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Union Station Project Update Journals/Blogs
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Super User 753 posts jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

The 3D printed Union Station project is essentially completed.  The slide show video above gives an overview of the project details & costs (approximately $86).

All of the main building parts/sections were printed on a da Vinci mini 3D printer including all of the larger rounded top windows, and all elevator doors. The walkway base & sides, some small Grandt Line windows on the lower section of the passenger waiting room, some double doors from the Walther's Union Station kit were the exception.  Two large (11x14) sheets of .080 styrene were used for the roof of the main station building and the floor of the waiting room.  All other roofing was 3D printed.

I might add that the printer has about 350 hours of printing time so far without any problems and has provided parts for the stock yard/ feed lot project, Union Station, as well as the oil loading platform that I am currently working.

My YouTube Channel is -  https://www.youtube.com/user/tanzj
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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txlarr Regular poster 382 posts
txlarr

WOW! Awesome

That is a fantastic and awesome project.  Those stairs remind me of long, long ago the stairs I climbed at the Union Stations of Kansas City and Dallas (used stairs before the tunnels).  Excellent work and slide show.  Thanks for posting.

Steve Gratke
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towazy Regular poster 387 posts
towazy

Agree...awesome model

great piece of work!  

 

Tom
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Thank You

Steve,

Thanks for your comments, they are most appreciated.  It was a fun project to do.  I even had to re-learn how to use an airbrush since I hadn't used one since the 1970s.....John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Thanks

Tom,

Thank you for your comment. 

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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Nevin W. Wilson NevinW Regular poster 332 posts
Nevin W. Wilson NevinW

This really does seem to me

This really does seem to me to be the future of scale modeling.  Rather than buy kits or scratch-build you either design the model your self or download the plans and then print it out on your printer.  Perhaps there will be software that can work from a photograph.  It will lead to more prototype modeling and more individualized layouts. Wonderful work.  

Modeling the Maryland Midland Railroad circa 2006

Read My Blog

 
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

I Agree

Nevin,

Thanks for your comments.  The Union Station building & the stockyard/feedlot (my previous project) were done as original designs and 3D printed to fit my layout (except for some commercial windows, doors, and the walkways).  The latest project, the oil loading platform, is a combination kit-bash of leftover parts with some custom designed 3D printed parts. Some of the more expensive 3D printers have a lot more capability, to include 3D scanning. 

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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avrinnscale Regular poster 230 posts
avrinnscale

Very Nice!

I know zero about 3D printing, but as a fellow N scaler am impressed and now know it's possible.  Thank you!

Geof

Geof Smith

Modeling northern New England in N scale. 
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JohnF Active Member 78 posts
JohnF

Sketch up photo match

Good morning all

the free 3d modeling software Sketchup has a tool called Photo Match.    You load the photo of interest then drag and drop the drawing axis in Sketchup to align with the photo.   Trace with the line tool and you have a basic scaled 3d model.

check YouTube for Sketchup Photo Match. 

John
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Thanks....

Geof, The first project that I did (ATSF stockyard/feedlot) gave me the confidence to do the Union Station project.  I used pictures & some scale drawings to size the building. The PLA is relatively inexpensive, less than $0.12 per meter.  I made a lot of test items to see what worked & those that needed revision.  The nice thing is that these 2D design programs have a mirror tool so if the right side is good then the left side is mirrored perfectly by the program.....

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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loydenochs New member 21 posts
loydenochs

Excellent project

Thank you for sharing your project.  It opens so many more possibilities.
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Thanks

Thank you for your comments.  I hope to do some additional custom items for my layout in the future.
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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