I was the Battery Commander of A BTRY (TAB - Target Acquisition Battery), 1-39 FA (MLRS), 3ID during OIF 1 ('03 - invasion of Iraq). In addition to the 3 Q-36 sections, I also had 2 AN/TPQ-37 radar sections in the Battery. The Q-37 radar is larger and used to locate larger artillery and rocket fire.
This time I am only building the Q-37 Radar, up and in the operating position. The rest of the section is similar to the Q-36 section with the same Shelter HMMWV and Section Chief’s Cargo HMMWV. It also has two 5-ton trucks to pull the radar and a generator trailer. I may do the 5-ton(s) to pull another radar in the future.
I found a file of one on Cults 3D and proceeded to print it. Before I did, I modified it a bit. The largest mod was hollowing out the well on the radar base. It was made with a cover over the well. I hollowed out the well and made a rear door out of styrene. I also added the safety bars on the back of the radar face. I wrapped the worm gear on the raising mechanism in thread to replicate the screw threads on it. I also added the maintenance steps on the sides and front. Lastly, I added a washer as a spacer between the base and the radar part.
The trailer was not really right on it, so I built most of it from sheet styrene and the leftover floor from the bed of the M1082 trailer I converted into an M1095 trailer. It was almost the perfect size. I also used styrene cannel on it.
The tongue, partial frame, suspension, wheels, track, and air tank are from the M200 tracked MICLIC that I built a while ago and are 3D printed as well.
I’ve been thinking much the same lately. I suspect manufacturers will find a way to continue to produce products that we will be interested in because not everybody is capable of printing and creating their own stuff, but I think the writing is on the wall.
This is fascinating to follow, especially knowing that you actually commanded a battery that included these radar sections. I can’t imagine having a better reference than firsthand experience with the real equipment.
I’m just starting to learn about 3D printing, so I’m also interested in the way you’re combining it with more traditional modeling and scratchbuilding. If I understand correctly, you started with an existing 3D file, modified it to correct some things, printed it, and then scratchbuilt or replaced other parts that weren’t quite right.
How difficult is it to modify an existing 3D file like that? Is that something you can reasonably learn to do once you get into 3D printing, or does it require a pretty substantial background in 3D design?
Very interesting project. I’ll definitely be following along.
Thanks Scott. Glad you like it and are following along. Before I got my 3D printer, I had zero CAD or 3D experience. I have learned how to modify files and objects from just playing around with the software included with my printer (Chitubox). It is pretty intuitive and easy to learn. There are various tutorials out there as well. I am by no means a CAD/3D design expert, but I am able to modify existing things and create simple objects that work for me.
Check here for some great info on 3D printing and CAD.
Many years ago, I played around with Autocad for simple woodworking designs that I was building but that was truly 30 years ago, so I’m sure it’s all changed. I’m just always impressed by people like you who can produce their own details to upgrade a build.
At the same time, I bought a Cricut cutter 9 months ago and have barely used it because I simply don’t have the time to figure everything out. 3D printing seems to me to be 10X the learning curve of that Cricut.
Still, it’s on the agenda, things slowdown in the winter and I’ve seen prices come down on them so maybe it is finally time.
Thanks for that link, it looks like it is a wealth of info!
Now you’ve really got my attention. I’ve just started dipping my toes into the 3D-printing world myself, although I don’t own a printer yet.
I recently bought some STL files for figures for my 1/48 Little Bird, and I’ve been using ChatGPT to help me figure out the scaling and get the files ready to print. So I can completely relate to using AI to help work through software you’ve never used before.
$350 is also a lot less expensive than I assumed getting into 3D printing would be. The software and learning curve are probably the parts that have intimidated me more than the printer itself, so it’s encouraging to see that you worked your way through it and are already producing parts like these.
I’m starting to think a printer may eventually find its way into my hobby room too.
From my experience and what I have read, the filament printers are great for larger items, but they can’t do the fine details for small items like most 1/35 accessories. I have a resin printer and it does the most minute details clearly. From my perspective, the resin printers are better for 1/35 stuff.
That helps a lot. I’ve been doing some research on 3D printers over the last few days, and I’m pretty well convinced now that resin is the way I need to go. Most of what I’d want to print would be small detail parts and accessories in 1/48, so fine detail is much more important to me than being able to print large objects.
I had no idea how affordable some of these resin printers have become, either. I’m starting to think there may actually be one in my future.
Which resin printer are you using, and if you were buying one today, which one would you recommend I take a look at?
Thanks! I’ve actually been looking pretty seriously at Elegoo printers. I had been leaning toward the Saturn 4 Ultra, but the Mars 5 Ultra was one of the ones I was looking at too. It’s really helpful to hear from someone who is actually using one for modeling and would buy it again. Thanks for the recommendation!
Finished model of a single bay of Bailey Bridge. All the supports look like tree roots. Which is kind of cool. Think of a diorama with a Bailey bridge it’s laid across the top of a swamp and forgotten and left behind and somebody goes out with chainsaws cleard off the deck and uses it to cross vehicles.
The funny thing is, if you hadn’t told me those were the printing supports, I could absolutely see them as roots and vegetation that had grown up around an abandoned bridge.
I really like the diorama idea too—an old Bailey bridge that’s been sitting across a swamp long enough for everything to grow up around it, and then somebody comes along, clears the deck and puts it back into use.
I’m still learning about 3D printing, so this is another thing I never would have thought of. Usually I’d assume all of that support material was simply something you cut off and threw away. In this case, the printer accidentally created part of the scenery for you.
I’d be tempted to keep this one exactly as it is and build the diorama around it.
I’ve just started dipping my toes into the 3D-printing world myself, although I don’t own a printer yet.
