FDM PLA 3D printing - with a model making inclination

[Dave Ward]

I changed the filament on the Anet - it should be quick and easy, but every time I do it, I disturb the Z-axis ( one side lower than the other ), and in consequence I have to go round & check the build plate levels. The printer is now muttering away, doing the cab for the MT-T. This is an important part, as it will be probably be the most visible part of the model - it's going to take about 8 hours to print. The new blue filament is much easier to see on the black build plate.
Looking for models on the internet, I'm consciously looking for models that don't have a plastic counterpart. If I wanted a Tiger, Sherman, Panther etc, there's loads available, but Meng, Takom, Tamiya and the others have covered these extensively So, it's the odd & obscure that I'm looking for - at times it's not obvious whether it was a real thing, or a a steampunk/fantasy. One of these is a crossover - the tank from ' Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' !
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

One of these is a crossover - the tank from ' Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' !
Dave

Go on , Dave , you KNOW you want to!

[Dave Ward]

Go on , Dave , you KNOW you want to!

Not particularly interested in the film tank, however it was loosely based on the Mk..VIII International tank, which I am interested in!
Dave

[Richard48]

I admire you fellas that can do this sort of stuff.Its the future of figure sculpts for many.Id love somebody to do some Sherman aerial pots for glacis plates to help with conversions.
Good work.
Richard

[Dave Ward]

After 8 3/4 hours the cab has printed out............

First thing tomorrow will be to remove the supports from the inside of the cab. Next part to print will be the load bed - essentially a large postcard sized flat plate!
FDM printing is one way forward, SLA printing ( UV curing resin ) has more potential, but has it's drawbacks - toxic resin & chemicals, nasty fumes, flammable liquids for post printing processing............... hopefully future developments will reduce these problems.
However FDM printing with PLA filament is a non-oil based process. PLA is a plant-derived & a sustainable product.
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Pleased with the cab clean up

Just a little clean up of a few whiskers, but looking good
Dave

[Dave Ward]

In March - post #75 - I said that I had paid for the files of a Matilda I. I didn't get very far with this, I just had problems with the software, and frankly it was far too advanced for me to try to print then. I've returned to this, and whilst my printer is churning out bits for the MT-T, I've been working on the Matilda, and I think ( hope! ) I've got it to the stage where I can try to print it! The tracks were the parts that defeated me the first time, and now, with a bit more experience with the software & the printer, I'm going to give it a go.
I've been using an Alpha release of PrusaSlicer ( 2.6.0 ), and it seems to have a few more features, that could be useful. Like all prints this is going to take a long time, and it's not something I want to leave running overnight, as it could all go pear-shaped! - so daylight hours only!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

To print the Matilda tracks, I had to 'simplify' the files. It's an automatic procedure in PrusaSlicer, that you can select the degree of simplification. As they were originally, the software would not slice the files, it simply locked up ( really locked up - I had to reboot the computer! ). After simplification the tracks were sliced ( it still took about 10 minutes )
Here's the result of the mornings print

Front & back - the back still has a 'raft' attached, as I thought that would be needed to keep the print still attached to the build plate! Does look rather bizarre in blue.....................



Top view - the actual tracks are the band at the bottom, the rest is support material - as the suspension attachment points stick quite a way out.
I printed this part on it's back, as I didn't want to obscure the detail on the wheels/idlers/sprockets.
It took just under 5 hours too print - most of which was printing the supports! Removing these will be a careful procedure!
The other side tracks are printing now - the hull will have to wait until tomorrow, as the software predicts that's going to take over 8 hours.
A successful morning!
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

That's really starting to look the part now Dave. Full marks for your determination and perseverance.
Fwiw, I always try to position the build so that the evidence of support is mostly hidden

[Dave Ward]

That's really starting to look the part now Dave. Full marks for your determination and perseverance.
Fwiw, I always try to position the build so that the evidence of support is mostly hidden

The Matilda I is a problem in that respect, it does have an 'open plan' look, with only a vestigial mudguard on the drive wheels to hide anything

The Bovington example...............
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

I guess the next step is to find a free program that will enable you to cut up a STL file down into more easily printable chunks . I believe Blender can do it but I have never had a go myself

[Dave Ward]

I guess the next step is to find a free program that will enable you to cut up a STL file down into more easily printable chunks . I believe Blender can do it but I have never had a go myself

Microsoft 3D builder lets you cut up STL files into chunks & save them as either STL or 3mf files, it's not very intuitive, but with a bit of trial and error it's quite easy! - it has loads of other functions, like repair, mirror etc & others which I can't recognise! I've only used it to split objects, and I need to really look into it to see its potential!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

I've been looking for a model of the Mk.VII 'International' or 'Liberty' tank. Sadly, I couldn't finf a free model, so I've had to bite the bullet & pay for the files!

This cost me 9 Euros - instant download - theoretically I could be printing these files right now.
This is the tank that the 'Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade' tank was loosely based on.
I'll be printing this at 1/35............
Dave

[Gary MacKenzie]

I've been looking for a model of the Mk.VII 'International' or 'Liberty' tank. Sadly, I couldn't finf a free model, so I've had to bite the bullet & pay for the files!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199340[/ATTACH]
This cost me 9 Euros - instant download - theoretically I could be printing these files right now.
This is the tank that the 'Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade' tank was loosely based on.
I'll be printing this at 1/35............
Dave

Looks good quality 3d image
9 Euros is a good price for a file like that.

[Dave Ward]

Looks good quality 3d image
9 Euros is a good price for a file like that.

It horrified me at first! - The first file I opened was the complete model in one single STL file, & in 1/35, it wouldn't fit on my build plate.Thankfully the other zipped folder has it broken down into print sized chunks - the tank is actually much bigger than I imagined!
It came from the 'Cult' website, there's quite a bit of free stuff, but a big percentage are 'pay', ranging in price from 2 Euros upwards!
Dave