Hey everybody. If you also follow the forums on Armorama then you know this. I've been doing a bit of 3D design work for a time now and I have a shop set up at Shapeways. I'm looking for more projects and I'd like to know what you guys here would like to see. If I think I can do it, I'll try it. I've posted this up on Armorama and Model Shipwrights. I wanted a post here for just aviation and stuff related to it.

That said, I am not a professional with this program, Autodesk Inventor, and I do this as a side hobby. There are some things I just can't do, some due to limitations of the program and some just because I don't have the experience but if I think I can do it, I will try it.

So anyone have any suggestions? Just a stipulation first: I can't do wings, propellers or large fuselage parts. The pieces are too complex for my program and my experience.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

If you look at common aftermarket purchases, machine gun and cannon barrels are always in demand as well as wheels and tires. Tires especially that have realistic tread as well as the look of having weight on them.

Best Wishes,

Gaz

Maybe conversion parts for small scale (1/144) kits.
A new nose to render an F-4C/D.
Tail to convert PBY-5A to PBY-6A.
Canopy (aft portion) & retardant tank for TBM fire bombers.
Engines to convert He-111 to CASA 2.111.
Weapons & bulges/radars/antenna for an AC-130U.
Nose, fuselage plug, wing extensions & engines to convert Lancaster to Lincoln.

Mike,

Shapeways is saying the TAC-50 can't be printed.

Matt

what about some military palets as used in helicopters or transport planes

example

Sure I can do those. Scale?

How about helicopter door mounted machine guns?

M60's, M134, L7 GPMG etc... In 1/72, 48 and 32.

1/48 scale goes perfect together with the italeri c-130 or some of the large helicopters

Ok. I've started the pallets in 1/48. The type I'm doing is the HCU-6/E. I'll also scale it up to 1/35 after I'm finished.

I can try the guns. I've had plans for a 1/35 M60 in the works anyway so it would work in fine. The M134 I know is going to be difficult but I'll give it a shot. I'm reserved on the L7 because I've never heard of it. Nonetheless I'll definitely give them a go. Any specific mounts in mind?

The L7A2 is the standard British Army 7.62mm GPMG. The RAF and Army Air Corps and FAA regularly fitted them into Puma, Lynx, Sea King and Chinook helicopters in every war zone they flew in since the 70's. They even managed to squeeze them into little Westland Scouts during the Falklands!

Let me have a look tomorrow and I'll see if I can find some good photos. Besides from a rather crude 1/72 resin gun released by Airwaves many years ago, a decent gun has never been done at any scale.

I'm also pretty sure the gun and heli mounting has been sold to dozens of other forces around the world.

Ok. If you can get some good pictures and maybe a drawing or two it'd really cut down on the time needed and I'd be able to get it done a bit sooner.

Actually, I didn't even realize it, but Yaroslav from Live Resin already makes 1/35 door/window/ramp sets for the L7/MAG 58/M240 and the M134. He might be able to scale the models down to 1/48.

I saw some on Live Resin for the M240, but couldn't see an L7. Maybe they're hidden in the site somewhere?

Found a couple of shots.

First off the SAAF Puma fit. Not sure if this is an indigenous design or typical for the type.
http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/77/7-62mm-mag-light-machine-gun


And I think this is a fitting in a Lynx?

http://n7.alamy.com/zooms/80ff2489fa204b5192a88aceeefb4b7e/lynx-helicopter-c5j8b5.jpg

Proving to be a little harder to find good photos, let alone technical drawings than I thought.

On Live Resin I saw the MAG 58 and M240D. I don't know how dissimilar they are from each other and the L7.

I have a render of the HCU-6/E pallet:


I'll be making a set that includes stacked pallets and single pallets.

Well for you big ticket spenders... the results are in. The base price for a set of 12 1/48 HCU-6/E pallets is...

$188!

Yeah. I know. I'm working on cutting that price down... If you actually do want that set of 12, let me know, I'll make it available but I won't be providing updates or corrections to it.

I was able to get it down to a set of 8 for $99... Or single for about $24. What's the consensus, should I offer only single and stacked pallets or set of 8 and stacked pallets?

Well all options are now available on the shop. For the first time, I'm offering Transparent Resin and High Definition Acrylate as a material option. The two are cheaper than Frosted Detail but offer similar detail.

The rendering of the HCU-6/E pallet looks really good and it is a worthwhile prop for any modern transport diorama.

However, with these prices and adding on top the shipping costs I am affraid you will not have too many customers.

Further, where is it for sale?

This is the 1/48 stacked pallets set:
http://shpws.me/OmCt

The single pallet:
http://shpws.me/OmCu

And the single pallet set of 8:
http://shpws.me/OmCv

Stacked and Single x8 sets are both around $108 in Frosted Ultra Detail. Single pallet is about $20-$25 in Frosted Ultra Detail. All are a bit less in Translucent Acrylic. Stacked and x8 are in the mid $80-range while the single is about $16 in Translucent Acrylic. Black Hi-Defintion is in the middle between the two prices.

Unfortunately I'm at the mercy of Shapeways when it comes to pricing. I have very little sway in it except for about $4 I add on top (which is my profit). Everything else is Shapeways price.

How about some affordable palm trees? These suckers are selling for about 30.00 USD a pop on the bay. (Just the trunks would be good, as the palms can be easily hand made). I would much rather try my hand at scratch building a few than paying that kind of money for one. All scale sizes would be good and needed for variation.

I'm not sure I'd be able to model palm trees. The shape is a bit complex, being organic, non-human designed things. When I get enough free time I might try my hand at modeling them a bit but I can't guarantee anything.

Also, the HCU-6E pallets are now less expensive than before. The single pallets cost $11.28 for FXD while stacks of 8 cost $43 for FXD. This compared to $29 for the singles and well over $150 for the stacks before the recent price changes for Frosted Detail plastics. So still expensive... yes. But more affordable than before... also yes.

Would anyone be interested in "wing anglers?" To achieve the correct wing angle when attaching them to the fuselage?

I'd love to see detailed Luftwaffe oxygen regulators for bombers in sets of four, plus sets of doppeltrommel ammo drums in sets of a dozen or two. Thanks!



The object on the right in the photo above.

Do you have any information on these regulators? Only thing I found on them was that they were made by Draeger or Drager. I can't find anything else.

Do you also have any measurements for the Doppeltrommel? I can't find anything online.

Also, would anyone want some gun barrels for their aircraft?