Best Of Pennsy Position-Light Signal Head - Shapeways Project?

[Ian MacMillan]

Jim, I wonder how these would look if you used the higher resolution printer from the company in the US that Bryan uses.

[towl1996]

                                         I would be happy to provide the link to the signal head in Shapeways.

Jim Hale

First off, Jim, thanks for working through this, it looks great, a real bonus for Pennsy modelers. And the link would be helpful.

Secondly, I would like to nominate this thread for a 'best of Railwire' status. Thanks

[Ian MacMillan]

First off, Jim, thanks for working through this, it looks great, a real bonus for Pennsy modelers. And the link would be helpful.

Secondly, I would like to nominate this thread for a 'best of Railwire' status. Thanks

Done.

[nscaleSPF2]

Jim, I wonder how these would look if you used the higher resolution printer from the company in the US that Bryan uses.

Ian, I would really like to pursue this.  Do you know what company Bryan uses?

Jim

[Ian MacMillan]

Ian, I would really like to pursue this.  Do you know what company Bryan uses?

Jim

I do not, but I'm certain he will chime in.

[Mark5]

First off, Jim, thanks for working through this, it looks great, a real bonus for Pennsy modelers. And the link would be helpful.

Indeed. Not just Pennsy, but PC, Conrail, LV, Amtrak (NE Corridor CPL), N&W, N&W CPL, NS.

Mark

[dougnelson]

And LIRR.

[rickb773]

And PRSL!

[delamaize]

And Northern Pacific.....

[nscaleSPF2]

Did not expect this much interest.  OK, here is the link to the Shapeways part shown above:

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1155701/signal80.html?li=productGroup&materialId=61

Mark5 asked if the model could be modified to remove the center light and hood to simulate a N&W CPL head.  The answer is yes, but I am waiting for direction on the details of what the N&W part would look like.  Does it have the same kind of plate covering the center light as the PRR part does, for example.  I'm just not familiar with the N&W part.

Um, there is one other opportunity that this project offers.  I have seen some prototype signals that have two signal heads mounted back-to-back on the same mast.  One for inbound trains, one for outbound trains on the same track.  I have not seen this type of signal modeled in any scale, but it would be possible to do this using the Shapeways model, without a lot of redesign.  If anyone is interested, please let me know and I can create another model for the back-to-back signal head.

Jim Hale

[VonRyan]

Did not expect this much interest.  OK, here is the link to the Shapeways part shown above:

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1155701/signal80.html?li=productGroup&materialId=61

Mark5 asked if the model could be modified to remove the center light and hood to simulate a N&W CPL head.  The answer is yes, but I am waiting for direction on the details of what the N&W part would look like.  Does it have the same kind of plate covering the center light as the PRR part does, for example.  I'm just not familiar with the N&W part.

Um, there is one other opportunity that this project offers.  I have seen some prototype signals that have two signal heads mounted back-to-back on the same mast.  One for inbound trains, one for outbound trains on the same track.  I have not seen this type of signal modeled in any scale, but it would be possible to do this using the Shapeways model, without a lot of redesign.  If anyone is interested, please let me know and I can create another model for the back-to-back signal head.

Jim Hale

+1 on the back-to-back signals!


-Cody F.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is there any chance you could set the model so that a few can be printed together? Does that result in any savings on them?

I'm going to need quite a few of them in the next year or so.

Also, don't forget the other PRR style heads. Take a look at the lower head variants here:
http://www.railroadsignals.us/signals/pl/pl.htm

[nscaleSPF2]

Ed, I don't know if having the heads strung together would reduce their cost, but I'll check into it.

As far as the other variants, let's not get carried away.  I'm not going there for my layout, but if you have some specific variants in mind, lemme know.

Jim

[nscaleSPF2]

Is there any chance you could set the model so that a few can be printed together? Does that result in any savings on them?

I'm going to need quite a few of them in the next year or so.

Ed, you win the prize for best idea of the day.  Contacted Shapeways, and they told me that you can load several of the models into one file.  That reduces the cost from $5.00 for one head to $5.80 for six heads.  Wish I had known this when I ordered mine.  One potential catch is that Shapeways limits the size of the file, so I don't know if the "batch" of parts will have the same resolution as the single part, if you know what I mean.

I'll order a batch of six, see what they look like, and report back.  This usually takes a couple of weeks.

Jim

[wcfn100]

Ed, you win the prize for best idea of the day.  Contacted Shapeways, and they told me that you can load several of the models into one file.

Yeah, it's the material 'handling' fee.  It's the same $5 (for FUD) for one part or several parts together.

Jason