Crimson Skies Hughes P21-J Devastator

This is a model of the Hughes P21-J Devastator from the Crimson Skies series of games. This exact model is based on the Devastator as shown in the OG Xbox 2003 release High Road to Revenge. I wanted a swooshable scale model beyond the board game scale ones.

The model is scaled to around 1/44. Scaling is questionable since the only dimension available are for the original board game. The design of that Devastator is slight different with a shorter nose among other other things.

I tried to make this model as friendly for 3d printing as I could while also keeping its general features correct. The model is subdivided into logical sections: Fuselage, engine parts, wings and cockpit canopy.

The fuselage is the central connection point for all parts. It is best to print vertically at a fine layer height. I used 0.12mm. Given its thinness and height, bed adhesion is critical. A brim is a must but I had to resorted to a raft for my print. Luckily the part that contacts the bed is not visible on final assembly.

The engine consists of: the engine which has an indent for glueing to the fuselage, two spinner sections, and a peg which they slide onto. I did design propeller blades as well but they do not print very well at this scale. Resin printing is possible but I think it is better to print the propeller spin blur disc and sandwich between the spinner sections for inflight look. Clear plastic would work great as well. Even cut acrylic if one has a laser cutter but I, unfortunately, do not.

The wings consist of the upper and lower wing. For simplicity, I am also including the front horizontal stabilizers and the vertical fins for the lower wings in this discussion. The wings are all very thin and should be print vertically with their slot on the bed. The vertical fins are the most finicky of the group. I printed mine same as the others but the slicer gave the tips an uneven look since they were so thin. Printing them with the front towards the bed and with supports on can fix this with cleanup needed afterwards. Personally, I actually liked the ragged look this gave since it gave the appearance of being in a dog fight and the scrappy nature of air pirates. Again, bed adhesion is very important. I grouped all my wings close together so that they shared a brim which helped keep them in place while printing. I have only included the right side. Thus they will all need cloned and mirrored for a complete set.

Finally, the cockpit canopy is a fine detail piece. All the lines are thicker then 0.4mm, so they are printable with a standard nozzle. Proper cooling is critical for good arches. the base is wider and cuts beyond its actually scope. This allowed for a wider base for better printing. Gap filling will be necessary is one desires a smoother appearance. I have not designed a glass solution that I find acceptable and have not included any in this release.

The guns can be printed vertically with the peg on the bed. I printed them with supports and twisted them out cleanly after they were finished.

The stand is pretty straight forward, I angled in for a more dynamic look. A 2.20mm slot is cut into base of the fuselage. The Stand arm's peg is 2mm. This provides a friction fit but glue or display putty might be best for long term display.

This is my first release of this type of model. I have printed and tested the parts but tolerances will vary due to printer tuning. All parts are designed with a 0.2mm tolerance. Cleanup may be necessary due to sagging during printing. For example, I had to clean up the slots for the fins on the lower wings and the holes for the guns.

Truly hope that this model will be enjoyed. Thank you.