Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Scifi and Fantasy => Topic started by: Frank3k on March 07, 2022, 09:15:47 AM
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A few years ago, Winchell Chung (of Atomic Rockets (http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/)) and I were discussing the lifeboats/re-entry vehicles from the old Hawk MOL kit:
(http://fantastic-plastic.com/CONVAIR%20ATLAS%20MOL%20RE-RELEASE%20BOX%20ART.jpg)
I made a 1/72 scratchbuild (https://www.frankhenriquez.com/scale/re-entry-vehicle-experimental/) years ago, followed by a 1/72 3D printed version (https://www.frankhenriquez.com/scale/mol-re-entry-vehicle/).
The versions I made were all based on the kit parts while Winchell's was a 3D version of the boxtop vehicles (and of the original design). He sent me the .obj files (which were not printable) and I started working on making them printable.
I had my 3D version printed at Shapeways, but they've been a disappointment over the years. This - in part - caused the Winchell version to languish.
Recently, I saw that Fantastic Plastic has a version in 1/48 (https://fantastic-plastic.com/convair_space_station_lifeboat_model.html); this and other events (one being my getting a larger printer and needing suitable test subjects) motivated me to finish the conversion of Winchell's version and send him a printed and painted model.
The Elegoo Saturn is a considerably larger printer than the Mars I'd used before and it can have a painful learning curve. I tried many different prints of the re-entry vehicle (1/144 hollow, 1/144 solid, 1/72 hollow and 1/72 solid) while adjusting the parameters until I decided to go with the brute force method of printing several solid versions right on the build plate, which usually isn't the best solution but it worked well here.
I had a small indentation in the rear (right on the build plate) for the engine insert, but the resin didn't fully empty, so I had to come up with a solution. Here is the model with some slight sanding and the engine insert glued to the rear:
(https://i.imgur.com/DrXbFUj.jpg)
Rear view:
(https://i.imgur.com/MEyDjXH.jpg)
Compared to my "kit version":
(https://i.imgur.com/sOOLycD.jpg)
I wasn't happy with the 3D printed engine section, so I used a small square of styrene and some Gundam add-on parts to recreate it. I printed a decal with the positions of the parts (to use as a guide) and glued the parts over the decals.
I screwed up the paint job slightly when I darkened the panel lines - it looks far worse in these pictures - it's not very visible in the original:
(https://i.imgur.com/QiPgex3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JBbacdA.jpg)
The model is on its way to Winchell now. The files are his, so it's up to him to make them available to others.
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...Passing resemblance to Star Wars Episode V Empire Strikes Back T-47 Airspeeder it be.
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Very nice recovery and a successful print. :smiley:
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:smiley:
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It does have a passing resemblance to the Star Wars aiespeeder. Both would probably be equally bad flyers. I had to add winglets to my scratchbuilt to keep it stable.
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Regardless of it's real world limitations, it is still one of my favorite designs. I remember playing with one of the re-entry craft from my old Hawk MOL for years after the main kit had gone missing. Beautiful work as always, Frank.
By the way, have you heard anything on Winchell's health? I had heard a few months back that he was suffering from advanced Prostate Cancer, and that the prognosis wasn't good. While we were never close, I always admired his work on Atomic Rockets*, and he was a great boon to the SSC thread at SSM.
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He posts to twitter almost daily.
I don't think I ever had the full model, but I did have one of the two lifting bodies. They're a great design.
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Simple shape, nice print and great finish.
Well done Frank