BQ23-7 Build Thread

[3rdboxcar]

John I would not even had attempted what you had done in styrene - well done.

Alexander

[johnh35]

As a general comment if you wish your model to be as smooth as Kato or Atlas and any less will not do then you need to move on as 3D printed objects are not for you at this moment in time. But if you wish to do a little cleaning up then you can have the models you have always wanted. It seems that when somebody says Shapeways is rubbish the comment grows viral with people using hearsay and not actually holding a printed model in their hand.

Alexander

Alexander, the shells I have purchased from Mark 4 Design are smooth and have no lines. While this was not always true in the beginning, it has been the case with anything I have purchased from him in last 2-3 years. Your statement concerning 3D printed objects definitely does not apply to Mark's work.

[BCR751]

I understand that the 3D process is still in its infancy.  And, I don't mind doing a little clean-up.  However, the loco shells I have ordered from Shapeways, at $50 each, have the horizontal lines and funky textures in places that can not be sanded without removing the required detail like carbody doors, battery box doors, number boards, etc.  It isn't impossible to print a very good model.  I've seen some and they are absolutely perfect.  So, I guess it's hit and miss.  Maybe Shapeways should consider the models they are asked to print and, if it isn't possible to produce one without all of the flaws, they should say so and give the purchaser the option of ordering one or not.  Fifty bucks is fifty bucks.  No point in purchasing a model that you can't, or won't, use.

[HuskerN]

in my experience, I can image that larger surface items like a loco shell can result in varying qualities.  I have had really good results with my trucks, and plan to keep designing more models for myself.  They aren't perfect, but they are equal to if not better than some of the cast vehicles out there in my opinion.  And I have printed enough so far to validate the consistency of printing.  So if you guys need something to do while you wait for the quality of loco shells to improve, come find me.   

HuskerN
www.nscaleaddiction.blogspot.com
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/NScaleAddict

[VonRyan]

And also this - but unfortunately it's UK N-scale and the designer has no current plans to re-work it for 1/160:



What exactly does this mean?

Joe

It means that it is at a scale of 1:148 and that the difference in size is so negligible that re-tolling for exact 1:160 would be a waste of time and quid.


-Cody F.

[ljudice]

It means that it is at a scale of 1:148 and that the difference in size is so negligible that re-tolling for exact 1:160 would be a waste of time and quid.


-Cody F.

Hmmm....  people get away with this with Japanese cars because they are smaller to start - not so sure I agree on the Plasser....

[jimmo]

in my experience, I can image that larger surface items like a loco shell can result in varying qualities.  I have had really good results with my trucks, and plan to keep designing more models for myself.  They aren't perfect, but they are equal to if not better than some of the cast vehicles out there in my opinion.  And I have printed enough so far to validate the consistency of printing.  So if you guys need something to do while you wait for the quality of loco shells to improve, come find me.   

HuskerN
www.nscaleaddiction.blogspot.com
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/NScaleAddict

I can vouch for HuskerN's creations. The Shapeways items I have purchased from HuskerN under the NscaleAddict name have been excellent. I plan on purchasing many more and look forward to what he does next!

[wazzou]

And he's fast too.   

[VonRyan]

Hmmm....  people get away with this with Japanese cars because they are smaller to start - not so sure I agree on the Plasser....

As long as you don't have two scales of the same vehicle on the layout, or at least in eye-sight of one another, it is quite alright.
It like military equipment. It is nice to have actual N scale stuff, but there isn't much, and the quality is mostly poor plus it's either poor-quality resin or cast white-metal.
By using 1:144th stuff you get the variety, the excellent level of detail, and they are injection molded models. On my list of things I'd like to do (in the feasible range) is to do WWII armaments train, and one where the equipment isn't under tarps, so i'll be going completely with 1:144th equipment.


-Cody F.

[Leggy]

Leggy - now that would be a nice what could have been, I always found it strange that no other railroad tried out a Q cab.

This is what I'm thinking.

[ljudice]

Didn't the GE electric locomotives built for the Black Mesa and Lake Powell use these cabs?

[C855B]

Lou, the BM&LP's E60s are full-carbody style, not hood units with a cab.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1881470

[3rdboxcar]

This is what I'm thinking.

That does look nice, good idea certainly since it was a "could have been"

Alexander

[3rdboxcar]

Alexander, the shells I have purchased from Mark 4 Design are smooth and have no lines. While this was not always true in the beginning, it has been the case with anything I have purchased from him in last 2-3 years. Your statement concerning 3D printed objects definitely does not apply to Mark's work.

Hi John, I had never seen Mark4 design stuff, it says he uses prime grey, the best detail "I materialise" do prime grey in is 0.2mm which for me is too course for N scale. The stuff does look good but on the few images on his site I can still see a little banding which is less than FUD. I reckon for the BQ23-7 I could get away with 0.2 but that would not do for most other things.

Alexander

[wcfn100]

Hi John, I had never seen Mark4 design stuff, it says he uses prime grey, the best detail "I materialise" do prime grey in is 0.2mm which for me is too course for N scale. The stuff does look good but on the few images on his site I can still see a little banding which is less than FUD. I reckon for the BQ23-7 I could get away with 0.2 but that would not do for most other things.

I'm not sure what you are reading but Mark's Prefactory Machine has a resolution of .04mm.  There's nothing from Shapeways that can even come close to the detail and/or quality.

At this point, Shapeways is really only good for testing objects before you pay have to them done by someone else.

Jason