a KFK my first steps into 3d printing

[elcee]

So last week i wrote to WG (Richard) and asked, if it is allowed to post pictures of 3d printed ships (as long as there is no WG ship of the same type).
I just will quote Richard here:

Basically you’re fine to post anything you’ve done for hobby purposes, so long as you’re not touting for work or selling things.

I think this might be interesting for others to see. In general this is my first attempt at using 3d printed model.
I don’t own a printer, the model was printed for my by a fellow hobby enthusiast.

I don’t know what methods are best, but after reading a while i think the most usable (in this scale) is SLA printing. This method creates a resin model, which has to be hardend after printing. The details are much finer that the more common FDM or FFF printers. After i showed the finished model to a friend he told me, that his FDM printer could not have printed the model.

The models are very detailed, if you pay VERY close attention, there are some production marks visible (this will be much more noticable with other 3d printing methods). In general models feel solid, more than i thought they would be. Still i broke one of the craned at the end of one model and replaced it with a 0.5mm wire. painted and at arms length its not noticeable though.

The data card is included in this post, some information about the ship and picture follow in post #2

• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by elcee. Reason: some formating

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[elcee]

The Kriegsfishkutter is one of my favorite boats the Kriegsmarine used.
It is a simple design and not really impressive on paper. But the boats were (or are) very seaworthy.
A total of 1072 KFK were ordered by the Kriegsmarine, beginning in 1942, more than 600 of those were completed during the war.
During the tests of boats ranging from 12m to 24m it was concluded the 24m (“Modell G”) was the most promising. The KFK had a single 220hp engine (with a single screw), allowing a speed of 9 kts. The first boats 1-157 were build as “Spitzgatter” (sharp stern) and the following boats were build with a “Spiegelheck” (transom stern).

The boats could be used in many ways, as Minesweeper, Subchaser or Escort (i’ll include the other protection duties, like harbor defense here).
Depending on the role, the equipment and armament varied.
A Minesweeper was armed with 2 x single 2cm and had (sometimes) an additional engine fitted on the deck, to power the minesweeping gear (when clearing magnetic mines). Subchasers (and escorts) were armed with 1 x 3.7cm guns, 1 x 2cm gun and depth charges. During the war the armament was changed, replacing the 2cm guns with twin or quad 2cm guns, but those were most likely ad hoc conversions by the crews.
About 135 of the 24m boats were sunk during the war. Most of the surviving ships were used for minesweeping after the war for the allied controlled GMSA (German Mine-Sweeping Association). After the service about 200 KFK went to different nations as reparations.
Alot KFKs were converted to fishing vehicles (which was their intened use after the war would end).

IO will surely correct my mistakes.

So while i wrote this my phone died so pictures will be added later today. As preview i only have the first WIP picture.

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[elcee]

And here the promised pictures of the finished model.
While i have printed weapons as well, i opted for WG gun & crews, because the printed don’t have a crew and the similar weapons tie the models together with the WG ones (not that they look out of place).

KFK #2 isn’t finished, i just haven’t decided on the weapons

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[invisible officer]

Very nice.
The only printing problem I see is the thickness of the ship boards. Bullet proof. 😉

But for use without base a pro. No fat fingers breaking them.

No mistakes to IO on.

[elcee]

True, the thickness is a compromise.
Both for playing with them and for printing them.
The bulwark are about 2mm thick, 1mm would should be printable, thats the thickness of the railing of the gun platform. BUT in can’t comment on stability then (or printability).
A friend saw the result and said his FDM printer could not get close to the details and thickness, but he doesn’t own a printer for this anyway.

[Richard]

Nice start – but you can go thinner on the bulwarks without any problem, I routinely use 1mm thick sections sometimes thinner.

Will you be sharing the model? There is a lot of stuff avaialbe for free out there.

[elcee]

I hold no rights to the model, so no.

The person that printed the model for me also created the 3d model (i assume). When i saw the model we talked about 3d printing and he offered to print them for me.

I did some 3d models for, lets say universal detail items, like cowl vents and winches and so on. Basically things i can rescale depending on the size i need.

But i have to admit that, after seeing what can be done, i might do more 3d modeling in the future, but only if i am willing to invest into a 3d printer as well.

[Niall]

Rather than investing in a printer, try http://www.Shapeways.com.

They have done several models and parts for conversions from my designs.

[elcee]

No i’ll skip on that.
1. i’m limited in materials, that I (subjective) may not like
2. way to expensive, knowing that the hobby is expensive
3. fairly restricted dimesions (thickness of parts)

regarding 3, while i waited for the prints, i checked the different companies for cost, material and restrictions. And for a small ship like the KFK the most basic print starts at around 15€ / model plus additional cost like shipping. Better materials and the costs were like 20++€. Sure i paid more for models, but those are MUCH larger (the KFK is about 8cm).
And that is not even regarding, that alot companies (i’m pretty sure shapeways was among them) wouldn’t even print the models because the “wall strength” was insufficient.

[Niall]

Shapeways fine detail resin prints wall thickesses of 0.8mm. The other advantage of Shapeways is that you can open a shop on their site and sell you designs.

This is why I have not posted any photos of my prints as most are on my shop, although only 1 item is of relevance to any Warlord Games products.

[Richard]

Materials cost for a 1/300 kfk would run to about 50p for my Anycubic Photon printer – the printer is currently availble at $300. downside is it’s messy.

[Author]

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