Model Monkey Sneak Peeks

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:07 pm

Thanks, Uwe and Dave!

More work is done on the Mk.18 Torpedo Tube design. It is now about 80% complete. It should be done this weekend. The renderings below are of the forward, starboard tube. The aft tubes have a "slide" (the plate and guide rails under the forward carriage) that is differently shaped. Otherwise, the forward and aft tubes are nearly identical.

Some of the features seen here will be adjusted, there are further structures yet to be added, but these renderings may give you an idea of how the final design will look.

The tubes will be offered separately from the turntable and forward slide. This will permit the modeler to display the tube in stowed or firing position (rotated 8 degrees outward for the forward tubes, or 12.5 degrees for the aft tubes), or dismounted for storage or maintenance.

Due to its size in 1/48 scale, nearly 130mm long, I regret that it will likely be expensive.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:22 pm

Good question, Dave.

The cost of a 3D-printed product is determined primarily by the amount of resin extruded by the printer and the amount of time it takes to print. So, omit the barrel and the price would drop quite a bit, but that raises a host of new issues. For example, none of the fittings for the tube would be printable in 1/48 or 1/72 - without the tube, the fittings are too thin. At best, I could offer the breech ring with firing mechanism and the two carriages.

But the problem then becomes, which "tube" will the modeler use? A "correct" diameter tube in 1/48 scale is 11.443mm. Since tubes of precisely that diameter don't exist commercially, assuming most modelers don't have a lathe, the modeler will have to choose something that is commercially available that is close to that diameter. Then the problem becomes, will the breech ring fit the various tubes various modelers choose?

So you end up with all sorts of second- and third-order effects that are very unpleasant for the modeler.

IMHO, I think that without the tube, too much scratch-building and guesswork would be required of the modeler to make the product a better seller than offering the whole tube.

High cost remains a conundrum I am very sensitive to because it often places desirable products outside the budget of too many modelers. This is adversely affecting sales now and in turn puts the business as a whole at risk. No revenue, no Model Monkey.

Unfortunately, 3D-printing remains expensive and it looks like it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Aop Aur · Post by **Aop Aur** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:14 pm

What about resin cast the expensive parts? Though, other parts like superstructures might not be likely. If you print the torpedo tube in Frosted Extreme detail plastic then cast resin copies and sell them at lower prices? But I don't know if the details will still be castable. Some are really complex like having windows/portholes and overcuts. Just my 2 cents, though.

Aop

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:53 am

Aop Aur wrote:What about resin cast the expensive parts? Though, other parts like superstructures might not be likely. If you print the torpedo tube in Frosted Extreme detail plastic then cast resin copies and sell them at lower prices? But I don't know if the details will still be castable. Some are really complex like having windows/portholes and overcuts. Just my 2 cents, though.

Aop

No thank you. Resin product production is another business entirely.

Practically, resin copying Model Monkey products is not likely to be cheaper, probably more expensive. Here's why:

1. Most Model Monkey designs have features that are utterly "un-moldable". Consider the design for the USS Arizona Memorial:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/NUS9XX ... d=60281115

2. Those designs that could be molded are small and/or be made using a multi-part mold, requiring that the product be cast in a pressurized environment to remove cast-spoiling bubbles. A pressure chamber is costly, a cost that would be passed on to the customer.

3. A 3D-printed "master" must be purchased from Shapeways (designers have to buy their own designs from Shapeways just like other Shapeways customers). The cost to design and print the 3D master would be passed on to resin product customers.

4. The cost of molding materials would be passed on to the customer.

5. The 3D-printed master is made of acrylic plastic and is therefore somewhat brittle. Pulling it from the mold will destroy it. Then,

6. once the master has been "de-molded" (removed from the mold), the mold itself would probably be good for 10-15 product "pulls" (castings) before mold wear and tear adversely affects product quality. Those with casting experience know full well that all pulls are not successful. A number of them will be waste. In the case of a set of four torpedo tubes, turntables and slides, that means just 2-3 sets successfully cast before the mold is no longer viable. A new mold would have to be cast. The cost of the new mold would be passed on to the customer and split between the number of successful pulls - split between 2-3 customers.

7. Since the 3D-printed master was destroyed removing it from the mold, a new 3D-printed master would have to be purchased from Shapeways to produce the mold for the next set of pulls. The cost of the new master would be passed on to the customer and split between the number of successful pulls, in the case of torpedo tubes, 2-3 customers.

8. A new mold would have to be made for the next set of pulls. The new master would be destroyed pulling it from the new mold. The cost of the new mold would be passed on to perhaps 2-3 customers.

9. The time required to produce resin products would come from, and adversely affect, available 3D-product design time.

10. A reasonable fee would have to be added for production time and effort (aftermarket vendors don't work for free nor do they need the practice). This is in addition to the fee required to design the 3D-printed master.

And all that for just one product in one scale.

Years ago, I sold resin Iowa class turrets and fittings in 1/192 scale from masters I had designed and made by hand. It was a very laborious and costly process. 3D-printing beats that effort hands down.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 4:42 pm

I bit of work done on the breech door hinge. The hinge is not complete [edit" done!] but you get an idea of how it will look when finished.

On real PT Boats, the hinge is inboard as is the bullnose ring on the side of the combustion chamber above the tube. The bullnose ring held a small chain connected to a mallet. To fire the torpedo manually, the mallet was struck against a firing pin on the front of the combustion chamber.

A set of tubes will be offered with tubes properly designed with features correct for port and starboard.

From this view, you can see some rivet detail on top the tube as well as a subtle weld line that extends the length of the tube in about the 11 o'clock position (when viewed from aft).

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Tue Aug 16, 2016 7:35 pm

Forward tubes are ready in 1/48 scale!

Link: http://www.shapeways.com/product/FGCDMU ... ts-forward

Free shipping this week at Shapeways!

TOMLABEL · Post by **TOMLABEL** » Tue Aug 16, 2016 8:23 pm

Those look fantastic, Steve!! You are really bad for my 'wish-list' of kits when you put out stuff like this!!!

Kelley

Admiral John Byng · Post by **Admiral John Byng** » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:33 am

Must resist buying a Merit kit just to get these! Steve can you make upgrades for human will power?

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:38 pm

Thanks so much!

The finished tubes in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 are described here:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=163209

anj4de · Post by **anj4de** » Fri Aug 19, 2016 9:48 am

Hello all

Today I received my first ever Shapeways parts...1/700 New Jersey round bridge! Here are some pictures of the real parts, we do not get to see those in the flesh all to often and Shapeways only shows "artist impressions". A spezial thanks to Steve (ModelMonkey) for making those. The detail is breath taking!!! My 1980ties rebuild 1/350 Missouri will get changed into a New Jersey soon as well!
The tower of, in my case Iowa, requires some changes to make it NJ as well but they are relaively simple to execute.

cheers
Uwe

anj4de · Post by **anj4de** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 1:19 pm

Hello Steve

With the New Jersey bridge now here I was looking at the rest of the Tamiya kit...and I do not really like the 5 inch guns.

Now I have seen the ones you offer here...
http://www.shapeways.com/product/FXHXE6 ... d=57607349
...but for a 1944 New Jersey those would need to have the blast bags installed. Would it be possible (not right now...I am a slow builder) to redsign yours to have the bags? Also a nice touch would be to have some of the access doors open...like the armor doors on the New Jersey bridge tower.

cheers
Uwe

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 1:41 pm

Thanks for the kind comments regarding the "round bridge"!

PM coming your way.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:55 pm

For those who want to convert their Gato class submarine model to one of 122 Balao class boats, a Balao fairwater is in design.

Here is the design at about 25% complete.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:04 pm

More work done on the Balao fairwater. The design is about 40% complete now.

The typical Balao wartime fairwater is very different from the typical wartime fairwater of the earlier Gato class. Although the hull of the two classes is externally nearly identical, internally and structurally they were somewhat different boats. According to military.wikia.com:

"The Balao-class was a successful design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 122 units built, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato-class, the boats had slight internal differences. The most significant improvement was the use of thicker, higher yield strength steel in the pressure hull skins and frames, which increased their test depth to 400 feet (120 m). Tang actually achieved a depth of 612 ft (190 m) during a test dive, and exceeded that test depth when taking on water in the forward torpedo room while evading a destroyer.....
"Museums: Eight Balao-class submarines are open to public viewing. They primarily depend on revenue generated by visitors to keep them operational and up to U.S. Navy standards; each boat gets a yearly inspection and a "report card". Some boats, like Batfish and Pampanito, encourage youth functions and allow a group of volunteers to sleep overnight in the crew's quarters. The following is a complete list of Balao-class museum boats:
USS Batfish (SS-310) at War Memorial Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma
USS Becuna (SS-319) at Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USS Bowfin (SS-287) at USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Honolulu, Hawaii
USS Clamagore (SS-343) at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
USS Ling (SS-297) at New Jersey Naval Museum in Hackensack, New Jersey
USS Lionfish (SS-298) at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts
USS Pampanito (SS-383) at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in San Francisco, California, which played the part of USS Stingray in the movie "Down Periscope"
USS Razorback (SS-394) at Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock, Arkansas"

Aop Aur · Post by **Aop Aur** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:43 pm

That looks impressive!

Aop

Admiral John Byng · Post by **Admiral John Byng** » Sat Sep 03, 2016 2:54 am

Is this 1/144 or 1/72 or both? Looks great!

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:42 am

Thanks, gentlemen!

This fairwater should make for relatively easy conversions from most popular Gato class model kits. Test uploads to Shapeways indicate that this design is certainly printable in 1/72 (for Revell) and 1/144 (for Trumpeter).

This design with slightly thickened features is likely to be printable in 1/180 (for Revell) and 1/200 (for Riich).

Due to its fine features, it is not likely to be printable in 1/350 scale (for AFV Club and Robin Models). This design is certainly not printable in 1/700 scale.

Box art: Scalemates.com.

Aop Aur · Post by **Aop Aur** » Sat Sep 03, 2016 7:45 am

1/350 would be great! There was a Balao class submarine, USS Lagarto (SS 371) that was sunk in the Gulf of Thailand (my country) in 1945. Should be an interesting addition to my 1/350 fleet! And your island will certainly look great as always!

Cheers!
Aop