Merchant Ships - 3D Printing and Photo Etch

[poleprince]

I have built several merchant ship models in 1/1200 and 1/700 scale, but now looking to focus on 1/350 and 1:200 (metric).  I focus on merchant ships from 1950-present.  My day job is managing cargo ships and I sailed as an engineer aboard many ships in my 19-year seagoing career, including 9 years as Chief Engineer of container ships, tankers, bulkers, and PCTC’s (car carriers).

 

I’m fortunate to have acquired a large collection of plans for the subject ships I would like to build.  However, I am looking for some advice on some details that I would like to outsource for 3D printing and custom photo etch.

 

I have never worked with 3D printing, so my only knowledge of the subject is picking up on conversations on forums and some basic online research.

 

The primary items I would like 3D printed are mooring winches, lifeboats and davits, ventilators (vent fans and goosenecks), and other deck “jewelry” like fire station hose boxes, life rings, plus cargo cranes as often seen on bulk carriers.  Hatch covers have small details like clamps for securing tight which could be done only in photo etch.  Cargo cranes would have 3D printing and photo etch.  I'm aiming for the level of detail found on models at the International Maritime Museum in Hamburg, if that resonates with anyone.  Shipyard models, intricately detailed.  Put on display in an office.

 

I have dimensioned drawings of the above machinery and equipment, but they are in 2D and PDF format. 

 

What are your recommendations on how to proceed?  Would I need to contract a person or company to make the STL files needed for 3D printing?  Then hire a 3D printing company?  How do I find companies that would accept custom work?  Can they work with the drawings I have available?  I can provide drawings and photos.  Regretfully. owing to my limited CAD skills, I do not have "finished" drawings available.  Basically, what information can I provide to make a successful print of these details.

 

My 1/350 scale models are for static display - nothing remote controlled.

 

If anyone has this kit, Revell made a 1/700 model of the container ship Columbo Express.  A 3rd party photo etch set is available that contains many of these fittings.  Primarily railings and stairs but mostly correct in design.  This is what I am looking to have made.  There are a lot of common items that could be printed or made.

 

Despite being an engineer and having a Master’s in Engineering, I never learned CAD; it was just a bit too early in my career and it's not something I work with daily.  I am not able to create the CAD drawings that would be needed for these parts.

 

My models are scratchbuilt using styrene for the hull framing and plating, superstructure, and decks, with some brass used (more so for 1/350 where better detailing can be done).  Railings and small details are photo etch.  There is very little on the market for merchant ships, especially modern ships.  I realize it’s a niche market compared to naval subjects, but military genres never interested me. Photo etch parts I want made are things like watertight doors, stairways, window frames, railings, etc.  These all differ from naval ships.  Some structures are complex, for example, the free fall lifeboats with davit for stowage.  Cargo cranes on ships fitted on deck are scratchbuilt, but could benefit from 3D printing and photo etch.

 

TL:DR I want to go about having custom photo etch and 3D printing for some parts and not sure where to start.  Ancient guy not up to speed on current capabilities of 3D printing and photo etching.

[Gregory]

We have a forum where members have discussed their CAD, 3D printing and similar endeavors.

CAD and 3D Modelling/Drafting Plans with Software - Model Ship World™

There are  a lot of resources out there for getting  custom work done.  Just Google " 3d printing services " and " photo etching services " .

There are probably other online groups dedicated to those endeavors also.

11 hours ago, poleprince said:

 I am not able to create the CAD drawings that would be needed for these parts.

 

It may not be too late.  Check out Fusion 360 ..  It's free for hobbyist.

This guy has some really great tutorials for beginners.    Product Design Online

 

If you use a 3rd party 3D printing service you can probably save a lot by having 3D drawings ready to go.

 

For photo etching, 2D should be all you need.

 

 

Edited August 15 by Gregory

[JKC27]

@poleprince I feel your frustration.  I build great lakes freighters, and as you said the deck features (winches, hatches, etc.) are different than those you find on military ships (which are quite readily available) so I am forced to scratch build, buy similar fittings (Bluejacket Shipcrafters is where I get a lot of my fittings), or resort to 3D printing.  There are some things out there on sites like CGTrader, and I think you can find people who will do custom work for you.  I recently had my bridge deck 3D printed by a local company here in Windsor, Ontario and it worked out really good.  As for photo etch parts...good luck there really isn't anything out there that aren't military, as you said, it's such a niche market (merchant ships).  I have used the stairs from Tom's Modelworks that has a variety of different scale PE that you might find useful.

 

FWIW I build in 1/16" - 1ft scale (1/192) or 1:200 - as those are what the plans that I have acquired are all in or are easily to scale to (some are 1/8" - 1ft).  Keeping in mind..the ships I am modeling are mostly 730 ft long or close to that.