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Topic: Cowl vents! |
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Pat Matthews
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 24, 2014 - 4:56pm
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I'm a big fan of 3D printed parts, and have used a lot in my recent model boat builds. One of the trickiest parts in all model shipbuilding is the cowl vent-- much hair has been pulled out in trying to make these buggers. But with 3D printing, no sweat!
I offer a series through Shapeway's online shop, and I've just added a set of 1:20 scale vents for Elco 80's. Some discussion at:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110066
Or go straight to the store:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/patmat
The parts have the correct 12° front face angle, and fit on 11/32 brass tube. The swivel rings have bosses for the thumb screws, which need to be self made.
And a selection of my vents on a 1:32 salvage tug:
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 24, 2014 - 9:44pm
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Hi Pat,
Very nice work! Have you considered resizing these to 1/35 scale for the Italeri kit? I would be a buyer for several sets.
While we're at it. It would be amazing to get some flash hiders. Perhaps you and Jeff could team up to make them available? Just a thought.
Thank you
Dave
David Waples |
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Patrick Matthews
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:11am
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Should be easy enough, but they'd be small (~3/16" tube size), and I'd need to design entire vents to fit the kits... which I don't have in hand...
How bad are the kit parts?
Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/ |
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Jerry Beasley
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 7:26am
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Hey Pat,
I'll be right behind David in line for a few more sets - I think there are probably a number of items for the boats that could be printed that you would have a market for, including flash hiders for the .50s.
Jerry Beasley |
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Patrick Matthews
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 10:46am
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OK, I'm not sure I see the problem with the kit parts... two halves that should join nicely to make a hollow cowl, and with a little hand finishing the seam should disappear. You'll need to do some hand finishing on 3D printed parts as well.
Flash suppressors- these can't be made in this small size with a bit of brass tube or plastic rod?
Another thing to keep in mind: 3D printing is getting better, but still can't match the surface finish and detail of parts found in most any molded kit. The cowl vents are perfect for 3d printing-- large smooth surfaces that can be hand finished without wiping out detail, yet with a complex shape that's hard to make any other way.
Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/ |
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:08pm
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It will take some work but they'll be fine. What I like about yours is the proper rim and thumb screw attachments. It also looks like they have nice thickness. I understand what you're saying about the quality of the printing requiring some work. I know there are different degrees of resolution in 3D printing. I haven't ordered anything from Shapeways yet to know what to expect.
Anyway, nice work and great idea!
Dave
David Waples |
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Pat Matthews
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:56pm
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Thanks!
Yes, resolution varies. Those cheap desk top jobbies that get all the hype? They make things like this full sized whistle, using what is basically a CNC hot glue gun:
Yuck!
But the better processes at Shapeways will do work as seen on these cowls:
Wall thickness: I can't take it down to much less than 1/32... fine for the bigger parts, kind of heavy looking on some small parts.
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