DD 886 u.s.s. Orleck design process

[FRD]

Sorry for the delay but make no mistake, I've been keeping very busy, as I now have converted all of the 3D model to it's 2D components.


This is "time-consuming" because I am "old school" and still flatten all of the parts manually, that may sound like "no big deal" but getting elliptical stacks to lean back 15 degrees requires "careful consideration" when "flattening".


Am now finalizing the initial page layup so that I can get it printed and assembled ASAP...


While the world continues to spin around me, the Museum is now open and very proud of it's new location!


They are VERY CLOSELY associated with veterans and veterans causes.


This is what they are up to now, feel free to show "mutual consideration" -> Happy Labor Day Weekend!


It's "all downhill from here" as I am now out of 3D and fully engaged in the 2D which is easier half of it, I expect to update this thread as this next B/W prototype is assembled, it is nearly complete lacking only the mast and drone as they will require "special consideration".


(stay tuned)...

[FRD]

Okay, so I took the time to get everything "ironed out" now having all but the mast, drone and six ladders to add, but there will be eight part sheets 8.5" x 14" (21.59cm x 35.56cm) in total, I have now exceeded the arbitrary threshold of 100 parts, when I do get a final part count, I can start eliminating smaller parts to get closer to that threshold.


The previous assembly, 90lb (133.2gsm) stock was used whereas this current assembly will be on 110lb (162.8gsm) card stock,the finished model will be on 120lb (177.6gsm) stock, the minimum required for optional die cutting.


The Lines you will see are VERY fine, essentially "hairlines" as the fit of these Autocad models are VERY precise, the minimal lines at this stage allow me to thoroughly evaluate the fit of parts.




Next comes assembly...


(stay tuned)

[FRD]

These may illustrate adequately the extent of the detail, I "auto-adjusted" the images just to contrast.


You may note while it does have some detail, the ASROC has yet to be fully detailed, that won't happen until the CGI model is completed and this model will then be revised to reflect those changes as the 3D is the same, the only revisions being 2D.


The gun mounts are fully detailed but at this scale, there is a "serious consideration" to be made, the GUN BARRELS!, in this scale, it is possible for an experienced modeler to roll the tube or substitute as the stock is exceptionally thick, being tapered as well, it wont be easy, for the novice however, the only "reasonable alternative" was to include "2D representations" of them as well as an alternative.


You can see that I got the bulk of the turret into a single part using primarily mountain folds with only one exception.

[FRD]

I think that a "reasonable solution" may be to do as was suggested on this thread, to slightly enlarge the barrels to facilitate "ease of assembly", while slightly larger, I doubt that it would be discernible or "disproportionate" ... (Good place for good advice!)

[FRD]

Okay, I'm now assembling the B/W prototype, these image are to demonstrate how specific issues revealed with the last assembly were resolved.

Previously, it was assembled on 90lb stock (165gsm) and the first deck superstructure was added AFTER the deck was in place.

This is assembled on 110lb stock (200gsm) so that eliminated any "bowing" of the lighter stock and by assembling the first deck superstructure on the detached deck before adding that sub-assembly to the hull. (problem solved)

The reason I assemble any number of prototypes is to familiarize myself with the most efficient, effective means of assembly that will then be used to illustrate the assembly diagrams.

Note how cleanly the walls meet the deck, Autocad is VERY precise but this effectively "leaves no margin for error", the parts fit "impeccably".

Most have never seen this "design style" as it is definitely my "own" and it took me over 40 years to "develop".

I don't "follow standards" I set them! (my own)

Now that we are under "full steam", this is going to happen fairly rapidly as I have about four postings ready to go now as this is being assembled.


(stay tuned)

[FRD]

Since it is prevalent, allow me a moment to address the topic of "standards".


I am "old school", everything I know about card models Lou Dausse taught me, at the age of 20, he was literally my "mentor".


Lou was generous enough to teach me all of his techniques, tools, processes and methods, now, more than 40 years later, I still adhere to those "standards".


In 40 + years have I never assembled, purchased or even remotely considered anyone else's work as I PURPOSELY avoid any "outside influences" opting instead to develop and perfect my own "style" (and I'm pretty proud of it) I'm a "purist" in the truest sense of the word.



Being a "devout nonconformist" don't intend to change anytime soon.


So, with that being said, allow me to share what Lou shared with me, he used and advocated for a "light hand" and a TRANSPARENT STRAIGHT EDGE, he suggested that "if you are gouging your straight edge, it may not be the straight edge's fault".


To score, he instructed me to "use a light hand and your cutting blade to lightly slice the line to be folded, not all of the way through but just enough to break the surface tension, this will result in very precise folds"


He told me to hold the page up, flat at eye level, under an ambient light source to determine if a line had been scored and to first score all of the diagonal lines, followed by all of the vertical lines and then all of the horizontal lines, this assured a methodical practice in assuring that nothing remained un-scored.


He passed on to me what he referred to as "The European line code" how he came to this he never said but it is really quite simple (see attached)


Now, 40+ years later, not only do I use these techniques passed down to me, I in return pass them as well to any "novice" that I may come across, I'm simply trying to "preserve a tradition".

[FRD]

Simply put:


When I designed my first model 40+ years ago, I had no idea what a card model was or what a card model was supposed to look like.

Now here it is, more than four decades later and I still don't know!

(I'm pretty happy about that!)

[FRD]

There are only THREE "exceptions" to that "40 year rule".
When first "exploring the potential" of this project, I did purchase and download a Gearing Class model from ecards "out of curiosity".


Needless to say, it lasted about 30 seconds, provided no "useful information" was summarily discarded and I was simply "out the money" (lesson learned)


And, way back in the early to mid 1990's, I did assemble two very simple models at the request of the JMMS (Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society)


One was a simple model of the titanic wreck and the other was a simple model of the Rotterdam...


Other than that, "I'm clean"...

[FRD]

Another reason that Lou instructed me to score all of the Diagonal, Horizontal and Vertical lines, each at their independent time is because it minimizes the need to re-orient the paper or straight edge, being transparent, you can easily see where the straight edge goes next without having to lift it...

(Ol' Lou knew his stuff!)...