Best Model that will never appear on your layout

[PAL_Houston]

I was going through some old files and came across a bunch of photos of this model I built of Stone Ave. Station, in LaGrange, Illinois.

I love the prototype:

and can remember waiting for trains there with my dad in the late '50's both in Spring, in Fall and on snowy winter nites.
Probably because it's such an attractive structure, and holds so many memories for me, I spent a lot of effort building a model of it.





Unfortunately, my layout doesn't go as far east as LaGrange, so there isn't a place to put this on my layout.   
I am thinking "display case"....

What about your models that won't get onto your layout?

[ednadolski]

What about your models that won't get onto your layout?

That station looks incredible.  Would you ever be interested in maybe building it as a focal point of a module?

I made these Tehachapi Tunnel 9 portals a few years ago, but after a move to a new house I don't see myself ever building Tehachapi Loop in HO scale.   (N scale maybe could be a different story.... )






Cheers,
Ed

[ljudice]

The station and those portals are fantastic! 

One thing I would point out is that there has been a lot of discussion about Shapeways for very specific models,
and we're mostly discussing it in terms of rolling stock, etc.  But structures like these, where stone or concrete
textures are prevalent are probably an even better use for the technology...


- Lou

[Puddington]

Currently bowing down as I type for that La Grange model..............wowzers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nato]

       What best model? If one ever appears,structure or rolling stock & lokies yall will be the first to see the pix ,if I can get them to post.    Nate Goodman (Nato). That  is a cool "Q" station.

[Lemosteam]

The station and those portals are fantastic! 

One thing I would point out is that there has been a lot of discussion about Shapeways for very specific models,
and we're mostly discussing it in terms of rolling stock, etc.  But structures like these, where stone or concrete
textures are prevalent are probably an even better use for the technology...


- Lou

+1!!!!!

[skytop35]

Paul,

Awesome job!  It's a shame not to have this on a layout.

[PAL_Houston]

One thing I would point out is that there has been a lot of discussion about Shapeways for very specific models,
and we're mostly discussing it in terms of rolling stock, etc.  But structures like these, where stone or concrete
textures are prevalent are probably an even better use for the technology...

You guys need to tell me more....For one thing, there are several sets of drawings available for this.  The ones I worked from were published in an article by C.C. Crow in Mainline Modeler.  He did a super model in HO scale, but absolutely refused to try to repeat it in N-scale for me.  There is also a set of drawings in the Library of Congress  at  http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhsheet&fileName=il/il0900/il0908/sheet/browse.db&action=browse&recNum=0&title2=La%20Grange%20Stone%20Avenue%20Depot,%20701%20Burlington%20Avenue,%20La%20Grange,%20Cook,%20IL&displayType=1&maxCols=2&itemLink=D?hh:1:./temp/~ammem_6Pxc::@@@mdb=gottscho,hh,cmns,alad,ncpsbib,gmd,pan,detr,horyd.

What would one have to do to modify these for shapeways?

Also, what kind of materials can they use?  From what I think I know, it's some kind of a plastic.  That's OK, except one would need to think a lot differently about how to paint the stone arches.  In my model they are plaster, and were lightly stained with waterbased colors.  I think it would be really hard to achieve the same (equivalent?  similar? stone-like?) look in plastic.

Also, I bet it'd be expensive, especially for a one-off:  the only other guy that ever expressed interest in one of these was Charlie Vlk (and I still owe him some hydrocal castings, oh, about 4 years ago..... they were hard to get right.....and so I am still procrastinating...

[Lemosteam]

Unfortunately, my layout doesn't go as far east as LaGrange, so there isn't a place to put this on my layout.   
I am thinking "display case"....

What about your models that won't get onto your layout?

I'm thinking selective compression- NO WAY I'd let that beauty be a shelf dust collector!  Awesome model

[randgust]

Remember that Shapeways charges by the cubic-somethingorother when they run the model estimate.  So rolling stock, small stuff, doesn't come out too bad. 

Go on the Shapeways site and browse.  Every once in a while you'll find a bigger model.  My favorite is the skyscraper:
http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=N+scale+skyscraper

Don't get hurt when you see the price.  That, fellow modelers, is why you won't see building models using this approach.   Now, climb up off the floor, get out your Evergreen styrene and get to work.

[SkipGear]

Remember that Shapeways charges by the cubic-somethingorother when they run the model estimate.  So rolling stock, small stuff, doesn't come out too bad. 

Go on the Shapeways site and browse.  Every once in a while you'll find a bigger model.  My favorite is the skyscraper:
http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=N+scale+skyscraper

Don't get hurt when you see the price.  That, fellow modelers, is why you won't see building models using this approach.   Now, climb up off the floor, get out your Evergreen styrene and get to work.

Not exactly the best example. The outrageous price is due to his choice of materials; Stainless Steel and other plated metals.

[PAL_Houston]

Remember that Shapeways charges by the cubic-somethingorother when they run the model estimate.  So rolling stock, small stuff, doesn't come out too bad. 

Go on the Shapeways site and browse.  Every once in a while you'll find a bigger model.  My favorite is the skyscraper:
http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=N+scale+skyscraper

Don't get hurt when you see the price.  That, fellow modelers, is why you won't see building models using this approach.   Now, climb up off the floor, get out your Evergreen styrene and get to work.

I went and looked, just to get a feel for this...

If I use what they call 'full color sandstone' prices and my volume estimates for just the stuff that I molded from plaster --  4 arches, 8 arch pedestals,  4 side columns/buttresses and the 2 side walls (which are hidden behind the bushes in the photos), then it'd cost about $105.  And if I used the 'detail plastic' then it'd be about $250.    Plus, shipping, I guess. 

Then there's the fitting and painting. 

The interior structure is plastic, as are the roof and gutters and base. ..... and I'd probably do those the same way again.....(or just re-use the ones I have...)

So I'd be comparing time and effort and cost to make the silicone mold and cast the plaster with the time and effort to do a 3-D drawing to size and send it to them.....

expensive but not totally out of whack compared to the cost of the silicone mold material and the multiple tries to get the plaster castings right and bubble-free.

Anyone have any experience painting or finishing the Shapeways products?

[randgust]

The only Shapeways kit I've had so far is the Barnhart loader.   Extraordinarily well done.

I followed the advice here and cleaned everything first with Bestine.

I've tried both Floquil solvents and Pollyscale with nothing adverse to report.

While people get hung up on some of the banding issues (which are true) the precision and fit is just incredible.  The hoisting engine in the Barnhart is even more complex than most injection-molded parts would be capable of.   

I'd never noticed that skyscraper was in anything else but FUD.  Guess the blood drained from my eyes after I looked at the price.

I've been looking through the ATSF standard plans book for something good to make as a test run on Shapeways myself.   

But back to the topic at hand... I've unfortunately completed a bunch of models and equipment that have no logical place on either the ATSF or Hickory Valley layout and are true shelf queens.  But, there should also be honorable mention for stuff that was on a layout, has achieved some level of recognition in publications, and has subsequently found no home and is either now scrapped or boxed up.   The Bachmann 4-4-0 on the Hickory Valley (which made MR) was later scrapped for parts.  The original "Winslow Shops" published in RMC many years ago suffered the same fate - the entire complex was harvested for detail parts.   My two scratchbuilt CF7's that were in RMC will probably be retired and stored, I don't think I have the heart to sell them.   I'll nominate Verne Niner to the finals for having EVERYTHING to publication level in N scale and disposing of almost everything! 

[robert3985]

The only Shapeways part I've used is Eric Cox's (Panamint Models) CB&Q 5ft, No.7 trucks under my U.P. Cabooses (where it is known as the "Q" truck).  I am entirely happy with them and the detail would be totally impossible using injection molding technology. 

I had to soak them a couple of times in Bestine as they had a particularly thick coating of wax.  My first set were painted using an old can of Pactra Flat Black enamel paint, and where I had failed to remove all the wax, it stayed shiny.

After re-soaking them in Bestine, my next attempt was rewarded with a totally flat finish, which really shows off the details.

After my can of Pactra Flat Black died, I used what I had on hand, which was a can of Krylon Cammo Ultra-flat Black.  I like this paint better than the Pactra, as it is not as "black".  Surprisingly, it did not obscure any more detail than the Pactra enamel.

I have not tried alcohol to remove the wax from the Shapeways parts.  I just went directly to Bestine as it is my cleaner/degreaser-of-choice since I have had long experience with it being in the art/graphics business for decades, and I know it does not react with any plastics I have ever cleaned.

However, it is highly volatile and should be used carefully and outdoors (unless you have a vented spray booth).  It only takes a minute or two for it to completely evaporate.

Cheers!!
Bob Gilmore

[pelago]

I GREW UP A FEW BLOCKS FROM THIS STATION.
I know this has been unused for a while but was directed here by a friend because i wanted to build this station,  As a high school kid i worked for Meyers and Smith Paving (they had a shop on LaGrange road and 55th behing MacDonalds) and we paved the sidewalks for this station.  It truly is a work of art and so is your model
Do you have any plans or drawings for this?
and
was sent to your post from another source, I was planning on building this model for quite a while,  why, I grew up on Peck Ave one block off Willow Springs road, lived in La Grange from 1947 to 1963 when i enlisted in the Marines ( spent entire adult life as a Marine)  Lyons Township High School, my father had a insurance agency on the corner of 47th and Willow in the LaMarr bldg.
I also waited for my father at this station for many years,  he worked in the Loop prior to opening his own business in fifties.
During Korean War I got to go inside a Sherman tank on a flatcar while it waited at the station, Army sgt said it was okay,,, cool for a 9yr old!!
also picked up a shipment from George L Herters, a 16' fiberglass boat, trailer and martin 7.5 hp motor  (also cool for a 9yr old kid)  RAILWAY EXPRESS, STONE STREET STATION!!
My name is Ira Jones, my father was Ira Jones sr
we might have known one another