1/72 MPC Eagle Transporter + Resin + PE super detail WIP

JNordgren42 · Jul 25, 2023

My test lighting arrived today and I think they will work. They're not the brightest and I'll definitely need a larger/more powerful induction coil(s), but as a proof of concept I'm happy. The brightness of the LEDs is highly dependent on exactly where they are in the induction field and I'm hoping a better quality coil and using more than one will help. I've attached some pictures of tests, the lights are just stuck in place with Blu Tak without any light blocking or diffusers. I've also got room in some areas for bigger LED units.

Video

Best brightness with the coil as close as possible to all four engine lights. This should be better with a bigger coil.

Uneven brightness with the coil under the engines. Hopefully it improves with a bigger coil.

Cockpit test. This is with 4 white LEDs just forward of the windows, pointing at the back wall and ceiling. Again, need bigger coil.

JNordgren42 · Jul 26, 2023

I've been slaving away in Fusion 360 and I nearly have the first iteration of the replacement landing gear done. I need to do some refinement and additional detailing on the main strut torque (scissor) links, but the main bits are now all there. I also have to figure out the best method of slicing, orienting, supporting, and printing all of the parts, but that will have to wait for another day, it's almost 3:00 AM here.

Analyzer · Jul 26, 2023

Coming along nicely

JNordgren42 · Jul 26, 2023

The initial landing gear design is done and I have decided on an initial course for splitting it up and printing it. There will be two main assemblies with the foot and lower main strut parts, including the lower half of the torque link. The upper portion will be the mounting plate, upper strut assemblies (including the upper half of the torque link), and secondary strut assembly. The core of the main strut will be 2mm stainless steel rod which will be partially visible between the upper and lower assemblies. I plan on trying to print each flat to the build plate with a baked in continuous support structure that will key off the treads of the foot and the hidden side of the mounting plate. This should minimize any warping due to an angled print, and I'm hoping I don't need much in the way of secondary supports. The torque links may need something since they hang out in space. I plan on modeling the supports tomorrow and hopefully the first test prints tomorrow evening. It's not too tall so it shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours for a run. In the meantime here's some pretty renders.

Full assembly. I drilled the hole for the steel rod all the way through so that the extension and contraction can be potentially functional for larger scales. It would require some springs for support and separately printed torque links with pins to hold them together.

I plan on using the tread pattern to accept any supports since they should be easy to sand smooth.

Upper assembly. Mounting plate, what I'm calling the secondary struts (the four smaller struts and horizontal plate), upper portions of the main strut, and the upper half of the torque link.

Lower assembly: Foot pad, lower portions of the main strut, and lower half of the torque link.

Close up of all the nifty looking exciting bits.

JNordgren42 · Jul 27, 2023

My first pass at printing the landing legs was an almost total failure (I mostly expected this). I put six pairs of uppers and lowers on the build plate and only 3 made it past the supports, none of which printed correctly. I'll adjust the support structure and make another pass tomorrow. The good news is, what detail did print correctly looks really nice and the receiving hole for the steel rod is correctly sized. And it only takes about an hour and a half to print, so there's that. I'll regroup tomorrow and make some adjustments.

Not a great build plate result.