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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Shapeways PT model parts
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Trying to get the Shapeways Model Monkey people to do their Torpedo Tube Breech Doors model parts in 1/72nd scale.

Sure would dress up the old Revell kit, as I really don't want to buy the complete tubes...

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 8:20am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew,

I have been getting 3D parts made through Shapeways. I don't know how detailed and small the part you need is. 1/72 is pretty small. There is a limit on the 3D printers on how thin the sections have to be and that is about .023 inch. I do get parts made that exceed the .023 minimum, but they are pretty fragile.

Lew

Lew Zee

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 8:51am
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm

Dup

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 8:52am
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm

Lew,

As you know, several different Shapeways vendors are making numerous PT boat model parts in a number of scales, many of them in 1/72nd scale, which is that of the old Revell "PT 109" 80' Elco kit.

Steve Larsen of Model Monkey has re-scaled and made the torpedo tube breech doors parts in 1/72nd, and I've ordered two sets of four.

The Revell kit's torpedo tube breech doors are flat and featureless, so the detailed breech doors will dress the kit's tubes up considerably.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 3:17pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew,

Is this the PT-109? I saw this on Shapeways:
[url]https://www.shapeways.com/product/MAWVJ2DPS/1-72-torpedo-tubes-aft-for-pt-boats?optionId=60528677[/url]
For the tubes they have, the molded-in breech doesn't look plain. I could probably do it for you (no charge to make the model, you just buy the part from Shapeways) if I had all the dimensions.

Lew

Lew Zee

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 7:24pm
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm

Drew,
Just a thought. I've seen those torpedo tubes in the flesh and they are gorgeous. Steve did a magnificent job on them and they print beautifully. Think about waiting to see what Revell does with their updated kit coming out this fall.
Take care
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 7:25pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Lew,

The Shapeways photo you posted are the complete tubes, and they are indeed beautifully rendered. I hadn't considered getting those, as they're expensive, I don't know if they'd fit the molded tube pads on the Revell kit's deck, I didn't want to go to the trouble of removing the molded pads and adding the new ones, and I believe they require additional training rod parts.

Dave,

My thoughts were that removing the existing Revell kit's tube's breech doors and adding the new Shapeways ones would be much easier and less costly than replacing the entire tubes.

I'm looking forward to seeing the retooled Revell 1/72nd kit myself, but in the meantime I can at least equip two of the old kits I've got lying around with accurate tube breech doors.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 17, 2017 - 8:05pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I received an email from Steve today that stated Shapeways doesn't believe the tube breech doors would survive "cleaning and handling" -- don't know why, as they're included on the complete 1/72nd scale tubes they make -- and canceling my order.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 19, 2017 - 3:46pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am