I wonder if it can be reduced to N scale

Do you remember which Thingiverse file you used? I'll like to see if I can reduce it to N scale. I did successfully 3D print a box car but it didn't have much in the way of details. Stuff like ladders, brake rigging, etc... will have to be added. My current 3D printer is a small one and about all the larger I can go is a 50' (N scale) car. Maybe it's time for me to buy myself an early Christmas present.

Should be just scale it down

Should be just scale it down like you do a PDF plan, I used the .stl file.

Will check it out

I'll give it a try this coming week and I'll let you know how it works out.

I could use a few more flat cars but what I really need are covered hoppers. Time to go shopping...

scaling down 3d models

I created and shared the model for that 36' Southern Pacific CS-35 flat car.

I've done 3d prints of other freight cars in TT for a friend, and I think I did an N scale flat car as well.  There's two challenges when scaling down the cars:

* adjusting coupler and truck mounting holes and heights.  The model was made for Kadee #58 couplers in #5 boxes; changing scales requires making sure there's space for your couplers at the correct height, and making sure truck bolsters are also at the correct height for your preferred trucks, and that there's enough material around the screw holes to drill and tap the holes.

* some detail needs to be adjusted.  The stake pockets are pretty fine in HO, and can't be printed on a FDM (squirt-out-plastic) printer.  Even on my Form One printer, I'd fill in the holes in the stake pockets to make them more robust.  The rivets on the existing model are also on the edge of what the Form One can print in HO.  (I use 1.5" diameter cylinders, 1" high.)  When scaled down, the printer will probably ignore them as too small to print, so you'd need to make the rivets large enough so they print.

I uploaded my original SketchUp file to Thingiverse, so anyone who wants to see what it takes to make a 3d model of a freight car (or wants to tweak the design) can download the free version of SketchUp Make, and play around.  The file on Thingiverse doesn't have a deck on the freight car - I'd designed it for a wooden deck.  I've since added a deck to the 3d model to avoid the extra work.  If you're looking for a first 3d modeling project, adding the wood deck and board gaps would be an easy way to get started.

I've 3d modeled other freight cars, and commerically sold an SP Hart convertible gondola.   I've shared some of my 3d printing adventures on my blog:

http://vasonabranch.blogspot.com/

Robert

Glad to see you replied, fun

Glad to see you replied, fun to see you are actually on MRH