crackerjazz Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Wow - that looks mighty impressive!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnlove_mk_II Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Looks great. I'll be up for a set for sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) Preview of a part a customer asked me to make and a question. Here is the beginning work on the SSME surround and heatshield. My question. Do you guys think it would be better to make the hemispherical center section separate and a little oversized so the builder can locate the nozzles in whatever orientation they want OR should I make them where they are fixed. The fixed would be cheaper since it's less plastic, but the separate dome part would be more versatile. So if you guys were using this, what would you prefer? Bill Edited September 9, 2014 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I thought there was a standard "parked" orientation for the SSMEs after MECO - but I don't know what it is... In other words, the SSMEs would/should be in a fixed location for anything other than an launch ascent depiction. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnlove_mk_II Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I'd say fixed ... but either way would be cool. It's funny, I was pondering this very area just last night when I was reviewing tile pattern art for my tiles. Glad to see you're working on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 I'd say fixed ... but either way would be cool. It's funny, I was pondering this very area just last night when I was reviewing tile pattern art for my tiles. Glad to see you're working on it. I just wish I could get a blanket texture to show up through Shapeways. I think the texture is just too subtle. Perhaps buying these as a master then using tape or something on the inner ring I could make them in resin. I'm just not thrilled about the idea of going through the process of offering resin parts. That's what makes Shapeways so nice and easy. We'll see. Thanks for the input guys. I think I will leave them fixed for now. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotdog Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I would vote to keep them separate. Not only would the engine gimbal be customizable, but painting would be easier, too. It would be great if you could get the tiles to work on this. The engine skirts have been one of the areas giving me fits with my tile detail set. Maybe if you exaggerate the tile detail, giving the more depth than in real life? We can always sand the surface down to make the detail more subtle if needed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 It's getting there. Kind of agree with the point about painting. I'll see how much it would add to the print cost. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Whenever I look at your 3D models I always wonder about how certain areas were done. I look forward to every screenshot you post. Very inspiring work, Bill! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 None of the Shapeways materials are cheap, and nothing in 1/72 is going to be cheap. I've had good luck priming WSF models with Tamiya or Mr. Color primer/resin primer with successive coats, allowed to dry in between. It will unavoidably fill in windows on a 4-ich starship and other small detail, but the technique should work fine on the images you're showing here. I'd just be generously deep on the panel lines or deep enough modelers can scribe out the panel lines between primer coats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 I received the OMS from Shapeways and am very happy with them. I washed them real well and primed with Tamiya fine surface primer and then painted with a gloss red paint. There are still some details that need painting once it totally cures and then a good clear coat but overall I think these came out pretty good. Thanks for checking them out. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
egt95 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 That turned out pretty good, Bill. You should come up with a way to design a set of main engine covers to go along with OMS covers. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks Mike. My poor painting skills don't really help make them look as good as they could. They deserve a much better painter to make them look great. As for the SSME covers, that's possible but not sure how well they would come out in a 3d print. The material on the real deal has a lot of creases and billow and seams that might not translate well in this medium. When I get to that point on my build I'll likely use foil or paper or tissue or something. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Just added the external tank to shuttle umbilical pads, the ET side. To use it you have to remove the cross beam between the shuttle supports. https://www.shapeways.com/product/JAFRHWEAT/1-72-external-tank-umbilicals-and-cross-member Here are the parts with the orbiter side umbilical parts attached. The part available now does NOT have the orbiter panels or the doors, only the tank side pads. See Hotdog's parts above for those panels. Sorry I don't have a photo of the part without the orbiter panels as I have not ordered one yet. If there is any interest I could do a version that has the interface panels detailed if anyone wanted to do a tank without the shuttle attached. Otherwise none of that detail can be seen. Thanks for checking them out. Bill Edited May 29, 2015 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Youngtiger1 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Bill are you part of Shapeway business or just letting them use your CAD work? Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Bill are you part of Shapeway business or just letting them use your CAD work? Mike Hi Mike, The way Shapeways works is anybody can open up a "shop" and offer items they've designed for sale. Shapeways handles the ordering, printing and the shipping etc... for a fee. You decide the price point markup over their printing cost and they pay you that markup minus the handling fee. It's a convenient way for someone wanting to give people access to parts I've created without the hassle of having a business per se. To my knowledge (and I could be wrong) Shapeways doesn't actually sell products themselves. They simply offer printing services and act kind of like a consignment shop for designers. Or I guess a better analogy would be to think of it as a mall of designers shops? Thanks, Bill Edited June 10, 2015 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Youngtiger1 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Interesting concept. I just though since I saw a lot of your stuff on their site. A lot of stuff that I really like to get Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garyshipwright Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Hi Bill. I was looking for the SRB aft skirts with separation motors on shapeway at your shop and can't find them. Am hoping that I can stll get them, that is if your still doing them. Started another shuttle stack and want to add them to this one to. Thank you sir and look forward in hearing from you. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Hi Gary. Thanks for your interest in those parts. At this time unfortunately they are not available. I was pretty angry about the way they handled this part and after many many successful prints decided to say it's un-printable. What they say the issue is is the there are 2 small "sprues" connecting the parts together (they originally made you make multiple parts into one) and those apparently break during the post process cleaning. I told them it didn't matter if it broke at that point since it has to be cut away anyway from the part. They currently have no process to communicate to their cleaners what can and what can-not be broken so they simply refuse to print. I'm working on trying to get the parts changed but since I lost the original files it's been a little challenging. I will try to get something back up on them soon. I personally wanted another set as well. Â Thanks again. I will let you know as soon as I can get them fixed. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garyshipwright Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Thanks Bill. Might be a little while before I need them and will keep a eye out for them. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mkjm Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Bill, any chance we might see a 1/72 KU-band antenna?  It wouldn't be too difficult to scratch build but I've got so many other things to tend to, the dish is what's throwing me for a loop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share Posted November 13, 2018 Well, I just acquired a new license for Solidworks at the house so I do need to get back into 3D modeling (I'm also teaching my daughter how to play with it so great opportunities there) I'll have to take a look at what all the antennae would require to model. It's been quite a while since I even really looked at a space shuttle but I'll try to get back in the game. I do remember black side down so I got shuttle basics memorized.  Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mkjm Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Let me know if and when you do! I will definitely put myself down for one. Two, if you do 1/144 as well! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garyshipwright Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 I could go for one or two my self, if and when you have them done sir. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 I have some time off of work this week for Thanksgiving and generally try to squeeze some modeling/tinkering time in the early mornings before my family wakes up. So if you guys have available resources you can post up here, and I'll try to to start gathering some myself, I might could get it done sometime this week. If I recall it's not super-super crazy detail-wise but I honestly haven't studied it much since my first shuttle build (that I STILL haven't completed) was in pre-launch and didn't require any payload bay parts. So any little head start would make it go much faster if anyone has anything. Â Thanks, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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