PT Boat Forum


Moderated by: Dick, Jeff D

The PT Boat Forum ª PT Boats of WWII ª  PT Boats - General

Page: 1 of 1

« Back to Topic Index Page 67 | Replies: 6

 Author  Topic: Cowl vents!
Pat Matthews

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pat Matthews  Posted on: Feb 24, 2014 - 4:56pm
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:




Total Posts: 89 | Joined: Jan 7, 2012 - 5:41pm | IP Logged

David Waples

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Feb 24, 2014 - 9:44pm
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

Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP Logged

Patrick Matthews

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:11am
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/

Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

Jerry Beasley

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Beasley  Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 7:26am
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

Total Posts: 89 | Joined: Jan 9, 2008 - 4:27pm | IP Logged

Patrick Matthews

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 10:46am
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/

Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

David Waples

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:08pm
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

Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP Logged

Pat Matthews

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pat Matthews  Posted on: Feb 25, 2014 - 5:56pm
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.


Total Posts: 89 | Joined: Jan 7, 2012 - 5:41pm | IP Logged


Lock Topic

 

Forum Legend

New Member

Reply to topic

More than 25 posts | Full Member

Reply to topic with quoted message

More than 50 posts | Advanced Member

Edit Message

More than 150 posts | MASTER

View profile

More than 300 posts | TOP BOSS

Email member