AlexM

While it's perfectly possible with the necessary skills to draw a 3D model that looks very nice on the screen, I think it's still a very big step to turn this into a product that can be reliably printed in good enough quality to be sold. I've been playing around with 3d printing for a while now and still struggle to this day with larger printed parts that tend to warp.
Therefore Airscale deserve a lot of respect for the Defiant.  Too bad the tax collector took his fair share from me 

While it's perfectly possible with the necessary skills to draw a 3D model that looks very nice on the screen, I think it's still a very big step to turn this into a product that can be reliably printed in good enough quality to be sold. I've been playing around with 3d printing for a while now and still struggle to this day with larger printed parts that tend to warp.
Therefore Airscale deserve a lot of respect for the Defiant.  Too bad the tax collector took his fair share from me 

And the finish
 
 








 

Just ordered mine 

Just ordered mine 

Just ordered mine 

How is this project going? While I'm not doing one as impressive as yours, I am working on one scaled up to 1/72.
 
I have a question, your nose? Would you be willing to share your str file for your nose section with the windows cut out? This PLA isn't the easiest to work with when it come to opening up windows.  Why the designer did it this way is beyond me, really!
 

 

Hi Steve,
 
I'm afraid that's not going to work...
 
In order for the print to work properly I printed the cockpit windows solid - as a double shell with no infill.
 
The inner shell was then cut away - followed by cutting out the window apertures with a sharp scalpel - something that is a lot easier if your print is done using HIPS.
 

 

 
I wouldn't go anywhere near PLA for a project like this I'm afraid - awful stuff to work with in my experience.  😟
 
In other news - the model is down from the loft again for a coat of looking at - I took it to our Wiltshire Scale Model group meeting before Christmas as we'd been discussing 3D printing.
 
Model was well received and sparked lots of interest/discussion - if it inspires others to have a go then it's doing something positive.
 
Now that my CAD skills are further up the learning curve I may make a start at drawing up some of the details for resin/LCD printing.
 
Keep us posted on your model please @stevev280 - looks fabulous so far!  👍 
 
Blue skies,
 
Iain

I would say that it is also a question of size. 3d-printed resin parts can be amazing for smaller details like cockpit parts. But so far I haven't had much luck with larger parts printed in resin, like fuselage halves or wings, where lots of warping and consequently fit problems can occure during the curing process.
 
When I think about the large parts of the Hobby Boss A-26, or the huge wings of the B-24 (all acuracy issues aside), the fit is incredibly good. At the moment, I find it hard to imagine that such a good and trouble-free fit can be achieved for large parts with 3D printing.
 
Cheers
Alex

Having spent much time tuning injection moulding processes, gauging shrinkage for any material is one of the dark arts even now. Each new run on a different day demands careful set up and even things like the weather on the day can affect a given product. IM's great advantage over resin is its ability to reproduce products in vast volumes (and I am not talking models alone here). Its weakness is the capital cost of the steel molds. So, is injection molding going to go away? No, but it will be supplemented by 3D printed parts and resin casting for the foreseeable future.
 
Kind regards,
Paul

On the other hand, do not underestimate the power of MODERN techniques of styrene injection moulding as can be seen on the new releases from MiniArt and Border Models (and Airfix!).

Factor this in too: unless I'm mistaken, you need CA to fix 3D-printed parts.  CA is not particularly user-friendly imo (knowing how little to use, fumes, risk of sticking fingers together, to name but 3 risks), so it may not be so acceptable to the mass market, as exemplified by Grandma buying little Johnny or Janey a Spitfire for Christmas.

When it comes to Italian aircraft in WW2, I recommend Stormo Magazine. Check this out:
https://www.stormomagazine.com/RegiaAeronauticaColorsinWWII_3a.htm
https://www.stormomagazine.com/RegiaAeronauticaColorsinWWII_VitoCharts.htm
 
Cheers
Alex

When it comes to Italian aircraft in WW2, I recommend Stormo Magazine. Check this out:
https://www.stormomagazine.com/RegiaAeronauticaColorsinWWII_3a.htm
https://www.stormomagazine.com/RegiaAeronauticaColorsinWWII_VitoCharts.htm
 
Cheers
Alex

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Hello there, it's been a little while
 
I'm afraid there isn't much new to report about the Marauder project. Now, since HPH seem to work on a kit, maybe I should resume work.
In the meantime, I again got easily distracted. Rigth now, I'm working on another printed project, which in fact was the very first aircraft I tried to draw in 3d several years ago. Too bad that I don't have the very first 3d model anymore, because this edgy low-polygon something would look pretty funny today. I'm not starting yet another WIP thread that will eventually become unfinished again. But here ist a picture of my recent project:
 

 
Can you guess what it is?
 
Due to my fulltime job, I don't find much time for modelling. But in August, I will have three weeks of vacation. Hopfefully, I'll make some progress then.
 
Cheers
Alex

Little progress. I've been busy on the bomb bay(s).
 

 

 

 

 
The bomb bay walls are not very clean, with some scratches here and there. But most areas will be pretty invisible at the end, so no problem for me
 
Bombs come from the spare box. Left ones are from the Revell P-51. I think the four ones on the right were from some Trumpy kit. I enlarged the fins a bit so they will match with the other ones. Don't know where the two partly painted ones in the midle came from.
 

 

 
Cheers
Alex
 
 

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Hello there, it's been a little while
 
I'm afraid there isn't much new to report about the Marauder project. Now, since HPH seem to work on a kit, maybe I should resume work.
In the meantime, I again got easily distracted. Rigth now, I'm working on another printed project, which in fact was the very first aircraft I tried to draw in 3d several years ago. Too bad that I don't have the very first 3d model anymore, because this edgy low-polygon something would look pretty funny today. I'm not starting yet another WIP thread that will eventually become unfinished again. But here ist a picture of my recent project:
 

 
Can you guess what it is?
 
Due to my fulltime job, I don't find much time for modelling. But in August, I will have three weeks of vacation. Hopfefully, I'll make some progress then.
 
Cheers
Alex

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly
 

 

 

Not quite, just missed
 
 
You're on the right track
 
 
 
Exactly