F-22 IRST Pod and NGJ - Low Band Pod

[B2Blain]

The ability to design and print accessories and mods/upgrade for scale models are going to proliferate and give modelers more going forward. I found 3D models for a number of weapon systems and pods. The designer has the first IRST pod I have seem for the F-22.

 

https://www.renderhub.com/akela-freedom/sensor-pod-for-f-22-raptor

 

And a Next Generation Jammer Low Band pod for the Growler.

 

https://www.renderhub.com/akela-freedom/next-generation-jammer-low-band

 

As well as other renders. A lot of new or proposed munitions also.

Thirty dollars seems like a lot for files, especially if you don't need multiple prints. Hopefully at some point an aftermarket company will produce these items.

 

I'm guessing the IRST pod and NGJ pod is a designed as a solid object. Would I need to use a resin printer or can I print using filament and sand the parts for a smooth finish?

 

Thanks!

[strikeeagle801]

Not to take away from this guy's designs, but just so you are aware, FlightLine Resin offers the ALQ-249's in both 48th and 32nd. They can be purchased through Phase Hanger. 

 

Aaron 

[B2Blain]

Just bought mid band pods from Flight Line. I have some from BAM also, but Arnaud sadly had to close his business.

[Raptor.777]

2 hours ago, B2Blain said:

Just bought mid band pods from Flight Line. I have some from BAM also, but Arnaud sadly had to close his business.

Why did Arnaud have to close his business?

[strikeeagle801]

4 minutes ago, Raptor.777 said:

Why did Arnaud have to close his business?

New tax laws on small businesses in his home country (France). 

[Raptor.777]

that sucks

Jeff

[Inquisitor]

Those models are designed for animation or renders, they're not designed for 3d printing and may or may not be usable.

Outside the basic geometry which you can see in the wireframes picture, the details like panel lines, fasteners, etc are just texture maps "painted over the surfaces" not physical detail modeled into the model which won't translate to a print.

 

Another thing you encounter is ignorance from either the designer or the end user on what needs to be done for a 3d model to be printable.

Many times 3d artists who have never 3d printed think that exporting a 3d model designed for render will automatically make it printable, which is not the case and sell it like "printable" models.

For a 3d printable file you need solid watertight models and any walls or thin sections need to be a certain thickness or they won't print. The details as mentioned above can't be painted over textures, they need to be "physical" details already "modeled" into the model.

That also applies to many end users who think downloading anything from Renderhub, Turbosquid or ripping some videogame asset will automatically be printable. Which is not the case, most of the time they are not solid or watertight they are just a "shell" with paperthin or zero thickness walls that won't print anything. Some other times they are a jumbled mess of several overlapping shells. In a best case it's solid because the artist modeled it as a single body without holes or did a boolean to join everything.

Also speaking of thickness there's the matter of scaling. Something designed for render or animation or even 3d printing on a 1:1 scale, scaled down to modeling scales could have things lost due to scaling or too small to print due to physical limits of 3d printing resin.

Edited April 24, 2025 by Inquisitor
added some extra info

[B2Blain]

Thank you for your advice and information. Hopefully, over time there will be more aftermarket options and vendors who print at a lower cost.

[thegoodsgt]

FWIW, last week I messaged the folks at ResKit suggesting they produce these. (No response yet.) At the rate they're churning out ordinance (LOL), it's just a matter of time.

[B2Blain]

On 4/7/2025 at 1:02 AM, thegoodsgt said:

FWIW, last week I messaged the folks at ResKit suggesting they produce these. (No response yet.) At the rate they're churning out ordinance (LOL), it's just a matter of time.

Reskit had been coming out with a lot of product. It's amazing how many companies have produced AIM-174s and NGJ mid band bonds over a short period of time, so maybe we will see a greater variety of aftermarket products at some point. Here is my wish list.

 

1. F-22 IRST

2. NGJ Low band pods

3. F-22 Low drag tank and pylon - I put this at #3 because there hasn't been any good images of the tanks yet. Hopefully, soon.

4. AIM-260 - same as #3. This will definitely get made by someone. I am not sure about #1 and #3. The F-22 doesn't seem to be that popular of a subject. There seems to be a lot more Growler kits out there. Weird.

[strikeeagle801]

The only half-decent kit of the F-22 is the 48th Hasegawa, and most people say the RAM panels are still overdone. My wish is a 48th Tamiya, but not sure if that will happen. 

 

Aaron