3D Printing 1/1200 scale

3D PRINTED SHIPS printed by SHAPEWAYS

ROYAL RESEARCH SHIPS

A recent development in the modelling world is the advent of 3D printing. The range of items being produced by this process is fascinating be it cosmetic jewellery or dentistry in the way of crowns. My recent discovery is the range of ships designed by James of Equilux and produced by Shapeways in the Netherlands. My choice of the RRS fleet was three fold – I had photographed and visited two in Leith; was interested in them as a subject as they are very similar to so many of the offshore survey and construction vessels that frequent the port and finally the chance of having such ships in my collection at a very reasonable price.

I have to say that the opening of the package exceeded my expectations as the detailing was excellent and the finish at the mid range quality fine. Having been given the basis it was then up to me to complete as best I could.

James produces a number of 1/1200 scale ships under the name of Equilux. The largest groups are from the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry fleet (n=14), followed by six RRS. The models are printed at three different qualities with the finish and detail increasing with each one. They are ‘White Strong and Fexible Plastic’ described as “white nylon plastic with a matte finish and slight grainy feel”; ‘Frosted Detail’ and ‘Ultra Frosted Detail’. The modes shown below are at ‘Frosted Detail’ quality.

The RRS ships produced are the RRS Discovery of 1962 and the RRS Shackleton of 1954, the more recent RRS Discovery (2013), RRS Ernest Shackleton (ex-Polar Queen), RSS James Clark Ross and the RRS James Cook. The earlier RRS Discovery, RRS Shackleton, RRS Ernest Shackleton and the RSS James Clark Ross are vessels of the British Antarctic Survey while the current RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook belong to the National Environmental Research Council.