Model Monkey Sneak Peeks

[ModelMonkey]

Steve, do you do a 1/350 square bridge for the Tamiya Fletcher? The Revell kit is too big for me.

Aye, Admiral! Two, actually, to match different door configurations. I (oversimplistically) call them the "Bath Ironworks-type" and the "Bethlehem Steel-type" just to be able to tell them apart. In reality, they did not have names.

Bath:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/TVMMY4 ... d=57861269

Bethlehem:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/QCBL5S ... d=57860969

The square bridge deck, available separately, will fit either pilot house. It includes integrated peloruses and torpedo directors and has an open venturi.
http://www.shapeways.com/product/SKTBHZ ... d=58012246

A customer recently pointed out that the Tamiya 1/350 5"/38 single mounts are a bit underscale. I'll re-scale my designs for 1/350 this week.

[ModelMonkey]

...Would it be possible to get just that platform with the little dome done?

Thanks,
Mark

Mark, you are all set. Here's the link:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/AZYVZ ... pn-8-radar

[MartinJQuinn]

Aye, Admiral! Two, actually, to match different door configurations. I (oversimplistically) call them the "Bath Ironworks-type" and the "Bethlehem Steel-type" just to be able to tell them apart.

Bath:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/TVMMY4 ... d=57861269

The square bridge deck, available separately, will fit either pilot house. It includes integrated peloruses and torpedo directors and has an open venturi.
http://www.shapeways.com/product/SKTBHZ ... d=58012246

I just got these square bridge parts last week to upgrade the Trumpeter Sullivans. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

[Admiral John Byng]

Aye, Admiral! Two, actually, to match different door configurations. I (oversimplistically) call them the "Bath Ironworks-type" and the "Bethlehem Steel-type" just to be able to tell them apart.

Bath:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/TVMMY4 ... d=57861269

The square bridge deck, available separately, will fit either pilot house. It includes integrated peloruses and torpedo directors and has an open venturi.
http://www.shapeways.com/product/SKTBHZ ... d=58012246

I just got these square bridge parts last week to upgrade the Trumpeter Sullivans. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

Martin, is the Trumpeter kit better than the Tamiya? I forgot they did a Fletcher.

[MartinJQuinn]

Martin, is the Trumpeter kit better than the Tamiya? I forgot they did a Fletcher.

NO! The Tamiya - which is a round bridge - is older, but still better.

[Mark McKinnis]

Thanks Steve! Purchase complete.

The "69 Bridge set looks so much better than the kit bridges! It will also make my Intrepid 1957 look the same as my eventual Oriskany 1972, Shangri-La 1970, and Kearsarge 1953. They will all have the same looking bridge windows in their various configurations. Oh, by the way. In the future, I will need you to do your USS Shangri La Island (for Renewal) Island in 1/350 scale. I haven't figured out which 27A to 125 Essex Class CVS I am doing. I don't think that you have done a Essex/Yorktown/Hornet/Randolph/Wasp/Bennington/Kearsarge SCB-125 1960's CVS Island yet. I have been corresponding with James at Nautilus Models to do some flightdecks in 1/350 scale using the Intrepid kit to make Oriskany and Shangri-La. I think that they have a pattern for the CVS ships as well.

Thanks again,

Mark

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks Martin and Mark!

Thanks Steve! Purchase complete.

The "69 Bridge set looks so much better than the kit bridges! It will also make my Intrepid 1957 look the same as my eventual Oriskany 1972, Shangri-La 1970, and Kearsarge 1953. They will all have the same looking bridge windows in their various configurations. Oh, by the way. In the future, I will need you to do your USS Shangri La Island (for Renewal) Island in 1/350 scale. I haven't figured out which 27A to 125 Essex Class CVS I am doing. I don't think that you have done a Essex/Yorktown/Hornet/Randolph/Wasp/Bennington/Kearsarge SCB-125 1960's CVS Island yet. I have been corresponding with James at Nautilus Models to do some flightdecks in 1/350 scale using the Intrepid kit to make Oriskany and Shangri-La. I think that they have a pattern for the CVS ships as well.

Thanks again,

Mark

Thanks, Mark!

Happy to re-scale Shangri La to 1/350 for you!

I hope to get back to offer more Essex islands soon, especially Vietnam War-era islands in 1/700 scale. Initially, Essex islands didn't sell well, probably due to their high cost, but are doing better now. Some modelers who bought one have come back to purchase additional islands for other ships of the class. Love it.

These Essex designs were taking a very long time to research and develop and I had to move on to other projects but will come back to them later this year. Christoph Mentzel has been patiently waiting for Vietnam War-era islands in 1/700 scale that are not yet available. Hang in there, Chris! The islands are coming.

The trouble with those islands in that scale is that the fine bridge window framing members are not printable in 1/700. The framing members are longer and less supported than the Korean War-era bridge window framing so the 1/700 Vietnam War-era Essex designs have not been able to pass Shapeways design analysis software tests - yet. All other scales are good. The 1/700 solution is to offer those bridges with solid windows and subtly raised framing but that required a redesign that would take awhile so I had to postpone it in favor of other designs.

For those ship modelers who also dabble in the dark arts of armor models, more armor projects will be released in addition to more ship projects. Armor modelers have been pushing me hard for some time now to release more subjects, particularly German WWII subjects. The next armor project to be released is a Maybach HL230 P30 engine in 1/35 and 1/25 scale. For laymen, that's the engine used in many Tiger tanks. It is being designed from scans of original factory drawings. Here are some renderings of the design at about 75% complete:

[MartinJQuinn]

Holy Cow - that engine looks cool.

[Admiral John Byng]

Martin, is the Trumpeter kit better than the Tamiya? I forgot they did a Fletcher.

NO! The Tamiya - which is a round bridge - is older, but still better.

Thanks Martin! Time to head for shapeways.

[Admiral John Byng]

Steve, do you do a 1/350 square bridge for the Tamiya Fletcher? The Revell kit is too big for me.

Aye, Admiral! Two, actually, to match different door configurations. I (oversimplistically) call them the "Bath Ironworks-type" and the "Bethlehem Steel-type" just to be able to tell them apart.

Bath:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/TVMMY4 ... d=57861269

1-350 Model Monkey Bath-type Pilot House.jpg

Bethlehem:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/QCBL5S ... d=57860969

1-350 Model Monkey Bethlehem-type Pilot House.jpg

The square bridge deck, available separately, will fit either pilot house. It includes integrated peloruses and torpedo directors and has an open venturi

http://www.shapeways.com/product/SKTBHZ ... d=58012246

1-350 Model Monkey Fletcher Square Bridge Deck.jpg

A customer recently pointed out that the Tamiya 1/350 5"/38 single mounts are a bit underscale. I'll re-scale my designs for 1/350 this week.

Sorry Steve, forgot to thank you for your reply. I will get some of those.

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Martin and Admiral! Your comments and patronage are very much appreciated.

[Aop Aur]

Steve, your Tiger engine is extremely remarkable! You are the real 123D Design master!

Aop

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Aop!

It seems several ship modelers do dabble in armor. Thanks for the email encouragement! The HL230 is nearing completion at about 80%. Once done, the next project in the queue is Twin 5"/38 Mk.38 mounts for Sumner and Gearing class destroyers.

[MatthewB]

I thought for a minute that Shelf Oddity did the Mk. 56 Directors.

But it is only the Mk. 51 Directors:

http://shelfoddity.com/index.php?route= ... uct_id=102

But Veteran Models makes a Mk 56 3" Gun Director:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Veteran-1-700-3 ... 1779158144

MB

[ModelMonkey]

I also offer Mk.56 directors in several scales larger than 1/700.

In larger scales, it is a three-part kit, fully rotatable and the radar can be positioned at any realistic elevation.

Thanks to Hank "BB62vet" who provided excellent drawings and photos for the project.

[Admiral John Byng]

Hi Steve, I have ordered both types of square bridge as I am waiting to get hold of the new Classic Warships book on the SB Fletchers. I will probably have to do another Fletcher as punishment for my impatience!

Please will you post here when the turrets are ready for ordering in 1/350 scale.

Thanks for all of your great stuff!

[ModelMonkey]

Hi Steve, I have ordered both types of square bridge as I am waiting to get hold of the new Classic Warships book on the SB Fletchers. I will probably have to do another Fletcher as punishment for my impatience!

Please will you post here when the turrets are ready for ordering in 1/350 scale.

Thanks for all of your great stuff!

Thanks, Admiral! I hope you'll enjoy the new parts.

1/350 heavyweight and lightweight mounts appropriate for square bridge Fletchers are ready. Here they are among other 1/350 scale ship weapons:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Mo ... eapons&s=0

If the pilot houses haven't been been printed yet, Shapeways should combine the orders and save you on shipping. If it looks like the orders weren't combined, I recommend contacting Shapeways customer service directly after making your purchase to ensure that the order gets combined.

For 1/700, I highly recommend 3DModelparts' 5"/38 singles.

Another Shapeways designer made some 5"/38 singles but his results did not satisfy so he was shot to encourage the others.

Best wishes on your Fletcher builds!

[Andi@Germany]

Steve,

I want to order following item 1x 1/144 Doors US Navy-type (24) in Frosted Ultra Detail.

Shapeways informed me that this product is not printable.

Thanks again for placing an order with Shapeways. Unfortunately, we are unable to manufacture one of the products in order #1395065.

This is for information to you.

cheers

Andi

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Andi!

Shapeways notified me today that the attachment points of the doors to the sprue are too fine to survive cleaning. I've thickened the design for strength and the doors are ready.

Please consider reordering.

Sorry for the trouble!

[Admiral John Byng]

Hi Steve, I have ordered both types of square bridge as I am waiting to get hold of the new Classic Warships book on the SB Fletchers. I will probably have to do another Fletcher as punishment for my impatience!

Please will you post here when the turrets are ready for ordering in 1/350 scale.

Thanks for all of your great stuff!

Thanks, Admiral! I hope you'll enjoy the new parts.

1/350 heavyweight and lightweight mounts appropriate for square bridge Fletchers are ready. Here they are among other 1/350 scale ship weapons:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Mo ... eapons&s=0

If the pilot houses haven't been been printed yet, Shapeways should combine the orders and save you on shipping. If it looks like the orders weren't combined, I recommend contacting Shapeways customer service directly after making your purchase to ensure that the order gets combined.

For 1/700, I highly recommend 3DModelparts' 5"/38 singles.

Another Shapeways designer made some 5"/38 singles but his results did not satisfy so he was shot to encourage the others.

Best wishes on your Fletcher builds!

Thanks Steve!