Model Monkey Sneak Peeks

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, EJ and Aop!

The design came out huge, 111 MB, too big for Shapeways as designed. EJ had some good suggestions on how to get around that and sent a photo of Hood showing another row of rivets to be added. Thanks!!

Back to my oars to row.

[ModelMonkey]

Riveting is complete (thanks EJ!). Detailing next.

I'll have to split the funnel into two parts, top and bottom, to keep the size of the CAD file small enough for Shapeways yet keep the rivets. The rivets are cool and by gosh we're keeping them. The split will occur at the top of the lower horizontal strap so that the seam, when assembled, is invisible.

Question for those interested, do you want a design for the funnel with the square patch used to cover battle damage? Can add, if interested.

There will be two designs for the lower funnel halves, one for the forward funnel and one for the aft funnel, because the front and aft edges of the lower flange on the real aft funnel were cropped to fit between other structures.

[whaynes]

These look fantastic!! Looking forward to their availability!
Walt Haynes

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Walt!

For those interested in funnels in 1/200 scale, it looks like a single 3D-printed funnel will cost about $60 USD.

[Admiral John Byng]

I just got my Balao set and it is amazing! The railings are so fine and delicate I will need to be careful with the paintbrush!

Thanks for this Steve.

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much, Admiral! Very happy that you are happy with the fairwater! I think you just might like this design, too:

Several projects are nearing completion, among them is this one, now at about 90% complete. Final adjustments to the shape and further detailing are underway. It will be offered as a set of four in several popular scales, with distinct features unique to each turret:

The barbette will not be included.

[ModelMonkey]

Better color.

[Aop Aur]

Wow!! That looks absolutely amazing! I can't figure out how you managed to make so complex shapes wih this software!

By the way is 1/200 turret in the kit good? But 1/350 ones will need replacements for sure!

Aop

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Aop!

Regarding Trumpeter's 1/200 scale kit's turrets, I cannot say. What has been reported is that the 1/200 scale Trumpeter Hood's turrets are much better than those found in earlier kits such as Trumpeter's 1/350 scale model. That kit's turrets are too tall and too angular.

But even in 1/200 scale, Trumpeter's rangefinders' end caps appear as the real end caps did early in Hood's service. For 1941, they should have a bolted-on end cap.

My design also has the early rangefinder' end caps as does AOTS drawings. But based on messages received yesterday, several modelers prefer the 1941 appearance for their models. The Model Monkey design will be changed to represent latter-style rangefinder end caps, perfect for 1941, and consistent with the rest of the model.

Also, the Model Monkey B and X Turrets will have vents.

A Turret's rangefinder will have chamfered rear ends.

B Turret will have chamfered rear corners.

[EJFoeth]

When I did the turrets for WEM I added both styles of rangefinder caps... easy to choose. Those are small parts only, perhaps adding two pair is possible?

[ModelMonkey]

Can do. Your turrets for WEM are brilliant.

[EJFoeth]

Thanks; human 3D printing

But seriously, really 3D printing opens up so many possibilities that I probably will ignore for a while. Perhaps until I master Rhino a bit more because that's the code we use at work (And, my Autocad 2009 version decided to spontaneously uninstall itself this weekend and is now destroyed?! Fortunately Rhino can read all my etch work or I would have had a serious problem!).

[ModelMonkey]

AutoCAD self-destructed!? That has got to be annoying and infuriating at the same time.

I like AutoCAD and Rhino a lot. Wow, are they expensive. Wish I could afford them!

With Rhino and AutoCAD skills, you must be a 3D-design juggernaut. You'll beat that propeller, yet.

[EJFoeth]

I bought Autocad on a student licence for 10 or 40 Euro or something... really cheap... don't know why it committed suicide...

Rhino is for work only, developing some tools. I am making free-form deformation software in C# for Grasshopper, but I cannot draw in 3d yet... odd, right?

[ModelMonkey]

EJ, it's great that you have a good understanding about these software programs. I only know enough to be dangerous.

Baltimore class fans, good news! Among the Model Monkey designs nearing completion is a set of accurately scaled and detailed Baltimore class heavy cruiser main battery 8"/55 triple turrets. [edit: World War Two-era designs and Vietnam War-era designs are done and in the catalog!]

Here are a couple renderings of a turret for USS St. Paul CA-73 as it appeared in 1969 during the Vietnam War. At that time the armored rangefinder hoods had been removed and their openings plated over (under, actually) leaving a very shallow recess where they used to be. The raised numbers you see represent the viewfinder hood part numbers welded to the parts. The numbers are correct. The doors are accurately offset to the left.

[Admiral John Byng]

The Hood turrets look good! I didn't get the 1/200 kit as I have no room for it

Will you be doing 1/600 scale for the Airfix kit? If so, would you consider doing gun barrels as well? The worst parts of all of those old 1/600 kits are the gun barrels.

[ModelMonkey]

1/600? Absolutely.

Can design the guns, too, mounted on a trunnion so that they can be installed at any realistic elevation. The blast bags/bloomers/bucklers will be up to the modeler.

Hope this is good news.

[Admiral John Byng]

Great! Thanks Steve.

[ModelMonkey]

The design for HMS Hood's turrets is about 95% complete, thanks to much advice and photographic assistance from EJ Foeth and Frank Allen. These renderings are for "A" and "B" Turrets.

In the first rendering, viewing angle and perspective make the guns look longer than they are. Notice that the rear of the turrets is differently shaped and "B" Turret has vents. Turret bottom side "scallops" are present, subtle features some plastic kits miss. The guns are mounted on a trunnion so that the modeler can set the elevation.

"A" Turret's armored rangefinder hoods will be adjusted to have chamfers at the rear, outer corners. More detailing yet to come.

This design is likely to be ready beginning after Thanksgiving (Thursday). Scales will include 1/700, 1/600, 1/400 and 1/350. Other scales, including 1/720 (for Italeri) and 1/200, can be made available upon request.

The barbettes will not be included.

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Steve,

I have finally unpacked all of my models in the new house and I have gotten the stomach up to finish the "Ships & Company" 1/700 USS Intrepid SCB-125 kit. I use the word kit loosly here. Something like $250 delivered, no PE, no air wing, Island is all wrong, and the sponsons are all wrong. I think it is over scaled at the bow but I am going to let that go. So, I was wondering how hard it would be to get an SCB-125 Intrepid Island circa 1959-ish. I will take what ever era I can get but I have some old pit road F-11 Tigers, White Ensign F4D-1 Sky Rays, Pit Road A-4Cs, White Ensign AJ-2 Savage's, and some Fujimi A-1E "Spads" to go along with a set of CVG-6 1959 decals I generated some time back. With one of your islands, I think that I can make something out of this thing.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Mark