Mulsanne's Model Corner

March 11, 2023:

FaceBook page: Mulsanne's Model Corner

I'm currently making the switchover to the new material offering Gray Fine Detail Plastic.  Initially I had hoped it would result in a blanket price reduction, but that does not appear to be the case at all, except with a very few exceptions.  And in some cases, inexplicably, prices went way up.  Shapeway's pricing algorithm is frankly schizophrenic and I can't even say across the board prices stayed the same as it feels like more went up than went down vs. those that stayed the same.  Anyhow, I understand the standard Fine Detail Plastic pricing is going up in a couple of days (March 14), and this is what necessitates the transition over to the Gray Fine Detail Plastic.  Plus, I think it's going to be a better material in the long run, though at the moment I haven't handeled it or tested it myself.

Latest products:
>>192 Parrott Pivot Mount
>>150 Parrott Pivot Mount
>>192 Dahlgren XI Pivot Mount
>>150 Dahlgren XI Pivot Mount
>>700 Electric Boat GUPPY sail x 4
>>144 Dry Deck Shelter x 1
>>144 Dry Deck Shelter x 2

I'm still selling 1/350 scale SSN screws (propellers) on eBay (mulsannemike) The current inventory includes:
LA 688 SSN, Ohio SSBN/SSGN, Type 212 SS, Oscar II SSGN, Delta IV SSBN, Mike SSN, Papa SSGN, Kilo SS, Resolution SSBN, HMS Trafalgar SSN, Kilo, Sturgeon SSN, Benjamin Franklin SSBN, Permit/Thresher SSN , USS Jack SSN 605, Skipjack SSN, Nautilus SSN, Tullibee SSN, Scorpene SS, and more.
My screws correct observed deficencines in the shape and execution of currently modeled 1/350 scale screws for those models.  I'm printing these at home, and selling them on eBay, because I can actually print thinner on the home machine (.3 mm unsupported).  And as there isn't high demand, I can keep up with it.

I get a ton of scaling requests.  With large swings in scale, going from a smaller existing scale to a larger scale, you fall out of Shapeway's reasonable price box.  What happens is it flips a switch in their algorithm and suddenly what is $19 in 1/192 is $260 in 1/72.  That's a more than 2.5 X increase, though as you see the price increase isn't linear as the volume increase is logorithmic, and the price jump makes sense.  So small scale moves have a better chance of being economically feasible.  But that has its issues too, this one CAD techincal:  I draw bespoke to the scale I'm working in.  So if I'm working in 1/350, the smallest/finest details will be measured against Shapeway's .3 mm/.6 mm wall thickness minimums.  And if I get a request to go smaller in scale, sudenly I'll have areas of the model that aren't compliant with Shapeway's minimums and the model gets rejected.  I learned that lesson with the Portsmouth and Electric Boat Sails I scaled down to 1/700.  I had to completely loose all the masts as they wouldn't even accept them at .6 mm diameter (don't ask me, suddenly they're considering those "wires" and that has to have a minimum of .8 mm and they look gooofy that beefy).  Thus understand that I am no longer considering scaling requests if they're beyond a reasonable increase.  So what's a unreasonable increase?  Most.  Most of your requests just aren't doable.

I'm always open to suggestions.  In fact the back and forth with you guys is pretty inspiring.  But I can't do everything, and there's the "interest threshold."  If I'm not into it, it probably won't happen.  But if I am immediately, it probably will.  However, timing is always an issue.  So if you've contacted me and I've been interested, just wait.