-25 radars? I'm sure the tubular radar support won't print at such a small size but could you include the radar dishes? What about your Fletcher class bridges?

-Mike

Mike,

Unfortunately, Shapeways can't print any of the items in 1/700. The features are simply too small for their technology. Maybe 3DModelparts can do them.

As you know, I offer the Mk.37 directors in 1/700. It's the Mk.25 radars on top that can't be printed in that scale.

[Cliffy B]

Well phooey! Thanks for trying though Steve