Originally I bought the old Italeri Semovente da 75/18 M42 and intended to replace any weaker parts with my own designed and printed 3D parts. However, it soon became clear that the model is hopelessly out-of-date so I took, what I naively thought, was a more radical approach and decided to scratch build the entire thing using my own designs. Of course, I didn’t realise at the time the extreme paucity of information regarding the AFV and the lack of any really accurate drawings. Source material has been a massive struggle as has the ludicrously complicated geometry of the vehicle.
Nine months later, off and on, I am now coming to the end of the saga and have designed almost 75% of the AFV and successfully printed about 50%.
I thought I’d post my progress so far as, perhaps, encouragement for other scale modellers just starting off on their 3D printing journey. My intention is, once complete, that I can adapt the designs to cover the M40 and M41 and perhaps the Carro Armato versions too.
Please be aware that the designs still need tweaked but I am, always, happy to receive any constructive feedback.
I’m using Fusion 360 with a Phrozen 4K Mini printer with water washable resin.
Thank you. Yes, I was aware of the Saumur vehicles and have referenced some images of them. I am building the M42 version which uses mostly the same components as the M15/42. Carro Armato. The Semovente is, I believe, the M40 which also shares many components but has a very different rear section and an abbreviated mudguard etc.
I’ve also managed to run-off a test print of the above which looks not too bad. I’m printing at .025mm with a 4 second exposure using Phrozen Washable, Gray Scale Level is set to zero with an Image Blur of 2. I also did a test print of the front and middle mudguards too, to fill up the print plate. The mudguards look a wee bit odd but I’ve designed them to wrap up onto the casemate as per the original. All the other models I’ve seen tend to ignore this subtlety as I suspect it is hard to mold. I’ve left holes for the bolts for the vertical strapping for the jerrycans.
Thanks. FYI I have created a Patreon site where I intend to post all my free creations over the next few weeks, including the revised and improved Semovente parts. The link is below, I hope it works. Please let me know.
