Flower-Class Corvette by Yves Vidal - FINISHED - 1/48 - Bensworx Virtual Kit - 3D printed

[yvesvidal]

1 hour ago, CDW said:

Yves

Are the ammunition cabinets 3D printed? Everything looks great.

Craig,

 

Yes, all you see is 3D printed.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Moving along with Module #3A: This one was easy as all was prepared ahead of time... :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Notice the railing above....

 

 

 

 

It is starting to look like a Corvette.....

 

 

Next is Module #4: the galley, the smoke house, the mast, the dinghies and all kind of details.....

 

Yves

[rvchima]

Yves,

I just came across this log and want to join in on the fun. I will be following along. The model is just beautiful, and it's fascinating that everything is printed right there in front of you.

Rod

[yvesvidal]

Completion of the Module #4: Galley and Smoke house + Dinghies: 

 

 

The dinghies were printed by a friend who is an expert with Resin 3D printers. I tried to print them with my PLA printer and the results were mediocre at best. With the resin printing, they came out really nice and smooth. Printing these dinghies required tilting the design, to allow for a smooth result as shown on the picture below:  

 

 

 

All the benches and floors are from the BENSWORX kit and have been covered with some 1/32 inch planking. The tillers are simply a tooth pick....

 

 

More pictures of the finished module: 

 

 

The davits again, gave a very poor result on the PLA 3D printer. I decided to just keep the bases, drill them and use a brass rod of 1.5 mm to build the upper part of the davits. They look a hundred times better.... The rope drums are the drums from the kit, but simply reduced at 75% during the printing process. These smaller units are more in line with the davits.

 

 

 

 

 

The dinghies are still missing the oars, being painted....

 

 

 

Notice on the above picture the two ladders (can we call these stairs?) going from the forecastle deck to the lower deck. Ladders are from the kit but the piece of upper deck was described in a previous post and is not part of the kit. Trying to get as much resemblance to Snowberry as possible...

 

 

 

A couple of overall views of the beast: 

 

 

 

With the deck in place, it is now really looking like a Corvette: 

 

 

 

Next will be Module #5, the engine room. The next module is a significant amount of work due to the numerous parts going on top of the engine room. I will be describing it in a little while.

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2021 by yvesvidal

[CDW]

Superb work, Yves. 

[Old Collingwood]

Amazingly accurate  work  - like you are working the real thing.

 

OC.

[Kevin]

lovely work my friend, lol that reminds me i have a 1/72 version somewhere, abandoned to to airbrushing skills, (or lack off)

[Kevin-the-lubber]

Ooh, I'll be wanting to read all of this log. Yves, you must have really nailed the settings on the creality printer, I rarely got that quality of finish, and it's a fabulous looking model. I've only skimmed this and the first page so far, following someone mentioning your project in my log (I'm also into 3D).

[Kevin-the-lubber]

I read the whole log last night and I'm impressed in all sorts of ways. You have absolutely hit the sweet spot for SLA printing both in scale of subject and printer set-up. From the photos, it looks like, at this scale, the layering does not detract from the look of the model, whereas if this was, say, 1:100, I think it would. And I really like the mixture of bought in parts like the stanchions (easy to print with resin, but would they be strong enough?) and the wood. A great combination of technologies and methods. I gave up on sanding PETG (my preferred filament) very early on, as you say it's tough and 'furs up', in fact I went the whole hog and now print almost entirely in resin. But for those thinking of going in this direction, do yourself a favour and buy something like the Elegoo Saturn, the build size of the Mars (and other entry level resin printers) is a bit too small. And note that Elegoo will shortly be retailing the Jupiter, another step up size-wise, but there are some risks in going this big.

 

I'm amazed that the designer is selling the STL kit for $50. Sooner or later someone is going to buy the kit and make good money on the back of that designers blood, sweat and tears. It's akin to selling the patterns and files for photo-etching, the moulds for resin casting or programme files for CNC machining (or, taking it to the extreme, the extrusion dies). This is going to be an interesting area of 3D modelling development i.e. if you are trying to make model designs for an income, how do you protect your copyright other than doing the printing yourself? How do you avoid the files simply being shared so you only make one sale instead of fifty?

 

I think resolving those issues will be key to what happens in this area of modelling because, while most people on sites like this would probably a) be honorable and b) mostly do it for fun, the CAD development is where the work takes place and, unless the designer is an absolute pro with CAD, many, many hundreds of hours will have gone into those STL's. Even now, when I am starting to have some proficiency with CAD, I would expect a kit like yours to take me at least 3 months at 8 hours a day i.e. £5k - £10k worth of labour even at very modest rates. Personally I'd love to see a plethora of print-it-yourself kits and love it even more if you could buy the CAD files and make your own modifications. But I suspect that, unless there's a way of protecting the IP, development will probably be confined to small networks of trusted peers. But I'm equally sure CAD+3D printing is the direction of travel. Just imagine if the files were open-source - imagine what would be happening on forums like this! Within a few years many, many people would have further developed sections or parts, resulting in some fabulous kits! 

 

 

[yvesvidal]

To conclude on Module #4, I owed you a picture of the finished dinghies, with their set of oars. Again, these are 3D printed, painted white and dry brushed with some acrylic raw Sienna paint.

 

 

Next is Module #5, the top of the engine room.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

MODULE #5 - THE ENGINE ROOM 

 

This is a complex module, not so much as it is described in the kit, but because of all the necessary work to make it look like the HMCS Snowberry.

 

We start with a bare roof and its extension, which has been described in a previous post: 

 

 

The railing is added. I like to do the railing first, as it is delicate and as the stanchions need to be inserted in a particular order. All the straight lines are glued first, the rails are then inserted, bent and the remaining stanchions are added. It is not perfect but looks quite convincing from a couple of feet away.

 

Next, we add the skylights after gluing a piece of clear plastic underneath: 

 

 

The cowl pipes are added as well as cowls and access way: 

 

 

So far, it is all 3D printed and straight from the kit, with the exception of the cowl supports, reduced in height by 10%.

 

 

Yves

 

 

[yvesvidal]

The plain vanilla kit does not present two of the main features of HMCS Snowberry: the raft supports. The kit offers "Raft support" but they do not match the way Snowberry was rigged. I have had to "hand made" these, which comes as a welcome contrast after printing pretty much all the parts needed.

 

In the picture below, you can see the first Raft support located right behind the end of the forecastle and the support protected by some shielding:

 

 

The shield is the part from the kit (protecting the front gun), reduced in length, with 40% reduction. Everything else is built with styrene strips and a lot of adjustments: 

 

 

Once in place, it provides the ship with a nice look: 

 

 

 

 

The rafts are not yet ready and will be added later. Below is where we stand at that moment:

 

 

 

 

 

Yves

 

 

 

[Kevin-the-lubber]

I'll say it again, that woodwork goes so well with the printed parts, and the weathering is superb. Maybe it's partly because one is 'primed' to see the plastic as angular metal, and the whole to be metal juxtaposed with timber but, whatever the reason, it just works.

[yvesvidal]

After the supports for the rafts, we need to install the cabinets and lockers for the ammunition. Again, this is done from historical pictures and the readers should keep in mind that this arrangement has evolved multiple times throughout the life of the ship. We also add the rear gun turret, after improving it a little bit.

 

 

 

The anti-flak cabin is just a big block of PLA, in the kit. It would take way too much work to hollow it (the material is so hard) and I wish the designer would have done it in parts to assemble. So, in order to give it more dimension, I added a front wall and frame around the opening. The "stuff" above the cabin is made of brass wires, welded together and provide 5 hooks for the lines between the main mast and the rear gun tub.

 

One painted and installed, it looks pretty decent and gives the illusion that it is indeed hollow:

 

 

 

 

 

That pretty much concludes the Module #5. The machine gun is being 3D printed in resin and I do not have it yet.

 

A few overall pictures to satiate your impatience and curiosity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next will be Module #6, the rear deck.

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by yvesvidal

[gjdale]

Fabulous work Yves.

[mtaylor]

Very impressive the amount of detail and workmanship, Yves.

[GrandpaPhil]

Looking good!

[yvesvidal]

Thank you all for the compliments. I have been working on another large project: the CAF HMS Bellona and the Corvette has been relegated to a second position. I need to get back to it and finish it, soon.

 

Yves

[reklein]

Yes,you need to get back to it. This is a really nice looking build.      Bill

[rvchima]

Ives,

 

I just received my October, 2021 issue of Model Boats magazine. Isn't the postal system great? Anyway there is an article entitled "3D-Printed Flower Class Corvette" by Benjamin Eng, owner of bensworx and designer of your model. He gives an excellent overview of the design process, but the photos of his unpainted model are not nearly as nice as yours.

 

The same issue has another article entitled "3D CAD for Modellers" by John Parker that gives some tips on CAD software. That article is followed by one explaining the different ways in which water and smoke tube boilers work. I love that juxtaposition of old and new.

 

Now get back to work on the Corvette!

 

Rod

[yvesvidal]

Rod,

 

Thanks for the compliments. I  submitted some pictures of my model to Benjamin but he probably used his own assembly for the article, for various reasons. 

 

Yes, I am trying to finish the planking (1st layer) of Bellona and I will then go back to the Corvette and try to complete her. Wood dust and PLA parts do not mix too well.....

 

Yves

[bdgiantman2]

The printed model of Snowberry is looking great, Yves. You are doing a good job on this ship. I have to admit that I am somewhat disappointed that a model of this size isn't showing some kind of actual engine, since she was most likely diesel powered.  I have seen truck engines in larger scales but these will be too modern. Would be cool though if you were able to show some of those vent doors open over the engine department open like in that last photo you have in Post 254. Keep up this great model.

 

Brian D. 

[clearway]

the flower class corvettes were actually steam powered as opposed to diesel engines, but i agree would be nice to see an engine in there.

[Kevin]

stunning work

[yvesvidal]

A quick update on the BENSWORX Virtual kit, slightly improved. I have been working on the main bridge and this is the result.

 

The main bridge is printed in one large part: 

 

 

Resulting in this solid bridge: 

 

 

There are pros and cons with this way of doing. The Pros are that the part is very sturdy, easy to remove from the main cabin (for RC application) and relatively easy to finish. The Cons are that it does not offer too many details and makes the planking of the bridge, a tedious challenge. The original bridge was surrounded by canvas stretched on a tubular structure. The 3D print renders some of that aspect, at least from the inside. Anal modelers will likely cut everything and build the sides from soldered brass wires, covered by a thin canvas made of fabric. I thought about that .... for about one minute.

 

 

Planking takes a lot of precise and small cuts and is labor of patience. I used two varieties of wood and I am not sure if the central part is planked or not. It probably is.... 

 

 

On the rear wall, the small shelves are used to store all the pennants and flags. This is again highly simplified on this 3D kit.

 

A coat of AGE-IT finishes the wood and gives it a nice blond hue: 

 

 

Then, it is the relatively easy task of gluing all the parts, after painting them. The radar enclosure is unfortunately simplified and would have to be entirely rebuilt, if you wanted to replace the solid PLA by transparent films.

 

 

Overall, the end result is not too bad and blends harmoniously with the rest of the ship.

 

 

The shielding panels are installed, in the front and sides of the bridge. The rear wall of the bridge was apparently not protected, according to the pictures I saw.

 

 

 

The two Oerlikon guns were printed using a resin printer.

 

 

 

I need to find some Canadian sailors to populate that bridge.....

 

 

The radar (above) is carefully painted to simulate the inside of the radar enclosure (dark). That part could be represented with a canvas covering it, if you decide to picture your Corvette in a harbor.

 

 

 

The staircase going to the main deck and the ammos storage bins.

 

 

I have added a small windshield which is not part of the kit.

 

 

 

Overall view of the beast: 

 

 

 

 

I still have to work on the mast and finish the 6th module, comprising the depth charges deck and stern.

 

I hope you are enjoying that big project.

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2022 by yvesvidal

[king derelict]

Yves

It looks spectacular. I need to stop procrastinating and get back to mine. I don't think I will attain the heights you have reached but it is still a great subject to work on.

You provide a lot of inspiration.

Alan

[Old Collingwood]

Amazing Wonderful work  -  speechless   levels of detail.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

So reminds me of this  piece of Artistry   - 

 

OC.

 

 

[Kevin-the-lubber]

Very impressive model Yves. A bit late now, but I’ve had good results FDM printing a planked deck for my Cutty Sark by designing in the lines with a 0.2 width x 0.3 depth. That is also quite tedious but probably less so than laying a floor, though I think yours may ultimately look better.

[yvesvidal]

Mast and rigging are pretty much completed. This is a simplified rigging for multiple reasons: 

• I have very little information on how the Snowberry was rigged. Each Corvette was different and the archive pictures are not sharp enough to really distinguish how the rigging was done.
• With this virtual kit, I am more interested in giving an overall and realistic appearance rather than a perfectly and precise arrangement.
• Rigging can be improved later on by adding more lines, especially around the flag bins.

 

All the lines are made with elastic thread of 0.3 mm, knotted and glued. I like using that material as it gets under tension very easily and will withstand some mishaps. The entire mast and rigging can be removed if the model needs to be transported.

 

 

 

 

The mast is made of wooden dowels. I did not use the masts provided in the kit as printing such round and long parts is not very pretty, with PLA. Besides, the wood is stronger and a lot straighter.

 

 

 

An overall view of the model. The last Module to be completed is Module #6, stern and depth charges.

 

 

Yves

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by yvesvidal