Shapeways FM Switcher Shells

[Dave Schneider]

I know that I shouldn't get my hopes up for these....but damn, these are nice renderings!
http://www.shapeways.com/model/715594/n-scale-fm-h-10-44-kit.html?li=productBox-search
http://www.shapeways.com/model/718047/n-scale-fm-h-12-44-kit.html?li=productBox-search

They are just what I need.....but, they are from Shapeways. Should I avert my eyes or try to justify getting one?

Seriously conflicted, Dave

[Scottl]

It is $30 CDN.  I would not hesitate and work out the bugs if it is a key model for you.  Or you can buy pizza one night...

[wazzou]

Dave, there is an extensive thread over on TB that I was sure you were aware of but should have mentioned to you nonetheless.

It may help you one way or another.

[Dave Schneider]

Dave, there is an extensive thread over on TB that I was sure you were aware of but should have mentioned to you nonetheless.

It may help you one way or another.

Thanks Bryan,

Do you have a link to the thread? I don't have an account over there so I can't search. I quick read through the first 5 pages didn't yield what I was looking for but maybe I missed it.

Best wishes, Dave

[FrankCampagna]

I believe this is the thread: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?144768-Printing-a-Fairbanks

Been following these projects.

Frank

[Dave Schneider]

Thanks Frank. Good to see some photos there.

Best wishes, Dave

[mmyers05]

Well I for one would recommend them, but then again I might happen be a bit biased... 

For the record though I do lurk around these parts if you have any questions.

[Dave Schneider]

Matthew,

Thanks for weighing in over here. Your 3D renderings are absolutely wonderful and this is a must have model for Beer Line modelers. I have yet to order a Shapeways FUD model, but have read quite a bit in the various threads over the past year or so. Thus, I am a bit skeptical about how the final model compares to the CAD renderings. It is nice to see some actual photos of the models. Do you have any painted/finished ones to share?

On the Trainboard thread, you show some evolution in design since your initial post in February 2012. How representative are the first photos from February of the current design and printing? Those photos of the H10-44 show quite a bit of stepping and what appear to be rather deep doors. I really want and need some FM switchers, but am still a bit hesitant.

Thanks and best wishes, Dave

[OHCR 4218]

Well lucky for me the Nickel Plate only had about 20 of them  and they only used them on every yard job, transfer and local they ever ran, lol. Iguess I can find room for one or 10 of these. Now to start looking for VO1000s.  And he makes a NKP wood caboose too 

Brandon

[MichaelWinicki]

Coming out with these shells strikes me as a pretty big thing for N scalers.

[FEC Railway]

Just bought a ton of hoppers off shapeways...hoping they're of good quality.  Is there anyone around here that is good enough with CAD to do small renderings for modifications to existing freight cars?

[sirenwerks]

As a potential customer, I'm excited by such a release and am not afraid of being an early adopter.  However, I too agree with Daniel's Trainboard observation about the depth of the doors and can't get around their standing out. 

OTH, I like the breakdown of parts.  I am a believer that, until the materials and tech catch up with the quality needs of N scalers, that Shapeway product originators adapt the breakdown of parts into their design as much as possible to allow consumer modelers to clean up the roughness the current offerings endure.  And luckily, the Shapeways tech offers the originator the capacity to constantly upgrade his/her product without the added overhead and interruption involved by conventional manufacturers.  So South Boulder Modelworks can continue to refine its product.

I wish, however, that serious product developers will acknowledge the limitations of Shapeways and continue the breakdown of parts beyond the Shapeways package.  While offering a marketing challenge - chiefly in guiding consumers off the Shapeways site to "complete" a package - the cabinet doors, fan assembly and cover, and certain other details lend themselves much more to etching and use that tech instead of making due with Shapeways.  Plus, the etching option offers opportunity for more details like lift levers to be added to the package, creating a value added product.

Perhaps Shapeways will see an opportunity here and expand its product line?  But they seem to have trouble working out the current one.  Maybe a Shapeways-like etching company will arrive on the scene?

[up1950s]

I ordered the H-10-44 and 3 sets of auto frames , have to see how the horizontal stack is stacked , may have to buy more . I had the vertical stack in HO and loved that gondola load . Both of these items have been wanted by me since I got into N . I will not send the messy H-10-44 I bashed years ago to the chop shop for sentimental reasons , but a better one would be nice .

Bashed Mini-Trix model

[jdcolombo]

  And he makes a NKP wood caboose too 

Brandon

I worked with Matthew on the NKP caboose, and I think that project turned out quite well.  Here's a photo of a finished model:



Here's an end view:




We (well, really, Matthew) are currently "upgrading" this model by moving the end ladders and marker lights on the cupola to separately-printed detail parts, along with a battery box; this will allow folks to make either an "original" with marker lights or a "radio equipped" version which ditched the markers but added a battery box.  The "version 2" model, as I call it, should be available in a couple of weeks.

While the Shapeways stuff is far from perfect (you can see a bit of "fuzz" or texture on the printed sides, for example, and the ladders have been notoriously easy to break), it sure beats not having these iconic models for my NKP layout - and from any reasonable viewing distance on my layout (e.g., two feet), they look very, very nice.

John C.

[mmyers05]

OTH, I like the breakdown of parts.  I am a believer that, until the materials and tech catch up with the quality needs of N scalers, that Shapeway product originators adapt the breakdown of parts into their design as much as possible to allow consumer modelers to clean up the roughness the current offerings endure.  And luckily, the Shapeways tech offers the originator the capacity to constantly upgrade his/her product without the added overhead and interruption involved by conventional manufacturers.  So South Boulder Modelworks can continue to refine its product.

I wish, however, that serious product developers will acknowledge the limitations of Shapeways and continue the breakdown of parts beyond the Shapeways package.  While offering a marketing challenge - chiefly in guiding consumers off the Shapeways site to "complete" a package - the cabinet doors, fan assembly and cover, and certain other details lend themselves much more to etching and use that tech instead of making due with Shapeways.  Plus, the etching option offers opportunity for more details like lift levers to be added to the package, creating a value added product.

Perhaps Shapeways will see an opportunity here and expand its product line?  But they seem to have trouble working out the current one.  Maybe a Shapeways-like etching company will arrive on the scene?

I doubt that Shapeways will dive into photo-etching anytime soon; that said, I have little doubt that someone will. There are already companies offering a Shapeways-like service for lazer-cutting and milling among other things.

I think the reason that you don't see too many Shapeways designers going the 'extra mile' (including photo-etched parts etc.) yet is that, well, many of us simply aren't "serious product developers." I make my shells because I enjoy the digital design work, not because I intend to make any sort of 'serious' business out of it. Heck, I've spent half my time designing Denver & Salt Lake prototypes: talk about a business venture that is doomed to failure! I haven't yet sold a single one!

That said, the convenience of not having to deal with an inventory/collecting payments/marketing/etc. is far more important to me than spectacular sales. If I started doing all that I'd be out of 'layout time' pretty quickly!

I think what you see from many (not all of course) Shapeways designers like myself are people who started making models for their own collections and who got "carried away" so to speak. That's why I'm always happy to explain my techniques and process to anyone who asks.

One again, this is my personal opinion but I don't think I'm too far off the mark.   

It is nice to see some actual photos of the models. Do you have any painted/finished ones to share?

On the Trainboard thread, you show some evolution in design since your initial post in February 2012. How representative are the first photos from February of the current design and printing? Those photos of the H10-44 show quite a bit of stepping and what appear to be rather deep doors. I really want and need some FM switchers, but am still a bit hesitant.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of a finished FM yet (although I know of a number of people who have kits in various stages of completion). Even worse, your post made me realize that (for reasons that are beyond me), I never photographed my only updated H-10-44 sample before I went ahead and sold it to a gentleman on the other side of the country.    I've ordered another one however, so I'll be able to photograph it once it arrives. In the meantime, there are several folks on Trainboard who have posted images of the ones that they have received to date. Otherwise, the best I have are quick and dirty pictures of an older version:



It's not quite representative of the current version: it sits too high on the frame and is missing the fan in the roof (among other things), but unfortunately at the moment it's the best I've got. As you point out the doors on the first shell were a bit too deep - this has been corrected on the 'production version.'  The shell shown above has the 'reduced' doors.