1/144 USS Seawolf (SSN-575) 3D Printed Models

[X Bubble Head]

I designed, resin-printed, and built a half-dozen USS Seawolf models to give away at a recent ship's reunion. Finished them in the nick of time in my hotel room before the big dinner and awards ceremony.

 

[seawolfsailor]

they look great, I was at the reunion and wish I would have won one

 

[X Bubble Head]

Every boat shipped from the Henderson UPS Store was damaged or destroyed. I explained how to pack them, but was brushed off with, "We know what we're doing. . . "

Sometimes, I really hate being right!

Anyway, I'm sending out repair parts for the boats that need them, and re-building a replacement for one that was somehow torn off its base. Maybe they used his box for an impromptu game of soccer in the shipping area, because that takes some real force to accomplish with 3mm screws securing it.

Once I get those sorted, I'll build one for myself.

Lesson Learned: Trust no one. Pack the boats personally.

 

[Roger Pellett]

My wife and I were talking about this yesterday (not shipping submarines but the general problem). It is unusual today to find employees who are willing to solve problems. It seems that they have been trained that “This is the way that we do things, thinking is neither required nor appreciated.” They probably put the submarines in a box, poured in some styrofoam packing and shipped it.

Way back in 1966 as a brand new Ensign and NR Engineer I was assigned responsibility for Seawolf’s piping systems. By this time she had received her new reactor plant. Was it S2G? I believe that she was in an overhaul or upkeep. It was strictly highly supervised on-the-job training as we also went through the Admiral’s formal training nuclear engineering training program during this first year and a half of active duty. I guess that my boss caught any major mistakes that I made since Seawolf had a remarkably long life.

Roger

 

[X Bubble Head]

I remember a period where we arrived every day prepared to get underway but the nuclear instrumentation kept scramming the reactor. On one attempt, the reactor scrammed moments after we cast off lines. This played out for several weeks. I believe we scavenged some parts off of Nautilus, (same plant) which was at MINSY for conversion to a museum ship and the problem was solved.

Seawolf was a temperamental boat, but brought us home from the '81 mission -by the skin of our teeth. The crew, (and chow) was superb!

 

[Roger Pellett]

All this happened after my meddling with Seawolf’s reactor plant. In ‘67 after completing my training (Bettis School and D1G prototype) I worked on construction of new S5W boats. Again, Reactor plant piping systems. By ‘70, civilian employers were looking for employees with nuclear navy experience so instead of becoming a civilian employee at NR, I left.

Roger

 

[Bryian]

Excellent work. Could you share some close up photos of the model, thank you.

 

[Davidp]

did you have insurance on those models or no?

 

[X Bubble Head]

These are one-of-a-kind, and money won't buy replacements - some of the people who shipped from that office may have insured theirs, but again, who's going to build replacements? I'm shipping one of the extra hulls to a guy (packing it myself in a protective wooden box inside a foam-lined cardboard box) and replacement parts for two who want to try to repair theirs.

A few extra pics from my hotel room the night before I handed them out. Decals were still setting/drying. Both versions pictured.

 

[Bryian]

wow, thats very nice indeed.

 

[X Bubble Head]

Thank you!

The pictures don't do the model justice. There are numerous deck vents and superstructure lockers included, along with the messenger buoys.

I'm already at work designing V2: A separate bridge deck to make painting of the sail interior and installation of clear sail windows possible. A complete set of masts and antennas for each version, a bow change, and several invisible mods to make it easier to assemble. -Basically, all of the things I wanted to do but didn't have time for to meet my delivery deadline.

I'll post some 3D renders and painted deliverables of the new sails when complete.