Hullo,
I've had a 3D printer for a couple of months now, works like charm once you get your head around how to handle tricky models. So far I've printed stuff for 20 mm games, mostly battlefield scatter - crates etc. For some upcoming 1940 stuff I managed to pring a Matilda I quite well. For our 10 mm ACW games printing fences has worked quite well.
Anyway, we are going to test some WW2 convoy rules tomorrow, and I have to say that trying to get a 1:3000 scale FW 200 Condor to print successfully was a struggle. Anyway, here is the end result after a quick paint job.
Cheers,
Aksu
:-bd =D> :-bd
One of the 'joys' of effective camouflage is that it makes it hard to make the plane/ship/vehicle stand out ~X(
Did you print that whole convoy on one go?! Awesome :D
Quote from: toxicpixie on 18 March 2018, 07:14:06 PM
Did you print that whole convoy on one go?! Awesome :D
Yes, that was probably four hours to print. The ships I modeled pretty much as generic ships, apart from the corvette, where I tried to follow the Flower class plan. Then just copying the individual ships in the file to have enough for a convoy and sending to the 3d printer.
And a _very_ quick paint job. I set the printer to start with a disposable base on which the individual ships are printed, that makes painting a lot easier. The ships then just pop off the base when you use a bit of force. I could have of course modeled sea bases on the ships, that is what I did with the subs, as they are too fragile on their own. A bit like the (well camouflaged) Condors.
Cheers,
Aksu
Cracking ideas all round there. If I ever get GQ out the loft I might suggest them to our resident 3d printing enthusiasts :D
Brilliant idea
These 3D printers are pretty cool.
This guy has recreated Arnhem using a 3D printer, we see this on a boy's trip to Arnhem last year
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1gp3zvQF46Iab4lr1 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/1gp3zvQF46Iab4lr1)
Take care
Andy
That's a great table!
Wow! That's a bit good :)
While I'm still happier outsourcing my wargames production to companies that specialise in it, both the convoy and the Arnhem game show off 3D printing to advantage.
I find it all absolutely fascinating, how far are we from having replicators like Star Trek have.
Take care
Andy
What printer do you have? I have been looking for one but it seems a bit of a minefield finding one that is not a nightmare to set up and uses the right software
Quote from: Orcs on 19 March 2018, 02:00:52 PM
What printer do you have? I have been looking for one but it seems a bit of a minefield finding one that is not a nightmare to set up and uses the right software
I'm using the Flashforge Finder, bought from Clas Ohlson (ikea of hardware stores) https://www.clasohlson.com/uk/FlashForge-Finder-3D-Printer/38-7720 (https://www.clasohlson.com/uk/FlashForge-Finder-3D-Printer/38-7720)
Seems to be a pretty well made consumer level printer. Almost no setup hassles. Plenty of youtube reviews available. Quality is perfectly good. Only downside is the print size, 14 cm cube. Comes with its own software, pretty easy to use. For example downloading some free files from thingiverse and scaling them to the right size is pretty easy in the software, if you don't want to make your own models.
Cheers,
Aksu
Pierre the Shy and I are looking at running the ODGW Defending the Malay Barrier naval campaign which needs quite a few merchant vessels
Asku has been most helpful and a northern shipyard is currently producing a couple of convoy's worth of ships for us :)
Quote from: paulr on 20 March 2018, 06:32:44 PM
Asku has been most helpful and a northern shipyard is currently producing a couple of convoy's worth of ships for us :)
Happy to help, bro.
(http://www.usmm.org/p/wellsailem.jpg)
Cheers,
Aksu
Thanks for taking the time to print these ships for us Aksu. Really appreciate it.
We will be playing the ABDA campaign sometime later this year. Haven't worked out exactly when yet.
Cheers
Peter
The Convoy is forming up, ready to start the trip around the Cape and on to the farthest reaches of the Empire. Laden with reindeer oil and birch branches no doubt.
Cheers,
Aksu
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Brilliant, great variation in sizes
Superb Aksu!
That does look pretty darn good. Is the "base board" they're on a "snap off" job, or a sharp knife/side cutters job to remove?
Quote from: toxicpixie on 04 April 2018, 03:45:35 PM
That does look pretty darn good. Is the "base board" they're on a "snap off" job, or a sharp knife/side cutters job to remove?
They snap off when the base is bent. Bit of knife/spatula work might be required. I suppose the print software is clever enough to put on a thick-ish base, then a thin and fragile support layer, and then start printing the model proper. This support layer then breaks away easily.
The idea of printing a base, or "raft" as it is properly called, is to get good adhesion of the printed things on the print bed. The larger the first surface layer, the more likely the print is to stay put, and not come off in mid print, resulting in a horrid ball of thin plastic spaghetti filling the printer. If your model already has a good footprint, no raft is required.
Cheers,
Aksu
Oddly enough a mate just posted some flying spagetthi monster esq piccies of a print gone wrong!
So that's a good base layer, a frangible layer and then the ship model? Clever :)
No updates as yet from shipping control on the convoys arrival :-w :-w :-w
Quote from: paulr on 04 April 2018, 08:41:26 PM
No updates as yet from shipping control on the convoys arrival :-w :-w :-w
What is the usual dlivery time for a priority letter from N.Europe to NZ? It has been a while now... :-
Aksu
I'm hoping they will arrive this week, but expecting next week ;)
Luckily our well paid riveters and concrete pourers can crank out a new convoy of libertine... err liberty ships in no time, if the previous one falls prey to the dastardly subs and wolfpacks and pirates around the cape.
Cheers,
Aksu
Shipping control (Reception) reported arrivals (a parcel for me)
This was followed by a quick trip to my office's mailroom
I now have possession of a very impressive convoy of ships :) :) :)
Many thanks Aksu
The quality of the printing is very impressive and I'm looking forward to painting these up :-bd =D> :-bd
Is there any preparation required before painting them? Do they need washing, for example
Quote from: paulr on 11 April 2018, 10:04:25 PM
Shipping control (Reception) reported arrivals (a parcel for me)
This was followed by a quick trip to my office's mailroom
I now have possession of a very impressive convoy of ships :) :) :)
Many thanks Aksu
The quality of the printing is very impressive and I'm looking forward to painting these up :-bd =D> :-bd
Is there any preparation required before painting them? Do they need washing, for example
Hooray! I was actually getting ready to send another batch to you. I hope the funnels did not suffer too much damage during transit. They will be the weakest part of the models due to the way the print layers lie.
Anyway, I have not done any preparation apart from normal undercoating. I use acrylics. I can`t vouch for really long term (several years) durabillity, perhaps somebody on the list will know how PLA plastic ages.
I hope the ships serve you well,
Cheers,
Aksu
I've had a closer look at the ships, after work, and am more impressed with them :-bd =D> :-bd
It looks as though one funnel has been dislodged en voyage
I'm sure they will serve us very well, I hate to think how many times they will be sunk ;)
Quote from: paulr on 12 April 2018, 07:22:51 AM
I'm sure they will serve us very well, I hate to think how many times they will be sunk ;)
They arrived <:-P
The convoy must get through.....well, some of it might :-......remember the Ohio!! 8)
For those who don't know about Ohio try googling Operation Pedestal
Quote from: pierre the shy on 12 April 2018, 07:41:35 AM
For those who don't know about Ohio try googling Operation Pedestal
Glad to hear they _arrived_ in better condition than your average Malta Convoy ;)
Youtube has good stuff about Pedestal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teTiIxRereg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teTiIxRereg)
Cheers,
Aksu
I showed them to Pierre the Shy last night and we are both very impressed :)
I only just noticed how many different sizes of ships there are on the second 'print', wonderful variety :) :)
We add wire masts to our ships and use superglue to secure them, is it safe to use with the 3D printing 'material' (I'd hate to melt one of the ships)
Quote from: paulr on 13 April 2018, 11:31:30 PM
We add wire masts to our ships and use superglue to secure them, is it safe to use with the 3D printing 'material' (I'd hate to melt one of the ships)
Superglue is safe to use. Drilling is safe, no risk of shattering.
Aksu
:) :) :)