LNG Ship (Please read building instructions in summary.)

thingiverse

Hello all! Today I've got an incredible design that's been months in the making - two whole months, to be precise! This model is a simplified version of an older LNG carrier model that's been stripped down to its essentials. Each piece has a special feature called an "outlet" inside them, which are designed specifically for holding the included rods in place. I've also included Important side notes, detailed instructions, and some vital building tips to ensure you get it just right. Take a look at this awesome article about ships: https://www.caller.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2018/07/12/cheniere-energy-open-house/36810873/ It's crucial that this ship is made entirely out of ABS plastic, as it will help prevent warping and make assembly much easier. Here are some Important side notes to keep in mind: 1. You'll need to print a total of 4 long rods for each bottom hole in every outlet - half of each rod should fit perfectly inside (which means they're a tight fit and might require a bit of hammering). 2. For the top square holes that are parallel to each other, you'll need to print a total of 8 short rods. 3. The right and left center piece file must be printed twice and attached to each side of the "CenterPiece" label, creating one massive center piece. Now let's get started with the instructions - they're fairly simple: 1. When hammering in the included rods, make sure to line up both dowel ends and inner walls of each hole using acetone before tapping them into place (this will not only secure them but also weld the rods together). 2. After assembling all the main pieces (Nose, CenterPiece, RightAndLeftCenterPiece, and Tail), you'll need to acetone-weld each of the 4 printed tanks to the top as shown in the pictures included in this post. 3. Once the tanks are securely attached, you can then weld the bridge piece towards the back of the ship - just follow the pictures in this post for guidance. 4. Finally, weld the pipe pieces and helipad into place, following the pictures provided - and that's it! Your ship will be complete! Now let's move on to some detailed instructions for perfect detailing: 1. Make sure to inspect your model carefully for any possible warps. If you notice any warps, grab a 3D pen (I highly recommend the 3Doodler) and fill in each crack or warp with ABS plastic - make sure it matches the color and material of the rest of the ship. 2. Once the cracks are filled with plastic, apply some acetone to cover them completely - this will weld the plastic in place. 3. Sand over each crack until they're smooth, filling any tiny holes with plastic as you go. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until your model is perfectly smoothened and free of cracks. 4. If you notice any leftover cloud marks from using acetone, simply give your ship a fresh coat of paint and it'll be good as new!