1/350 Scale McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

Interesting, I"m amazed at the resolution on those printers.  I'm really impressed with what you can get out of what are essentially 1st gen 3D printers.

For the probes, if you were to use brass, you can buy brass rod in all kinds of different diameters, you could honestly just cut them to length other than the bent one, then all you'd need are some pliers.  

Your previous models are really impressive, I can't wait to see what the A-4(s) look like!  I do like all the colorful pictures though!

Groot

11/18/2014

Hi Everybody!

You are right CN Spots, both the strength and resolution (.i.e., level of detail) depend heavily on the printer, as well as the material used, since some printers can print various materials.  You are also right that the ones that do lower resolution (i.e., more detail) are very expensive.  I don’t know what machine C2D uses, but parts of similar quality that Admiralty Modelworks printed for me were printed on a ProJet 3500HD Max Multi Jet Printing (MJP) that cost around $100,000.

The printers OU has, that I used to print the hangars, tower and battery holder for my diorama, are considerably cheaper, and although they printed these items well.  They could not print the airplanes.  The video below shows the hangars and tower being printed.  The machine melts a thin strand of plastic that is fed from a spool, and lays it down layer by layer.  It took about 3-1/2 hours to print.

http://vid1352.photobucket.com/albums/q659/rdutnell/A-4%20Skyhawk/Video-Extrusion_zpscp8bmweu.mp4

On the first try I got marginal results because they ran out of plastic part way through and they guy that reset it didn’t really know what he was doing, so I made another appointment and redid the parts that didn’t do well.  The upper left image below shows the parts printed the 2^nd time, without the support material removed.  The image at upper right shows the battery box.  Note the different colors.  If you have a preference you can schedule your printing for when .they are printing that color, but since I’m going to paint them anyway, I didn’t care what color they were.  The lower image shows them with a coat of gray paint/primer on them.  Note that the detailing is good enough that the raised letters I included printed, which made them easier to paint.

The video below shows the SLA printing the Greenling.  I didn’t actually get to see it.  My friend sent me the video.  In the video, the machine first lays down and smooths out a very thin layer of UV curable plastic, then hits it with a UV laser that solidifies the plastic wherever the machine encounters a part.  Again it does this layer by layer.

http://vid1352.photobucket.com/albums/q659/rdutnell/A-4%20Skyhawk/Video-SLA_zpsr5gluzc3.mp4

The image below shows the printed model.

As for strength, I have found them to be strong enough for the most part, as long as I don’t make parts too thin.  Of course, a fall to a hard floor wouldn’t do them any good.  Neither does knocking a coffee cup over on them.

As for the parts being printed on”1^st gen” 3D printers, Groot, that’s not really true.  My friend, who printed the 1/144 scale USS Greenling, says they have been using their SLA (Stereolithography) printer for over 15 years.  The 3DSystems web site says they were the first to commercialize SLA 3D printers in 1989, and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing in 1992.  MJP printing followed in 1996, approaching 20 years ago.  It’s just that it has only recently grabbed the attention of the press as various uses for the technology are being discovered.

I’m glad you are enjoying the colorful pictures Groot, and I can’t wait to see them either.

Update 18 – 11/19/2014

Greetings All.

The A-4 models are completed and the small parts have been put on frets.  The parts diagram/list for the A-4E is shown below.  The blue parts will be printed in “clear” plastic.  The white part frets are the same for all models and similar diagrams have been made for all 5 versions.  The only difference between them is the airframe and the canopy, so it was fairly easy to do, once I had one done.

The next two images show the exploded parts diagram for the A-4F and OA-4M, respectively.  Again I have made one for each version.  This took a little more doing, but still it went pretty fast.

With the parts diagrams completed, the next thing I did was prepare the image files need to show the model on C2D.  For each model I made a sheet showing the model from the front, back, left, right, top, and bottom.  The image below shows the sheet I prepared for the A-4F.

I also included three other images for each model, showing various configurations from different angles.  The image below shows the first of these images for the A-4M, outfit for display on the tarmac.

The image below shows the second of these images for the TA-4F, outfit for landing on a carrier…

And the final image shows the last of the images for the A-4E, configured with gear up for in-flight display.

With the images prepared, I next did a small write up for each model, exported all of the model parts to STL files, and uploaded everything to C2D.  I will let you know when they post them.  Now for some decals…

Good Morning All.

I use AutoCad Civil 3D Mikey Gugs95, because that is what I have access to.  My friend says there are better programs to do what I’m doing, but I wouldn’t know.

I have started on the decals and have decided on schemes for 2 of the 5 versions.  The pix below show the schemes I’m going to use for the A-4E, or A4-F (left) and for the A-4M (right).   I haven’t decided on the others.  Anybody have any preferences?

Update 19 – 11/21/2014

Happy Friday Everybody!

Well, I made the decals for the A-4F Blue Angels, using pictures and poor images of other decal sets as a guide.  The images below show the decals I made, starting with top, left side and bottom views…

…Followed by close ups of the side decals.

The image below shows the decal sheet.

While looking at various pix of the Blue Angels, I noticed some differences between them and my models, so after much thought, I decided to make yet another version, the A-4F “Blue Angel”.   I did some dicing and slicing of the airframe, removing some items, including the wing pylons and whatever the protrusion on the nose is, and added the feature on the aft end of the A-4M.  The images below show the completed A-4F “Blue Angel”.

The parts diagram is shown below.  Note that I moved things around a bit.

Here’s the “Exploded” parts diagram.

Since I changed the fret, I decided to be consistent, and I changed the part frets for all of the versions.  Below is the new parts diagram for the A-4E, showing the modified frets.  Everything has been uploaded to C2D, including the decals for the F-4F “Blue Angels”.

Update 20 – 11/23/2014

Hi Everybody!

I had no sooner completed uploading the files to C2D, when I decided to modify the decals to add, what I first thought were white bits, and later learned were actually polished metal (silver), to the leading edges of the wings, fin and stabilizers, as shown in the images below. 

Note that I also redid the airframe, deciding to make the pylon part of the fuel tank since the tanks are seldom seen in pix of the Blue Angels, and I figure most people (like me), won’t include the tank.  In the image below, you can see the attachment points for the tank, as well as a 0.02” diameter hole I drilled in the underside to accommodate a rod for displaying the aircraft in flight.

The final(?) decal sheet for the A-4F Blue Angels are shown below.  In order to print the silver bits correctly, the decals must be printed on an Alps printer.  The color settings for the silver, as found on line, are 159,193,197.

With the decals and modifications to the A-4F Blue Angels completed, I made the decals for the final A-4H.  The image below shows the left side.  Although not shown, the top part of the airframe will be painted blue.

The decal sheet for the A-4H is shown below.

CHEERS!!!

I've built a number of Russell's 3D printed models and find the printed plastic easy to work with, however, it can be brittle so you'll have to be careful when removing items from the frets or trying to reshape pieces.  Some of the antennas will inevitably be removed by mistake... victim of big fingers but don't let that sort of thing deter you.  The biggest frustration I've found with 3D printing is removing the wax residue.  I've used fiberglass brushes from Micro-Mark which seems to work well.

Ron

Update 21

Good Afternoon Everybody, and thanks again Ron for being the guinea pig on my models.  

Following a suggestion from Ron, I decided to add some Mk 82 500 lb bombs.  I included single bombs, 3-packs and a 6-pack, as seen in the images below.

The image below shows the A-4E with a 6-pack of Mk82’s on the centerline pylon, 300 gallon tanks on the inner wing pylons and single Mk82’s on the outer wing pylons.

I also decided to make a couple of a couple of AGM-65 Maverick missiles because they are seen on the last A-4M, I want to model.

The image below shows the new parts diagram for the A-4E.  The others have been similarly changed.

I also had to change all of the exploded diagrams, as seen below for the TA-4F.

While looking for pix of the last A-4M, I found a drawing that shows the top of the aircraft, revealing some additional features I wanted to include on the decals.  The newly modified sheet is shown below.

Now, to change the text, and upload the modified files to C2D.

You could make a whole line of 1/350 ordnance alone!  I can't wait to see how these come out!

Groot

Update 22

Good Morning All! 

You are right Groot.  I might have to consider the ordnance.

I hope everybody had a good Thanksgiving. 

I spent some of it making decals.  I started by adding a decal for the stripes on the tailhook to the decals I had already done, including the A-4E Blue Angel…

…And the last A-4M.

After that I made decals for the TA-4F model.  Well, I actually made them for the TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 153685 from Fleet Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1) piloted by the squadron`s executive officer.

Then, I made decals for the A-4F.  The decals are actually for A-4E BuNo 150056 from Fleet Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1), but it works, because my A-4F is the same as the A-4E with a hump.

CHEERS!!!

Update 23

Hi guys!

The A-4F Blue Angels has been activated by C2D and is available at:

https://www.click2detail.com/store/p331/Douglas_A-4F_Skyhawk_Blue_Angel_1%2F350_scale.html

The remaining versions should be activated soon.

In the meantime, I made decals for the A-4E, choosing to do VC-1 decals to complete the set.

I also made decals for the OA-4M, based solely on one picture for BuNo 154306.

I have also been provided numerous TA-4F decals that I may redo and make available as well.

CHEERS!!!

Hi Russ,

Great tutorial you have done on lofting and vector build modeling with ACAD.  This style is more time consuming but far more accurate.  Looking at your tree layout, I see no issues.  3D printing with styrene is not much different then injection molding with styrene.  You need lots of support.  Again, great job.  Kinda wish I had time to do a plane as well, but since I do this for a living, never seem to have time to fit in a personal project.  

Thanks Scott!

Clearly you know much more about it than I do.  I didn’t even know there were other styles.  I got into 3D modeling quite by chance, starting a little over a year ago when I decided to make a model of USS Greenling (SSN-614) for a friend.  My initial intent was to do it in 2-D making a skeleton out of balsa or styrene, but when I saw the plans with the sections and stations, I decided to see if I could make a 3D model of it in AutoCad.  It was a lot of fun and I was pretty proud of it, and when I was showing it off to another friend, he said that he had a 3-D printer and could print it for me.  He did, and my obsession with making models for printing began.

My friend who uses Pro/E for his work tells me that I am doing it the hard way, but it’s the only way I know how to do it.  If I knew an easier way, I would certainly give it a try.

I’m not sure what you mean by “tree layout”.  Are you referring to the part frets?

Update 24 – 1/12/2015

Hi Guys!

Although it took longer than I expected, C2D has activated the remaining F-4’s.  The links are shown below.

A-4E: https://www.click2detail.com/store/p340/Douglas_A-4E_Skyhawk__1%3A350_scale.html

A-4F: https://www.click2detail.com/store/p339/Douglas_A-4F_Skyhawk__1%3A350_scale.html

A-4M: https://www.click2detail.com/store/p338/Douglas_A-4M_Skyhawk__1%3A350_scale.html

TA-4F: https://www.click2detail.com/store/p337/Douglas_TA-4F_Skyhawk__1%2F350_scale.html

OA-4M: https://www.click2detail.com/store/p336/Douglas_OA-4M_Skyhawk__1%2F350_scale.html

CHEERS!!!

Just a random thought since you've already designed them, have you thought about marketing just the 1/350 ordnance (so that I could throw bombs or missiles on say a 1/350 F-14)?  I'd snatch up a ton for when I finally get around to my 1/350 Truman.  I'd also toss a thread into the model ships section!

Groot

As a matter of fact Groot, I have thought about an ordnance package.  I’m starting to get quite a collection of tanks, bombs and missiles, and will be putting one, or more, of them together at some point in the not too distant future.  In fact, although it won’t help you with your Truman, I have already made a 1/350 scale WWII Carrier Deck Vehicle package that includes bombs and missiles, as well as two versions of Tilly Cranes (boom up and down), two styles of moto-tugs, a jeep and a fork lift, as seen in the image below.  I initially made the models for Pavel Vacata of Admiralty Model Works who, I think, was going to cast them and sell the parts either individually, or as a kit.  Unfortunately, due to unexpected events in his life, many of his plans seem to be put on hold.  I told him I was going to put them on C2D until he got around to making them, unless he objected, and I haven’t heard from him, so I will probably upload it soon. 

But I digress… As for an ordnance package that would work for you, what would you like to see it include?

Another thing is that on my 1/350 scale models, pylons are super tiny, so I make the bomb (or tank) and it’s pylon as one unit, if I don’t attach the pylon to the wing, which for some models I don’t want to do.  For an armament kit, which would you suggest?  Bombs only, bombs with pylons attached, or a combination of both?

Hi Guys,

I spoke too soon about the WWII deck vehicles.  I got on-line yesterday and discovered that Admiralty Modelworks is selling them.  The bomb carts, bombs and torpedoes aren’t included but all of the vehicles are. 

http://www.admiraltymodelworks.com/admiral/component/virtuemart/1-350th-accessories/usn-wwii-deck-vehicles-detail.html?Itemid=0

 On another note, I copied the various bombs, missiles, pods and tanks from the various models I have made into a single file.  Some had to be scaled down from 1/144 scale.  The image below shows what I have so far.  Some have tabs and or pylons attached.  If I was to make a 1/350 payload package, like Groot  suggested, is there anything else I should add to it?

I would suggest maybe a cold war (like above with the older drop tanks) and a modern with GBUs of various sizes, JDAMs, AMRAAM (AIM-120), sidewinder and modern drop tanks, heck you could even do a helo package with hellfire racks, helo fuel tanks, and torpedoes.  I would go without the pylon as anyone going to this level of detail will likely have photo etch sets that generally include pylons.  That is just my 2 cents, I would poll the masses in the ship forum.

Groot

Thanks for the 2 cents Groot.  I like the idea of multiple kits, although it might be a while before I get to the helo package.  Which ship forum would you suggest?

Hi Again Guys!

I had a good morning making some of the ordnance suggested by Groot.  It was fun, but man, these guys are tiny and will be pushing the limits of what can print, and I’m not so sure the smaller tips will survive handling.  I guess we’ll find out.

Now for a question…  How do you tell the difference between the modern drop tanks and the older ones?

The ship forum here on Finescale.  There are some others out there like The Ship Model Forum and Model Warships as well.  Naturally I only mention the helo stuff as I'm a rotorhead, hence my bias!

By the way, those look awesome!  I have no clue where to figure out what aircraft carried what drop tanks though (sorry).

Groot

I wish I had looked in this thread earlier. I didn't, because there are already Resin Skyhawks available from a ship model store in 1/350.

The rudder on a Skyhawk goes all the way to the top, that is NOT a part of the vertical fin up there.

I know this is late.

Rex

Update 25

Hi Yet Again Everybody!

First, thanks again Groot.  I’ll put something on the ship forum, about both the A-4’s and armament, either tonight or tomorrow. Rotorheads are good!  :o)

Better late than never Rex.  I really appreciate the input.  I like to make my models as accurate as possible of course, but I usually don’t know that much about the subject.  It’s easy for me to misinterpret the plans, and then since I’m not always the most observant person, to not notice it in pictures either.  Of course, as soon as I read your post, I looked at my pictures again, and sure enough, I blew it.  The good thing is that it was easy enough to fix.

The fix essentially involved making two cuts through the fin (on the A-4E), as shown in the upper right image below.  One cut was made to cut the part to be repaired off, and the other cut was made to isolate the rudder detailing to avoid having to redo it in the repair process.  The upper right image shows the parts created.  The lower image shows the same steps done on an undetailed airframe I had previously saved.

In the upper left image below, you can see the (magenta) lines I previously projected to etch the rudder, having copied the lines from the plans.  The upper right image shows the new projected lines.  Note that it extends to the top.  The lower left image shows it after I etched it, and the lower right image shows it after I rejoined the parts.

With the A-4E fixed, I next did the A-4F.  To do this I simply sliced the tail using the same polyline as before that I had copied from the A-4E drawing, as shown in the upper right image below.  I then simply copied the repaired section to it as shown in the upper right image below, and joined it to the airframe (lower image).

I did the same thing for the A-4F Blue Angel…

…Followed by the TA-4F.

I didn’t have to modify the O-4M or OA-4M because the rudders do not go to the top on them.

I have uploaded the revised files to C2D and notified them of the change.

Thank you for taking the minute to look at pics. A lot of people just scream "rivet counter" and don't take the post in the spirit it was intended.

I am glad you found a quick way to fix your rudders.

Rex

Well Rex,

I had to.  The primary reason I post my WIP’s is to improve my models.   The process of taking screenshots of my CAD build often reveals faults or mistakes in the same way that photographs do on real models, so the process of posting itself is helpful.  But the true benefit often comes from comments I receive from people like you Rex, who see the post and take the time to respond.

It always amazes me how you can look at a model, pictures, a drawing, or a CAD model and not notice some feature, but then when someone points it out to you, you can’t help but see it.  It sticks out like a sore thumb.

When this happens, just like on a real model, the first thing you have to do (after maybe a bad word or two) is look at what it would take to fix it, and figure out if it’s worth the effort or not.  Fortunately, in this case, it was.  Even had it not been, I still appreciate the feedback.

Happy modeling!

Returning to the payload packages…

I added the WW2 bombs items I had previously made into the mix.  I’m now thinking about three sets, WW2, Cold War, and Modern.  Any suggestions on what else I should include?

Update 25

Good Evening Everybody!

I thought I would let you know that there has been a delay in activating the model due to an issue with the canopies.  C2D recently changed how they are printing the clear parts and switched from using the Objet 30Pro (which is what I think they use for the other parts) to a Viper SLA machine.  It clearly prints more clearly.   But not without a cost.  The Viper doesn't have the resolution that the Objet 30Pro has.  It doesn't affect my designs at 1/144 scale, but they are too thin to print at 1/350 scale.    I asked what the minimum thickness I should shoot for now should be, but I haven't heard back yet.  They may be too thick to do a cockpit, without making the canopy essentially solid, with only space to fit over the seat.

On another note, I asked C2D if they could do a test to see how well the models would scale up from 1/350 to 1/144.  I asked them to do the G-IV, which they did, but they also did the A-4E.  I’m real happy with the results.

The picture below shows the G-IV parts and the frets for the A-4.

The next 2 pictures show the A-4E airframe.

I’ll keep you posted.

Just found this yesterday and am very interested in several parts.  Did look at C2D and they are showing a price of $17 for what appears to be one bird and all the extras.  My first question is how you could afford an air-wing on a 1/350 carrier.  Is your plan to offer the basic bird and then you can pick and choose what parts you would like to purchase to outfit they planes for the deck as you want it configured?  Also I would like to inquire about just purchasing certain items.  Because I am doing a detailed hanger deck on my Ticonderoga model I want to get dozens of 300 gal drop tanks.  During the cruise we had them stashed everywhere there was space.  Another part I would love to see is the conex cans that jet engines were stored it.  They were also everywhere on the ships such as on the weather decks in the gun tubs and sponsens.  I have some very specific questions and would like to know if there is a way to communicate back and forth with you one to one rather that they forum?

Sincerely

Jerry Beasley

With the new 1/350 Intrepid and the promise of several more Viet Nam era carriers I can certainly see a big market for flight deck vehicles, especially the iconic Tilly crane.  I have numerous friends look for the crane in particular.