HMS Aveley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Former Editor Paul Freshney has not been idle since shanding down and he has just sent me photos of his latest model only just finished. Pretty impressive as I'm sure you will agree. An album of photos can be seen here:

**LINK**

Details are:

It is built on an MTB Models (Gibraltar) 1:35 GRP hull. Gun, mast and winches have been 3D printed using Mark Hawkins and Shapeways. Plans are from NMM. Bollards and many of the smaller fittings are cast from my own masters.

Time to build is 650 hours. Drive is brushless 400kv motors from Germany on 7.4v LiPo. Telemetry is fitted, ie. rpm, current drain, battery status.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Paul Freshney’s latest model

[terry small 1Participant @terrysmall1]

Another fine example of a quality built model. The joys of retirement nesting in the workshop you lucky thing.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I see "the old boy" hasn't lost his masterful touch. Intrigued with the battery telemetry, Paul – is it built into your radio or is it an add-on?

Dave M

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Dave – you ask about telemetry.

The telemetry facility is built into the Spektrum DX8 transmitter and the ‘Orange’ receiver from Hobby King has all the required ports. You can buy the necessary leads/electronic gizmos for rpm measuring and current drawn from the same source or Spektrum itself (but much more expensive). The battery voltage is measured via a simple lead in parallel with the battery power leads connected direct to the receiver. The Orange full-range receivers and sundries all work 100% okay with Spektrum in my experience.

Paul F

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

And a bit more to add to what Colin put up. The deck is single diagonal planked over a sub-deck and is correct according to photos of the original. The davits are also 3D printed, the drawings and my measurements being converted by Mark Hawkins into a 3D printable file for Shapeways.The rubber dinghies are 3D printed by Waypoint who adjusted the size to match my requirements. They could equally have been Carley Floats, but these look better.

HMS Aveley still needs a ‘canvas’ windbreak around the stanchions on top of the superstructure – I have bought the material for this on my way home from Eastbourne this afternoon after visiting mum. The material purchased is similar to that used for BECC flags.

The Bofors 40mm is correctly scaled – photos of the full-size vessel show that it was indeed somewhat large for the hull. Handrails through the deck edge stanchions are 0.4mm clear fishing line, painted with a black permanent marker before installation. The motors are Cosmo – bought via Engel Submarines more than a year ago but are ‘360’ size (28mm dia.), about 30 Euros each, three times more powerful than the old huge geared Decaperms of year’s past and minute in size comparison. The figures are from an Italeri 1:35 Vosper accessory pack, slightly modified. They are ok as this warship was in service in the mid-1950’s when duffel coats and woolly hats were still in vogue. In summary, you don’t see these 1950’s Ley and Ham Class Mine Sweepers and Hunters on the water very often, the only other one I have seen was HMS Portchester with a black hull a few years’ ago.

Paul F.

[Charles OatesParticipant @charlesoates31738]

Fantastic model Paul, I'm quite envious of your skill level, but I will continue to blame arthritic hands for my falling short when I build my models😉.

I'm very interested in the whole 3 d printing thing, I've resisted getting into that area, although I'm fine with computers. I've taken the attitude of ' it's not normal modeling', but seeing the results I might be coming around to it.

Maybe an article sometime from you on the subject would help some of us.

Charles

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Wonderful model Paul. I Like to hear that a magic marker has been used, and they make jolly handy black touch_up sticks!

The Bofors must have been woefully inaccurate on a boat of this size.

3d modelling I am sure will come on as the years progress, with cheaper and better home machines, and the method of design with CAD or laser scanning will become more accessible.

Ashley

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Charlie

Ron Rees had a 3D article in MB some years ago – I am not sure when but 4<5 years ago is about right I think.

I use Mark Hawkins, an experienced and excellent model boat builder in his own right to create the necessary files for Shapeways to print. HJe is able to do what would take me weeks of fiddling about in a matter of days.

All the Aveley (and my previous model (HMS Bicester) 3D parts are on his website in various scales.

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/3dboats?section=1%2F72&s=0&page%5Bnumber%5D=4&page%5Blimit%5D=48&page%5Border%5D=asc

In my club is a guy, Alan Pardew of Waypoint Models, who also does 3D printing of fittings, but he has a full-time job so is not able to undertake major design work quickly, but his Carley Floats are excellent.

Cheers

Paul.

 

Edited By Colin Bishop on 14/11/2019 10:36:55

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Must look that article up. Just about to get TurboCAD to use as my drawing program (currently Microsoft Visio) and to do some relatively simple 3D design for printing. I won't do my own printing though.

Chris

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

As mentioned earlier –

Andy Pardew has a website.

https://www.waypointmodels.com

He will take commissions but does have another job. i understand he is 3D printing (for himself) a scale r/c model battleship's superstructure.

He uses a different plastic from that of Shapeways, although the end result when painted is much the same.

Mark Hawkins has a huge range via Shapeways and if you go into their website, provided you choose the right search words, other designer's products can be found.

For example, obtaining RB Models miniature shackles is virtually impossible at the moment even from model military vehicle manufacturers, but via Shapeways you can obtain 3D printed tiny versions. Okay, not load-bearing like brass ones, but if just being featured on a model for effect they are perfectly okay and relatively inexpensive.

Paul.

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Hi all

Here are three photos of HMS Aveley on the water on Sunday 1st December. It is built as in the 1950's.

The two 300KV brushless motors running on a 7.4v LiPo give a slightly over-scale top speed at full throttle which is fine by me and they are controllable down to watching the propellers literally just slowly 'clicking' over,

Only 13% of the 4000mAh 7.4v LiPo capacity was used during 80 mins of constant sailing.

Apart from some sundry ex-military tyres to be added to the deck as ready-use fenders, that is it. These tyres are being 3D printed by Shapeways from their stock range just now. The over the counter rubber versions tend to be a bit toy-like once you get down to around 1 inch diameter (= 35 inches in full-size).

A fellow club member queried the size of the rowing boat – it is 14 feet long in scale terms and near-enough matches the one on the plan size for size. It is a slightly modified resin casting from Quaycraft via Cornwall Model Boats. I have discovered on Shapeways there are some 3D printed rowing boats in various scales inc. 1/35, but they are somewhat more expensive.

The obvious compromise is the cable supports for the two derricks behind the superstructure. On full-size they were rigid tubular beams set into the top of the superstructure. Mine are thin cord and hooks as access to the interior is needed for charging and general checking of the mechanics and therefore the superstructure needs to come-off from time to time.

On the whole I am pleased with it and HMS Aveley makes a change from HDML's and torpedo boats and at just under 36 inches long it is a handy and manageable size, something we all have to think about if we are getting older….

Next project will be a workboat catamaran.

Paul.

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