I mentioned in "Model Boating" that I secured one of the first Fairplay 30 kits from KY Models (sold under the PEBA name through Hobby Lobby Modellbau). I'm doing a build/review over at RC Groups:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3162461-Fairplay-30-by-KY-Models... but will repeat the unboxing pictures here.
Editorial: We modelers are a varied lot... some will do nothing but scratch build, some only want to pull a model out of a box and run it, and others are in between. This kit is certainly in between! But I believe it and its manufacturer represent an important development for model boating, and for those of us who want
some building to be part of the experience.
I've always longed for a "complete" kit, one that's well engineered, goes together easily, and yet allows for customization in painting, operating gear, etc. Something like Trumpeter's line of 1:200 kits, but intended for R/C. Now I understand that injection molding isn't affordable for a great big tugboat model in low volumes... but one should be able to invest a little bit in tooling to produce a finely detailed GRP hull, a set of nice resin castings, and some photoetch. That's what KY Model has done here (and on all their previous models, such as the entire Graupner Premium line). Yes, there are some gaps in the effort, but much more easily overcome by the modeler than some of challenges presented by most other available kits.
One big technical step KY Model has taken here is the adoption of 3D Printing. In some cases, it's the master for a resin casting that has been printed, with all the appropriate fettling performed by KY on the master, so that the molded part comes out "clean". Examples here include the massive deck house castings, done with thin walls and fine detail all around.
In other cases, KY Model provides actual 3d prints for kit parts. This is done for most of the small parts in the kit. The process is SLA- that which requires support structure to be printed under overhanging geometry, but which otherwise is capable of some pretty fine (but not perfect) surface finishes. The supports must be nipped off, often leaving little nits or tags where they were attached. The process allows for making hollow parts that simply can't be molded... such as the fire monitors and their twisty feed pipes. The down side? The designers will add all sorts of little details to such parts that make it difficult to fettle the surfaces, which may show visible print layering.
Attachments:
KY Model display in Germany, this year;
Fairplay 30 by KY Model;
A scene from the KY Model factory