Great mix of 3D printing

Jack,

Creative solution mixing 3D printing and styrene’s strengths to create a batch of great looking cars.

One question on the piping that didn’t print correctly.  Did it pass Shapeway’s initial screening tests?  I’ve done some piping before and had to beef it up to .02” to get it to pass and print successfully.  One other thought would be to use brass or steel wire for some of the longer sections of piping.

One other technique I’ve used to clean the waxiness.  A couple minute soak in Bestine (use in a well ventilated location) followed by about 5 minutes in an all purpose degreaser and cleaner in the ultrasonic cleaner.  A quick rinse in water and air dry.

Nice job!

Passing Shapeways tests...

Mike...

Yes, the brake piping on the flat car files based Shapeway's tests which is why I suspected it was lack of adequate support. All of the flat cars printed with just a single flat car frame printed fine.

Jack, always interested when

Jack, always interested when i see a project write up by yourself!

I'm yet to jump in to the 3d printing world although I really should. The way the US vs AUD is at the moment makes a resin kit a days wages by the time its shipped here. Makes it difficult for modeling 1929. Although modeling over a lifetime its a drop in the ocean.

I think this style of printing may be a solution to the number of skeleton log cars needed for my fleet.

Cost of 3D printing...

The cost of one 3D printed flat car frame (comparable to a skeleton log car) is $13 plus $5 shipping. You could order 10 prints and the shipping cost would still be $5. One problem however will be the hiding the needed weights...

Weight in photo #6

Jack: great article.  What caught my eye was the weight in Photo #6.  It is the same weight that I have which I machined when I was in the apprentice branch of the RCN in Esquimalt.  Small world.

Gordon