MOAB Deep.

[Mofo]

Latest project in Solidworks: a 1/72 GBU-43.



This sucker is big - about 5 1/2 x 1 1/2" For a bomb. In 1/72.



Pretty pleased with the progress, though it's tough getting exact measurements, so some of the accuracy is a little fudged. "Looks close" but might not exactly measure out sort of thing. Plus, getting "printable" detail robust enough means some parts are a little thicker than I'd like (such as the tail lattice).



The size means it'll be a pricey print. I've actually hollowed the whole thing out about as much as is feasible to save cost, but it still has to be thick enough to print, and to survive shipping. It's been done in eight parts - the main body/wings, 2x fuzes, 4x lattices and a separate tail cap. Having the tail as a distinct part will help support material flow out of the print (they use a waxy material to support each individual layer)

Just need to add some embossed rivets around the body, then split out each individual part so they can be arranged for printing.

[kyrre]

That looks really cool! I'm looking forward to the print itself.

[paolo6691]

It looks very good.

[Mofo]

More big bomb fun.

MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), aka GBU-57. It's got a 6x larger warhead than the standard 'bunker buster'. IOW, it is large.



Tough finding references on the bomb. There only seem to have been about a dozen of them made, and only a handful of photos get re-used everywhere. Most of them seem to be either mock-ups or prototypes, with a few artist's renderings for good measure. I've cobbled together what, IMO, is fairly accurate, though I should still make a few more tweaks to it.



Still, it's a nifty weapon. Only problem is, the only kit that could use it is the abysmal Testors B-2. Though I guess I could scale it down to 1/144...

...and then we have the Mk.VI nuke.



Found decent references on this, which started me down the whole "big bomb" kick. Again, it's tough sorting out historical accuracy from museum mock-ups and de-milled shapes, but for some reason, there aren't a whole lot of historical references on 1950's American nuclear warheads. Still, it's fairly close.



Reminds me of a barrage balloon. Tempted to do a display of 1/72 ordnance, now. Add in a Kangaroo and a Kitchen... and a Sidewinder for scale.

[kyrre]

I can't help but think you should hook up with someone already in the biz rather than testing stuff through printing. Or is this how things are already working?

[Mofo]

Well I *was*, but he's kind of out of the biz for the moment.

I might try to sell off some masters. For now, most of this is just for fun... might not even print it any time soon. I *am* working on a few items for retail, but I'm hoping to set up a shop through one of the 3D print bureaus, rather than deal with any of the hassles on my own. ie. I upload and market it; you order it; they print it out and ship it to you. Saves me the hassle of e-commerce and shipping, though I lose on economies of scale. I'm ordering a few test-prints this week to check quality of different vendors/materials.

Really, the biggest problem is, what's the market for, say, 1/72 MOAB masters? (or 1/48?) Who would be interested in releasing something like that... or paying someone to draw it? Unfortunately, for something like this, it probably wouldn't pay to sell, either. My cost at Shapeways is $25, and I don't think they're good enough. Kraftwurx has two viable options, one is $40, one is $70. Those prices are pretty steep for a 1/72 bomb as it is; add in some sort of markup for my profit, and it's just too expensive to sell.

[craig]

I've got 2 weeks with "him" in December and will be dropping off more masters as part of the trip. Apparently early 2014, things may kick back in to gear.

Nice work so far on the bombs. Still finding my way around SW, but getting the hang of it. Trying to finish up a 1/48 A-4 Kahu IP and HUD so I can deliver a Kahu upgrade set for the Hasegawa Squawk.

[Mofo]

Interesting. We'll have to see.

I actually *have* been in touch with him again, so I guess he's coming back out of hiding a little. I'll just keep plugging away at stuff and we'll see what happens.

[davefleming]

We know who you mean!! :-)

[kyrre]

No vee downt.

[Mofo]

It rhymes with "Twomikes".

[davefleming]

Perhaps he's just waiting a decent time to change the name, having divested himself of the lesser Mike.

Or just too busy digging out 80s photos to post on Facebook!

[Mofo]

Nah, it's mostly just being burned out, I think. It's a ton of work being a one-man operation: keeping on top of production, cranking out new releases, dealing with modellers constantly begging for this-or-that pet idea... Add in a few life changes and it stopped being as fun as it once was.