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Other Stuff => Workbench => "Build Something" Contest => Topic started by: zemjw on January 18, 2025, 04:43:33 PM

Title: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on January 18, 2025, 04:43:33 PM
Way back in 2019BC (Before Covid), I read an article on CNN about WIG/GEV planes - https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/caspian-sea-monster-ekranoplan-ground-effect-vehicle/index.html

I found some plans for the Airfish-8 (https://wigetworks.com/), (ST Engineering (https://www.stengg.com/en/aerospace/aerostructures-and-systems/wing-in-ground-craft)) and kinda/sorta started modelling one in 3d. However, my printer back then was not happy with things sticking to its small print bed, so the project fizzled. It didn't help that in 1/48, the thing is 36cm long, with a wingspan of 32cm.

This time I am going to try for something smaller, based on the Airfish-3 (https://www.fischer-flugmechanik.com/site/index.php?menu=realized_airfish3)

(https://www.fischer-flugmechanik.com/site/images/bild_prod_real_af3_3.jpg)

I say "based on", as the Airfish-3 only holds 2 people, and I want something to hold 4. I also couldn't find any blueprints for the Airfish-3, but I found some plans in Russian for something that looks similar, so I'll be basing it off that.

Dimension-wise, at 1/48, it will be approx 20cm long, with a wingspan of 17cm and a height of just over 5cm, which should mean none of the parts should be too big for my current FDM printer.

Gaming-use-wise, it will be pretty much a static scenery piece, for modern pulp and frontier science fiction set on a world that just happens to be at the tech level of early 21st century Earth.

There's a good chance I'll waterline it, but that should be fairly easy to do digitally
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Codsticker on January 18, 2025, 04:49:29 PM
That looks like it could do double duty as a space craft. lol
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Lost Egg on January 18, 2025, 05:56:14 PM
Nice! I've always liked the idea of WIGs.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Burgundavia on January 18, 2025, 07:20:01 PM
Lol at the Caspian Sea Minnow name, but awesome to see.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: AKULA on January 18, 2025, 07:25:11 PM
Love it - look forward to watching this one

 :)
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Ragnar on January 18, 2025, 08:00:36 PM
Very interesting idea.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Gunbird on January 18, 2025, 08:17:33 PM
Ooh, Ground Effect vehicles are fun!
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Wirelizard on January 20, 2025, 04:18:15 AM
WIGs are right up there with dirigibles for "awesome vehicles a better world would have more of". Looking forward to this build!
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: snitcythedog on January 21, 2025, 11:03:11 PM
WIGs are right up there with dirigibles for "awesome vehicles a better world would have more of". Looking forward to this build!
You forgot autogyros.  Everyone could use an autogyro. 
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: carlos marighela on January 22, 2025, 02:08:35 AM
Forget the model, you need to build a 1:1 version. Imagine the envious looks at the local lake or beach.

Fuck you Mr Cabin cruiser! Fuck you Mr Jet Ski, Fuck you Mr Hovercraft! Who is king of the waves now, mother fluffers?

Nice concept but you know you really want to do a Lun Class, it's got rockets and it's huge!  ;)
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on January 22, 2025, 09:22:23 AM
Nice concept but you know you really want to do a Lun Class, it's got rockets and it's huge!  ;)
My 6mm Cold War Gone Hot project stalled last year after painting a few British tanks and APCs. If/when I get back to it, who knows lol But I dread to think how big that thing would be, even in 6mm :o
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: carlos marighela on January 22, 2025, 10:48:57 AM
Takom do one in 1/144. It wouldn't be small.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on February 06, 2025, 08:12:44 PM
I have been working on it all week, but it's been depressing how rusty my 3d modelling is :(

However, here is the first, very crude block-in. It will change dramatically (I hope), but this should be roughly the overall shape.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP0xgDMOip4Fz8G50_nFckzioBzX5nxm6y98xE6RVsnt-IK45c0FFQzFTcrR_LG2DmrqUvInMNLNqjHcL_fmK0hE9cMbKe7nG8LP0Z6y0MhNQn1bCKd_KS-nCX0X3k2cCX6g-vdntr0eEbtJjb4jttu=w1280-h720-s-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Burgundavia on February 06, 2025, 08:31:26 PM
I have been working on it all week, but it's been depressing how rusty my 3d modelling is :(

However, here is the first, very crude block-in. It will change dramatically (I hope), but this should be roughly the overall shape.

Looks great. And yes, amazing how quickly your skills atrophy after disuse.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Lost Egg on February 06, 2025, 08:58:56 PM
That looks grand, very sleek.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: snitcythedog on February 06, 2025, 11:13:25 PM
Very fancy indeed.  Watching with interest.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on February 09, 2025, 08:14:50 PM
I have been spending quite a bit of time on the model, and I think most of the big bits are done(ish). It also now has an engine, which I forgot about last time lol

There is still quite a bit to do, especially around the cockpit, but it's getting there

Working out how to print it, that will be a "fun" challenge...

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNdW3fNRB-g2f7jxXfhd1t35WWllpMBA64FuCnxEMY9cVoaRK0aSPvONlpV6jwbO2qr71EAuvKoa57qwKVp9K-GGXl-9A-bUgDrl2gdiUHVxudNO26duG-4Gp3ekOLuFJd9a-G1NdapFTwCWwPT20-G=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczN4t-L_BkttVBsSfYUO3JYBex2_6k22V4AP-GfZre6rxFKBAii5T0HvLeTyJSwiJUblOeRlrAjByud7G29eQ23JuWH3chKWHIID97iOrRkJvS6olz6Ad8744lWv8SQTXJ96fqd0Ms-3O1E4HwV0iSog=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOZWscoTBUzIXJj6RV_Hj3h4O8dPNOOqMEXibmVlIT1hPnbC0pl_90-niGZlO183a4EymGojidmQBZGcDWpGeBSKDAyi0SFKQl4Uq9GKOy2ZS9JBmjfMx0xqc-qWDmq7MFmXs9LsqSHEv7PM3ZKkZcY=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Burgundavia on February 09, 2025, 11:15:52 PM
Very nice. I'd cut it up.  Wings, body,  airplane and fan all separate.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Wirelizard on February 10, 2025, 04:53:36 AM
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNdW3fNRB-g2f7jxXfhd1t35WWllpMBA64FuCnxEMY9cVoaRK0aSPvONlpV6jwbO2qr71EAuvKoa57qwKVp9K-GGXl-9A-bUgDrl2gdiUHVxudNO26duG-4Gp3ekOLuFJd9a-G1NdapFTwCWwPT20-G=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

That is looking very cool so far!

Are you going to fully detail the STL, or print a more basic form and use styrene and more traditional modelling to do windows and panel lines and such?

Either way, looking forward to seeing this progress!
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: HerbertTarkel on February 10, 2025, 05:08:23 AM
I like the fan on top - and I second the question- details or simplicity?
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on February 11, 2025, 09:15:26 AM
The plan is to do as much detailing on the STL as possible, although there's not a huge amount on the real-life vehicle. I did notice some bits near the front on a photograph last night, and they may end up as plasticard - it just depends on how it will look when printed.

I have cut out the basic cockpit from the fuselage, so I'm going to work on detailing that. However, other than pushing the windows in a bit, there's not a lot there.

In terms of printing, most parts will be done separately. I usually end up digitally cutting holes for piano-wire, so I'll probably try that again. As well as strengthening the join, it also helps me to correctly locate the parts.

Printing the main fuselage is going to be tricky, and I'm leaning towards splitting the model behind the cockpit. That would let me print the front and back sections vertically, which should avoid the need for supports. It should also hopefully help avoid some of the problems around printing curved surfaces horizontally on an fdm printer, when the stepped nature of the printing process is very noticeable.



Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on February 18, 2025, 08:33:25 PM
Real Life(tm) got in the way of things last week, a combination of avoiding layoffs at work and getting my breath back after completing another lap of the Sun.

The cockpit caused me more problems than I care to admit, mostly because I did things in the wrong order, then I couldn't figure out how to re-join it to the main model.

I stripped it back to pretty much a basic shell and rebuilt it as a separate piece. It now merges with the model, and the slicer on the printer will handle the heavy lifting of merging the two pieces :)

I need to move the engine a bit after the cockpit work, but I think I'm back on track. There's nothing image-worthy just now, but hopefully there will be by the weekend.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: tomrommel1 on February 19, 2025, 07:11:47 AM
Very nice start :-*
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on February 20, 2025, 08:23:14 PM
Okay, I think that's the main modelling done. There's still a lot of things to do, but I'm not planning any major shape changes at this point...

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczONCf7g_cinv1UT39iNiqd_kEJWBMKhLqtlZGksLBvBgcOY80Ht5m4ZrdUZ1Y_pdlDCxhFuU7o1zwnOH1XuDVzHavCgodRhsibRC553iAmNkRVFPVcJiRWmcNvbWc2vdtZJGWIYzfmw0yITuAoPBEh2=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP3-QNljRg_YEuR5qSN4rUfPjYa2fYPtcOKgS_a5zl12Na3JJQCazDN4DY10AhZOBEuMCkvCoIMEjf4nMIPmOO8S4-PtQv3oGeteiW8cxOVWNcUqxJCHA-AwwOw1WspbtiBCc_JFyOOkMVPsDRWtBxp=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNeMi_iM2ajsLee78uAzNHNu_M2O3rQpjqb9v-31NNiX0wECWTQK3Z9nfzCyNqu-4lxkm5Hw5f5hobIR2VzHucC_oOsmfpjmYyq5vH6pNUV-kefFrUpGZA6edbDC8QQbkHLNHNwOd_BdJKlUtI3gLCF=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)

Next up is scaling it to its model size, then getting the parts to fit together. I also want to add support for a flight stand base, so I'll need to find the balance point. It's going to be a long weekend o_o
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: carlos marighela on February 20, 2025, 08:57:16 PM
Looking good!
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on March 08, 2025, 07:59:46 PM
It has been a while since my last update, mainly due to slicing and printing issues.

I have accepted that the build will never be finished in time, so I am dropping out now, rather than stressing myself out over the next few weeks. The decision was made slightly easier by looking at the quality of the competition, as there was no way I was getting past the first round  :(

I have printed some of the parts, but the amount of filling and sanding that will be required is a lot more than I'd expected.

I'm not binning the project, but it has moved to the paused queue on my project board. I have a load of figures and scenery to paint, and a piece that would have been largely passive on the table is not at the top of the queue.

Good luck to everyone left in the competition, and I am looking forward to casting my vote.

The photos below show it where it is at the moment. The figure is a Reaper Bones 28mm Nova Corps trooper

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPFyujjZDNsJKrv7CISK8No1FYNEkp6-jPiOM9Fg3uw7Ac7anBcAz-_uRGdP1f107xxkVzC97HEzV9nV36N78egnU3jEHcOgmWzdWJxL4wlWM2i-CSk6YAqHPHyCljl0vVzLzwobtbq5jekual3vwdr=w1093-h820-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOVDGt632lMySoL5aQzJRWZmTg2FQHkACXKXyNZ8aKt8S3J4XMGt97juqwaX272SNeOZbFVzXw6hEx1H8M32Hcq1FFgpVMXARP32q0Kw2Cgc2q-w1fPfXLe_oG7Djd8qktKUS_o_g46wBhTCwnfsj7Y=w1093-h820-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMUzAFlN_FKSqZwptNCXITv5zDY-NBYXCfC4tvknCgdPsEseLUvAfxHNF_jBIG2JGL_n6l4D4-hWGRPW4i307EKpF21DDTS5VKaXGri5b4knyjQGYXD9UzBylkBuE2PDnRhKOtAExdbEoyFEUhiCtcQ=w1093-h820-s-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMwTOAg01gMIsLkOcJ5Xvd-MTCMVd4mIjRTWpWep2X4wOtN63HmGk0RxBv_53zDz_GaAIiEqcyGQ1Fh2Skxpnp7aF-_NuYIJD19BnlqDuvrjdzeo6UReXYurFB-pZ5dfklHByaXHBJTaveDi62Y3_bP=w1093-h820-s-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Lost Egg on March 08, 2025, 08:09:35 PM
It's a shame to hear zemjw but you do have a beauty there. It's definitely better to spend the time getting it right rather than rushing and stressing yourself out.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Burgundavia on March 08, 2025, 10:19:47 PM
That's some lovely modelling and printing. Sorry to see you go, hopefully we'll see this finished sooner rather than later
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: snitcythedog on March 08, 2025, 11:15:49 PM
Noooooooo!    I was looking forward to seeing it from printing to completion!  You really need to update this thread once it is done.  It is a great subject and your designs were spot on!
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: zemjw on March 11, 2025, 09:24:48 AM
It's a shame to hear zemjw but you do have a beauty there. It's definitely better to spend the time getting it right rather than rushing and stressing yourself out.

Yeah, it was definitely getting to the "rushing it" stage, and that was before the prospect of having to use an airbrush for the first time in at least 6 or 7 years.

I had thought about putting the parts in a box and quietly forgetting about them. However, when I put them together for the photograph I decided they didn't look as bad as I'd feared, so I will keep working on the build. Sadly, my record of painting vehicles is not great, and I have at least 3 that have been built and awaiting paint for more years than I care to admit.

All plans took a sharp left turn yesterday evening, however. I switched on the computer, only to have the power supply blow up (there was a huge spark and the Magic Smoke was released) :o I need to buy and install a new one, and hope that it was only the PSU that broke...
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Wirelizard on March 11, 2025, 03:33:46 PM
All plans took a sharp left turn yesterday evening, however. I switched on the computer, only to have the power supply blow up (there was a huge spark and the Magic Smoke was released) :o I need to buy and install a new one, and hope that it was only the PSU that broke...

Sorry to see you drop out, the minnow is looking amazing so far!

Good luck with the PSU issue, too. Apparently the circuit breakers inside PSUs are pretty robust, so everything else in the PC has a reasonable chance of still being functional once you install the new PSU.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: Mick_in_Switzerland on March 11, 2025, 05:28:47 PM
Edited...

I am sorry to hear that you are dropping out.
The print looks very good.
Title: Re: BSC2025 zemjw Caspian Sea Minnow
Post by: has.been on March 11, 2025, 06:11:08 PM
Sorry you are dropping out.
I too doubt I'll get passed the first round (lots of good work out there),
but I think you would have had a good chance.
I applaud your decision as there is absolutely no reason for
stressing yourself in (what should be) a fun hobby.

As with others, I want to see this when you do finish it.
All the best with the computer too.