Type 26 by NavyShooter - 3D Print - 1/144 - Display

[NavyShooter]

Ahoy gents,

 

Another project is underway - I decided to try and make a 3D printed Type 26 Destroyer.

 

I first came across the file set last year on CGTrader.  I paid the $25 for it, and regretted it.  The seller indicated that it was not suitable for R/C, but I decided to try anyhow....and....it's not suitable.   The details are wrong for the RCN version - missile layouts are incorrect, superstructure is incorrect - particularly the main mast.

 

Here's the link:

 

Type 26 City Class Frigate 3D print model 3D model 3D printable | CGTrader

 

The designer is not a modeler, and is not well versed in what an RC model needs to have - the hull is very thin, the superstructure is not designed to be easily removed with a raised lip to keep water out, there's no shaft line holes, nor a rudder hole.  Overall, it is not well suited to make a good physical model with.  

 

The designer also used a program to generate the files that leaves triangular facets on the model.  Everywhere.   Large triangles, small triangles...it's not a smooth hull at all.  It's very blocky. 

 

All that said, I want to make a Type 26...and this is about all I've found out there that's partway suitable.  So.  here we go.

 

 

 

 

[NavyShooter]

You can see in the images from the designer, he's got the hull cut into modules already - but, when I downloaded the files, he'd gone a step further and cut these parts 'apart' even more into a port/stbd half, and split the superstructure in parts as well. 

 

I re-assembled the parts in the slicer, and printed them as 'complete' modules, so I've got 8 modules, with some small superstructure bits for the radar mast printed separately. 

 

Edited Monday at 10:35 PM by NavyShooter

[NavyShooter]

Here's how the forward part of the ship looks fully printed, and if you reference this website, you can see the concept drawings for the Canadian version of the Type 26, and see how the mast doesn't match.  At all.

 

BAE Systems Communications multimedia portal - Search

 

 

[NavyShooter]

So, I spent some time doing some 3D design work as the remaining modules printed themselves out, and here's what I came up with.  It's got the lower main mast with the phased array represented.  

 

 

[NavyShooter]

And here we see the solution to the triangular facets on the hull....

 

A heavy coat of bondo body putty.  I literally caked it on.  

[NavyShooter]

Here we see the project at the end of today - hull fully sanded, and a layer of primer shot overtop. 

 

There is still going to be some filling and sanding to do, but this is about 70% better than it was....there is still work to do, but this is much better. 

 

More to follow as the project moves along.

 

 

[Canute]

Wow, Chief. How many tubes of bondo did that take? 😆 I'd definitely award you the save on this monster. 👍

[NavyShooter]

That was....a tube and a half. 

 

For the first layer.

I used the rest of the 2nd tube on the 2nd layer. 

 

I put on rubber gloves and literally smeared it on, rubbing it into the surfaces....

[Canute]

🤣