Project: 1/72 Balao Class USS Bowfin (SS-287)

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  • Henk Freubelaer
    Lieutenant, Junior Grade
    • Sep 2020
    • 37

    #16
    This week I printed two more pieces of the upper deck.

    With the planking problem solved this took not as much time to print.

    First the piece where the fairwater will be mounted, I consider the make the fairwater removable.

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    And here with the front deck piece and fairwater in place to check fitting.

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    And the third piece.
    At the end of the war the new deck gun was located here, however my model will represent the Bowfin in november 1944 where it still had the old deck gun in front of the fairwater.

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    And a testfit on the hull.

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    And the progress so far, partialy kept together with tape.
    just to get a impression how the model gets along.

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    It actually starts to look like a submarine :)

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    Comment

    • coryhenry
      Lieutenant Commander
      • Jul 2020
      • 156

      #17
      Great progress, One of the things that I really appreciate in the printing are all the hull penetrations and openings that are already in place.

      Comment

      • redboat219
        Admiral
        • Dec 2008
        • 2735

        #18
        How resilient are 3D printed hulls compared to injection molded styrene kits?
        Make it simple, make strong, make it work!

        Comment

        • coryhenry
          Lieutenant Commander
          • Jul 2020
          • 156

          #19
          I print in ASA which is a derivative of ABS so very stable. I print 4 perimeters so it is pretty stiff and with bulkheads is pretty nice but also light. As far as long term don't know yet.

          Comment

          • Henk Freubelaer
            Lieutenant, Junior Grade
            • Sep 2020
            • 37

            #20
            For my model I use PLA+

            PLA+ is pretty though and flexible so it wont break easy.
            As compared to a injection mold model, I would say it is on the same level or even a little better.

            But you have to keep in mind how you print it, after all it are all small layers of melted plastic.
            Every layer is a potentialy breaking point so if you put tention on it the strength depends on how it is printed.

            On my model, I put a thin layer of UV curing resin over my printed parts.
            I noticed that it makes it even stronger and already fill's in the printing layers so less filler needed.
            The resin makes it also easyer to sand the parts since it makes the PLA+ less flexible under the sanding paper.

            I hope this answers some of your questions. :)

            Comment

            • Henk Freubelaer
              Lieutenant, Junior Grade
              • Sep 2020
              • 37

              #21
              This week I finished the rest of the deck parts and the last big hull piece.

              The big printing work is done now and I move on to smaller pieces.
              That saves up some time :)

              Deck piece after some rouch sanding.

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              And after treatment with resin and sanding.

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              And the last deck piece, fresh from the printer.
              The hole in the top is where the capstand will be, I plan to use this part to screw the deck to the hull for easy acces.

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              And all of the deck done and ready for final assembly and finishing.

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              Comment

              • Henk Freubelaer
                Lieutenant, Junior Grade
                • Sep 2020
                • 37

                #22
                Here the last big hull part, fresh from the printer.

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                The hull part finished with resin and added to the rest of the hull with chewing gum to give a idea.

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                And a mockup overview of the progress so far.

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                The deck parts treated with filler and sanded, ready for use.

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                And the hull part fixed in place.

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                Comment

                • Greeblegremlin
                  Ensign
                  • Sep 2022
                  • 6

                  #23
                  wow!

                  A beautiful Project!
                  very nice work. I would say your hull is more accurate than the Revel model.

                  I saw the portion regarding the weld seams.
                  You may already know about Archer decals and trnasfers?
                  They have a number of "raised 3D wather slide decals with weld seams and rivets...just in case you did not know

                  great work!

                  Comment

                  • Greeblegremlin
                    Ensign
                    • Sep 2022
                    • 6

                    #24
                    You could easily get the Evergreen laser cut..nice solution!

                    Comment

                    • SubICman
                      Lieutenant
                      • Jun 2022
                      • 87

                      #25
                      Originally posted by Greeblegremlin
                      wow!

                      A beautiful Project!
                      very nice work. I would say your hull is more accurate than the Revel model.

                      I saw the portion regarding the weld seams.
                      You may already know about Archer decals and trnasfers?
                      They have a number of "raised 3D wather slide decals with weld seams and rivets...just in case you did not know

                      great work!
                      Archer is closing their doors in a couple of months. Inventory is getting tight and they are filling on a 1st come 1st serve basis.

                      Comment

                      • BreenMachine
                        Ensign
                        • Sep 2021
                        • 3

                        #26
                        Apologies folks if this has already been answered, or a faux-pas to ask. But Henk, would it be possible for you to post your 3d files for her Fairwater at least? Ive got a 1/72 Gato hull I really want to make a Balao out of, but the only aftermarket Ive seen is on shapeways for something like $200! and I've got a printer myself, an Ender 3 pro like yours so I just need the file/s. Im happy to pay you for the files by the way, you've done really nice work, far beyond my skills with Fusion lol

                        Comment

                        • Henk Freubelaer
                          Lieutenant, Junior Grade
                          • Sep 2020
                          • 37

                          #27
                          Sorry if I was not very active here, I realy need to dust off and update this threat.
                          And thanks all for the nice comments.

                          Well the project is still verry active, actually on the building part I only need to add the deck railing and than it is on to painting and weathering.

                          The whole fairwater is now finished, painted and weathered.

                          Work on the fairwater railing.

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                          Bridge details added.

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                          The rear TBT, stand made out of brass wire.

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                          Making of the proppelor struds.

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                          And finished, only need to make some nuts to lock the proppelors.

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                          Design of the 40 mm Bofors.

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                          The printed parts, ready for assembly.

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                          The barrel and frame are made out of brass.

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                          And the finished model ready for painting.

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                          Design of the 4" / 50 Cal deck gun.

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                          Printed parts ready for assembly.

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                          And the finished gun ready to receive paint.

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                          And onward to the 20 mm Oerlikon design.

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                          Printed.

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                          And put together.

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                          And the build up of the Fairwater with the basic layer of paint.

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                          Adding the antenna's

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                          And the rear antenna post.

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                          I was confinced the the opening in the wooden deck around the hatch was wrong, as it is now it is from after the war.
                          So I replaced the deck with the correct opening.

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                          And the new deck.

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                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                          • Henk Freubelaer
                            Lieutenant, Junior Grade
                            • Sep 2020
                            • 37

                            #28
                            And the parts that are now finished.

                            The complete Fairwater is now painted and weathered and ready to receive the last layer of farnish to protect it.

                            I did a lot of picture study to keep the weathering as real as possible and not overdo it.


                            The 40 mm ammo lockers from the bridge.

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                            The periscope masts.

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                            The SD antenna mast.

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                            And the complete Fairwater.

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                            The 4"/50Cal deck gun.

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                            The Anchor.

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                            The Sonar and Hydrophone.
                            The deck and hull are now in the first black layer, ready for painting and weathering.

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                            The deck will be finished as soon as the railing is in place.

                            In the mean time I started on the mechanism to fold up the bow dive planes.

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                            So that is the progress so far.
                            Still a lot of work to do but it starts to getting there.

                            After all is finished I start on the WTC.
                            Attached Files

                            Comment

                            • Henk Freubelaer
                              Lieutenant, Junior Grade
                              • Sep 2020
                              • 37

                              #29
                              Originally posted by BreenMachine
                              Apologies folks if this has already been answered, or a faux-pas to ask. But Henk, would it be possible for you to post your 3d files for her Fairwater at least? Ive got a 1/72 Gato hull I really want to make a Balao out of, but the only aftermarket Ive seen is on shapeways for something like $200! and I've got a printer myself, an Ender 3 pro like yours so I just need the file/s. Im happy to pay you for the files by the way, you've done really nice work, far beyond my skills with Fusion lol
                              This is something we work at the moment.

                              Comment

                              • rwtdiver
                                Vice Admiral
                                • Feb 2019
                                • 1768

                                #30
                                Henk Freubeteer,

                                You are doing a beautiful job on your Bowfin! The photos you just put up really show some very fine detail work! The bow plane mechanics, and the sail. I wish I could acquire the patience that goes into the type work you are doing.

                                Looking forward to seeing the WTC you are going to put together. I really enjoy following craftsman such as yourself.

                                Rob
                                "Firemen can stand the heat."

                                Comment

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