3D printed 1/72nd scale Los Angeles class submarine

[SubDude]

I see a grey sub and I want it painted black...

[Akula54]

Hi !

She's a beauty !
Are the sail planes movable with the 3D files ?

[SubDude]

Hi !

She's a beauty !
Are the sail planes movable with the 3D files ?

Yes they are.

[trout]

That looks fantastic! I am very impressed.

[SubDude]

That looks fantastic! I am very impressed.

For 3D printed I am impressed too. I have some ASA filament arriving today to play with. It has much better heat and weathering properties than PLA+. I think it can only get better.

[SubDude]

Hi Steve,

Your LA Boat looks fantastic! If I may, can I get your process of finishing your 3D printed boats? Do you use high fill primers with sanding in-between coats, and then use a PU spray (water based or solvent) after the primers, or do you use the PU first and then the primers? Then you apply your finish coat, and this boat is ready for the water?! No finishing resins or fiber glass at all?

Thanks for any info you can give! Your finish work on you 3D printed boats is right on!!:-)

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

Thanks Rob! All of this is an experiment for me but here is what I did for this boat. After all the parts were printed I glued together what needed to be glued with CA. Because if the way this boat fit together I did not see a need to reinforce the joints with any fiberglass. I sanded the entire boat with 80 grit on a sanding block. Next I used Evercoat Rage to fill any low places, which typically were where the sections were joined, and again sanded with 80 grit. I also used Nitro-Stan glazing putty to further fill minor imperfections. I then taped off all the openings and mixed up some Finish 1 FP410 Polyurethane primer and poured it in to each section to slosh it around and seal it all up. Once it looked good I I used an Xacto knife with a broken blade tip to re-scribe any panel lines that got filled. Then I sprayed it with primer through an HVLP gun. When cured I sanded it again with 150 grit. This got rid of almost all of the tell tale layer lines in the print. I then mixed up some more primer but this time I added 1 part H.E.T. 1360 Urethane reducer and again sprayed it on. Next I lightly wet sanded it with 600 and it was ready for paint. I used Rustoleum satin Canyon Black for starters. Working on a scum line now.

[SubDude]

So, as I look at pictures of LA boats it appears to me that the aft end of the boat sits lower in the water than the bow. Is that the normal water-line?

[a1965l]

So, as I look at pictures of LA boats it appears to me that the aft end of the boat sits lower in the water than the bow. Is that the normal water-line?

That's apparently normal for the flight one boats w/o the VLS in the bow. If you look at the later boats they seem to float much evenly trimmed.

I got that "LA Lean" thing going with mine...

[SubDude]

That's apparently normal for the flight one boats w/o the VLS in the bow. If you look at the later boats they seem to float much evenly trimmed.

I got that "LA Lean" thing going with mine...

Makes sense. These pictures are of the Olympia (SSN-717) which is a flight one boat and what I am basically doing. Thank you for the information. I am getting ready to add a scum line so it will have the "LA lean" as well.

[RanSan]

You have set the bar high for the rest of us. Beautiful work!

[SubDude]

Added a scumline. Now for some more weathering.

[SubDude]

Thanks Rob.

[SubDude]

NICE!....

Some bird-**** on the upper rudder, draft numbers, hull numbers, DSRV 'targets, some running stains down the sides, none-skid, and some anti-foul red from centerline down and you're off to the races!



David

Simply amazing David! Phenomenal detail.

[SubDude]

David, I am really confused by what I see on the internet so maybe you can help? I am doing the USS Olympia (SSN-717) but I can't tell for sure if it had the red anti-fouling on the hull? I do find a picture of it in drydock without it but can't determine that it didn't get painted after the picture was taken. Any thoughts? Was there a time when the later Flight 1 boats didn't get it?

[SubDude]

Latest progress. I designed and printed some brackets to secure the sub-driver with some hair bands. It works great and very simple. Now the WTC is installed. I also finished the pushrods for the stern planes and installed the drive shift and prop. A simple support bracket holds the pushrods in place to connect to the pushrod magnets from the WTC when the stern section is twist-locked in place. Then I designed and printed a bracket to hold the fairwater planes servo and connected its linkage. I also, soldered up the harness for the servo. After that I painted a dark grey stripe on the top of the hull to simulate anti-skid and finally designed and printed some aft mooring cleats. All in all a very productive evening.









Left to do is install the snorkel and masts, install the fairwater planes servo harness in the WTC, apply graphics which have been ordered, add some more weathering and then trim it. This one will definitely be ready for Sub Fest and there is still a chance the Ohio will make it as well but if not no big deal. This LA will give me three boats to take in addition to the Redoutable and Nautilus.