Micronaut Only Thread

[av8rmongo]

I may have to change my thinking on scale. I just went to my local B&M store to see what they have on the shelf and for the first time I got a close up look at the Figurehead 1/6000 range. For the size they are really quite impressive. And they seem to have a good range of Cold War ships. Does anyone know how extensive their late Cold War to present offerings are?

[dragon6]

I may have to change my thinking on scale. I just went to my local B&M store to see what they have on the shelf and for the first time I got a close up look at the Figurehead 1/6000 range. For the size they are really quite impressive. And they seem to have a good range of Cold War ships. Does anyone know how extensive their late Cold War to present offerings are?

The Cold War range is very large, past that it is very small. No Type 45 UK destroyers for example. Udaloy II and Neustrashimyy are the newest Russian ships. No Chinese models as far as I know.

[Brigade Commander]

From a short discussion with PanzerFour, it sounds as if PanzerFour owns quite a collection of 1/6000.

[av8rmongo]

The coming year will certainly make me happy with the resurrection of GHQ's modern micronaut line but even that isn't enough. I just took the plunge and ordered one of Shapeway's 1/2400 scale JMSDF Hyuga class helicopter carrying destroyers. I spent the extra money and bought the highest quality material. The pictures I've seen of the cheaper material just don't inspire any confidence that they will come out looking like anything other than cheap board game pieces. I guess I'll find out if their best quality is good enough or if they'll be relegated to the Panzerschiffe dust bin.

Shipment will be "on or before July 5th." I'll keep you posted and send pictures when it arrives.

Here's an update from Shapeways:

We thought you would like to receive an update of your order. The production of your products(s) has started. Once we have produced your order, you will receive an email from UPS, this email will point you to the tracking information of your package. If you have ordered a sample kit you will not receive a UPS mail with tracking information.

From the moment we have received your payment we strive to deliver the products in the different kinds of plastic in 10 working days, Stainless Steel in 14 working days and glass products in 14-16 working days.

I had no idea "production" of 3D printing items was this involved. So today is the 5th working day we'll see how the do meeting their timeline.

[kiasutha]

I may have to change my thinking on scale. I just went to my local B&M store to see what they have on the shelf and for the first time I got a close up look at the Figurehead 1/6000 range. For the size they are really quite impressive. And they seem to have a good range of Cold War ships. Does anyone know how extensive their late Cold War to present offerings are?

Do a web search for "regalnoble" or "nobleminis".
That should find you the manufacturers site with a full list of everything.
Between cost of- and limited space for 1/2400, I'm probably going that route myself for naval (pre-dred to WW2).

[av8rmongo]

My Shapeways package has arrived! My first impressions are actually quite favorable on this model, the JMSDF Hyuga DDH. Quick measurements of length and beam are within measurement tolerances, the "mold" or should it be "build" is crisp and clear even the bow CIWS came out pretty good minus the barrels. I bought the most expensive material and the price was comparable to GHQ's Invincible class CVL which is roughly the same size. Dragon 6 has shared some pictures with me of some of the other 1/2400 offers in other materials and personally I would stay away from them even if they are cheaper than GHQ prices (if GHQ offered the same range Shapeways does).

So what are the downsides? As I said the details that are present are crisp but there are plenty of things missing. There are no deck lines of any kind. I don't know enough about 3D printing to even know if its possible. But what is possible are the various hull cut outs for launching small boats etc. that are also absent.

Overall, if GHQ is a 10, I would give it a 7.5 or 8. Definitely worth having but don't expect perfection. Enough words:





I'll get some primer on it probably tomorrow and post some more pictures since the translucent material doesn't photograph well.

[dragon6]

So what are the downsides? As I said the details that are present are crisp but there are plenty of things missing. There are no deck lines of any kind. I don't know enough about 3D printing to even know if its possible. But what is possible are the various hull cut outs for launching small boats etc. that are also absent.

Overall, if GHQ is a 10, I would give it a 7.5 or 8. Definitely worth having but don't expect perfection

If you want to see what is possible check out the yahoo 1/4800 list or look for the tinythingamajigs shop at shapeways. Matt is very very good. Unfortunately he doesn't do much 1/2400. The potential is incredible but the current results, in 1/2400, are less than what is possible.

Some people say their models have become brittle with exposure to light. The suggestion is they should be primed relatively quickly. The Frosted Ultra Detail models will definitely yellow over time if not primed.

There is another thing, not really a problem I guess. I prefer the tactile feel of pewter miniatures. The heft just makes them better to me. 1/2400 printed models are almost weightless, especially the smaller models. I really can't image just how light the 1/4800 destroyers are.

[dragon6]

Of the eleven ships this is what I've found

Black Sea contingent
Smetivy - Kashin
Nikolai Filchenkov - Alligator (LST)
Tsezar Kunikov. - Ropucha II (LST)

Northern Fleet contingent
Admiral Chabanenko - Udaloy II
Alexander Shabalin - Ropucha II (LST)
LST2 - ?
LST3 - ?

Baltic contingent?

I'm guessing at Alexander Shabalin but she was in the Northern Fleet at the end of June for a celebration.

Any other names and classes available?

[av8rmongo]

Looking the ship over again today I noticed something I hadn't seen before in the shape of the hull. The bow, at the waterline, from about the superstructure forward isn't a smooth curve. You can just barely see it in the lower picture. Maybe its an artifact of how 3D printing is accomplished but it seems more like the designer rushed through the CAD work to get a product out. I can sand it down to a smooth curve but this taken together with the lack of other hull details drops my assessment down to a 7-7.5 on a 1-10 scale.

[av8rmongo]

Of the eleven ships this is what I've found

Black Sea contingent
Smetivy - Kashin
Nikolai Filchenkov - Alligator (LST)
Tsezar Kunikov. - Ropucha II (LST)

Northern Fleet contingent
Admiral Chabanenko - Udaloy II
Alexander Shabalin - Ropucha II (LST)
LST2 - ?
LST3 - ?

Baltic contingent?

I'm guessing at Alexander Shabalin but she was in the Northern Fleet at the end of June for a celebration.

Any other names and classes available?

One source lists the 3 Northern Fleet LSTs as
Alexander Otrakovsky, Georgy Pobedonosets, and Kondopoga. The first two are Ropucha II and the third is Ropucha I.

The Baltic contingent is supposed to be Yaraslav Mudry (a Neustrashimy class frigate) and a replenishment tanker Lena.

[dragon6]

One source lists the 3 Northern Fleet LSTs as
Alexander Otrakovsky, Georgy Pobedonosets, and Kondopoga. The first two are Ropucha II and the third is Ropucha I.

The Baltic contingent is supposed to be Yaraslav Mudry (a Neustrashimy class frigate) and a replenishment tanker Lena.

Cool! Thanks. I see that the remaining two ships are Salvage/Rescue tugs. Anyone know which ones?

[Shark73]

I've just seen that GHQ posted photo of the new DDG Arleigh Burke Flight IIA. It seems that it is a variant without CIWS. Does anyone know if it is common for the class to be without that?

[Donald M. Scheef]

Many of the Arleigh Burke flight 2A ships were completed with no CIWS fitted. The role of close-in defense would be assumed by the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (RIM-162). Apparently, the decision to completely replace the gun system with missiles has been reversed and at least one CIWS system is to be back-fitted into all those ships without one.

Between about 2004 to after 2012 it would be common to see an Arleigh Burke flight 2A as modeled by GHQ.

Don S.

[av8rmongo]

Still haven't received my order. My friend is CO of USS William P. Lawrence and I'm hoping to get a walk around before heading to Bahrain in a couple weeks. They have CIWS fitted.

[dragon6]

If I remember correctly there was a problem with GHQ's Tenryu IJN23 model.
Hull to short?
I believe there was a possible work around discussed?
If so could you remind me?

Which model would be the best to represent HMAS Australia, County class Kent subclass?
None would seem to be correct which would, in your opinion, be the nearest?

I acquired, cheaply , a second Graf Spee GEN04. Wasn't there some discussion on modifying the Graf Spee into Lutzow? Yes I know the Lutzow model is now available but...