Question

Hi Ken

Pleases 'scuse my ignorance here, but what exactly are we seeing in the photo...

Is this some rendered image of what you have created in Sketchup or an example of the finished article?
Either way it looks great.

I'm fascinated with the possibilities here (future project thinking).

Rob Clark
Cornhill & Atherton RR
 

Shapeways render

Hi Rob,

The image is a rendering from Shapeways.  They've started making rendering available for items which are for sale, and for most materials.  The one above is in brass.  They did a rendering for Frosted Ultra Detail plastic as well:

I will probably be ordering the FUD version with my next Shapeways order.  I need one (the reason for the project in the first place) and I need to find out how well it prints.  I'll add a photo to the Shapeways page when I get it.

As for the possibilities, they are almost endless.  All it takes is time and patience, and a little money to buy the final part.  Another reason I drew this part up was to practice some more techniques for my upcoming article.  I want to be as thorough as possible.

By the way, I love the hat in your photo.  I've been looking for a good fedora, but I can't find one for a reasonable price.

Very nice with a question

@ Paul

http://www.sketchup.com/

The problem is that both brass and FUD have a minimum thickness of 0.6mm, which works out to a little over 3 3/4" in N scale.  Also, a wall that thin is likely to warp (not that I haven't seen quite a few of these signs bent, shot up, or otherwise less than pristine).  A much better option would be photo etching.  Smoke Mountain Model Works made some in HO scale, and if you contact him (Jim King is a Southern Ry. modeler as well), he may be able to make some in N scale as well.

I realize you might be joking, but it ought to be possible.  Shapeways has a flexible plastic which might actually work for the job.  The problem would be drawing it!  But dang it, now that you've suggested it, I want to try.  One more thing to do...

Thanks, Ken

3D printed clothing

Maybe not...

http://disrupt3d.com/2013/05/01/custom-3d-printed-underwear-women/

The Fedora

Probably more of a Panama than a Fedora, but what the heck....they are both "cool" hats.

I don't normally look like this - the photo was taken at a Wedding in Italy (Florence) and the hat just matched the occasion and the weather perfectly.
However, for MRH I thought it would add some rakish mystique to my very ordinary face .

Rob
Cornhill & Atherton

...

Ken, it's a nice smoke box cover, but I have to ask - for the people using it on the 0-4-0 - does it have the inner lip that centers it on the smokebox and allows for a press fit without glue?

Inner lip?

I'm not sure, Benny.  It does have a ring on the back which is designed to center it on the smokebox.  Since I don't have an original Mantua part to copy, I'm working to measurements of the locomotive itself.  If the lip you're talking about is anything other than a simple ring, then it's not there.  As for fitting without glue, I'm not sure how tight the fit will be.  Hopefully it'll be pretty snug, but I haven't tested it yet to find out.

...

Somebody asked about the Fedora...

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1374672/bowler-and-top-hats-large-assortment-ho-scale-1-87.html?materialId=61

It's been done...at least, the top hat and the bowler have been done...

Wet paint

I ordered a smokebox front in FUD last time I placed an order at Shapeways.  After cleaning, it's still got some surface quality issues, but I want to see if it's usable.  I scrubbed it with a stiff toothbrush and some Bar Keeper's Friend (abrasive powder), which helped.  Today, I decided to shoot it wish some gloss paint to see if that would make a difference.  The paint is still wet, so we'll have to wait a couple hours to really see, but here it is so far:

Why post it now, instead of waiting and taking a shot of the paint when it's dry?  For one thing, I was taking photos anyway and figured, why not?  For another, I find it interesting how much the volume of the paint diminishes as the solvent evaporates.  What looks overly thick when wet ends up looking pretty good when dry.  I wanted to show the transformation - or lack thereof, depending on the results!