3D printed Code 40 Wood Ties Strips - Quick Pics

[Cajonpassfan]

Tamiya spray primer...  Worth its weight in gold!

I buy the big cans in case lots (6per) on the recommendation of chris333...  Great stuff, you'll use it once and never go back to the "cheap" big box store primers again!

Jeff

Agreed. Now where do you buy them in lots?

[JeffB]

Agreed. Now where do you buy them in lots?

I'll try to find the link tonight after work...  Unless Chris333 chimes in first.

Jeff

[Chris333]

Oh if I found the link it would just be the e-mail I sent Jeff. I just did a search and found the lowest price, then bought 12 cans/2 cases. It was before "inflation" so:

https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Surface-Primer-180ml-Spray/dp/B000BMXRUM

https://www.hobbylinc.com/tamiya-fine-surface-primer-l-light-gray-180-ml-hobby-and-model-acrylic-paint-87064

https://oakridgestores.com/supplies/paints/hobby-modeling-paints/tamiya-87042-surface-primer-light-gray-spray-paint/

[JeffB]

Oh if I found the link it would just be the e-mail I sent Jeff. I just did a search and found the lowest price, then bought 12 cans/2 cases. It was before "inflation" so:

https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Surface-Primer-180ml-Spray/dp/B000BMXRUM

https://www.hobbylinc.com/tamiya-fine-surface-primer-l-light-gray-180-ml-hobby-and-model-acrylic-paint-87064

https://oakridgestores.com/supplies/paints/hobby-modeling-paints/tamiya-87042-surface-primer-light-gray-spray-paint/

Found the link last night, but two of the links Chris333 supplied have better prices than the one I have, and they're out of stock at that supplier. 

Prices certainly have gone up!  I'm glad I bought two cases when I did.  Working on only the second can of twelve at this point.

Jeff

[robert3985]

@ednadolski Fabulous work Ed!  MUCH more realism that separate NS tieplates & separate etched spikes as your old Proto87Stores photos show! 

The larger, more prototypical tie plates you've got are VERY convincing as is increasing their height a bit.  I'm wondering if a slight increase in the height of the spike heads might be worth a try???...just "slight"... 

Is the thickness of the spacers between ties necessary?  Could they be a bit lower, allowing for "air" under all the ties?  Just askin'...  I suppose it would depend on the type of resin you used as some is markedly more flexible and less brittle than others.  Anycubic ABS-like is pretty strong stuff, and a bit flexible, and is touted by Anycubic as being suitable for detail prints, but...with your woodgrain I don't know if it's the right stuff.  Might be worth a try, and it might allow for lower between tie-connectors also. 

Also, the cylindrical shape of the connectors.  Might it be better from an appearance point of view to make them a shallow inverted "V" with the crest of the "V" centered under the rail foot?  Just thinkin'...

I can't tell from your photos, but have you made the ends of the ties uneven?

Oh, and the woodgrain is definitely worth it IMO, and with the right kind of paint and painting technique, it'll be very visible.

Sooo...once again, what are your plans with this?  Are you going to offer the finished file to modelers seeking ultimate track realism in N-scale?  Seriously...your work is the best I've ever seen.

Now...what about code 55?  Any possibility for mainline ties for Code55?? ...and maybe branchline/siding/spur Code40 ties that have smaller tieplates, are spaced less densely with much more decrepit woodgraining??  Just askin'! 

Once again, fabulous stuff!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[craigolio1]

The trick with pliobond is to let it dry on the rail, then use a soldering iron to heat the rail as it sits on the ties. You can hear a frying sound as it attaches to the ties. It makes an extremely solid connection. There is an article in a 1977 issue (June?) of MRR about hand laying code 40.

Wow awesome tip!  I’ve never heard this before. Thanks

Craig.

[Chris333]

It also makes a sweet smell when it heats up 

[ednadolski]

I'm wondering if a slight increase in the height of the spike heads might be worth a try???...just "slight"... 

Could be, at least for N scale.  What would 'slight' be, say 0.005" or so?

Edit: @robert3985 that might be good to do for C55 rail, since the base is thicker.

Is the thickness of the spacers between ties necessary?  Could they be a bit lower, allowing for "air" under all the ties?

They seem flexible enough without doing anything else.   For N scale the thickness is probably important, since trimming them from the supports does put some stress on them, and it is possible to break them if one is hurried or heavy-handed.

Might it be better from an appearance point of view to make them a shallow inverted "V" with the crest of the "V" centered under the rail foot?  Just thinkin'...

I've found that I don't really notice the webbing unless there is a gap in the ballast, in which case the web would be visible anyway.

have you made the ends of the ties uneven?

Not on these, tho I have some variations in mind.  Hopefully will avoid any noticeable 'repeat' pattern.

Oh, and the woodgrain is definitely worth it IMO, and with the right kind of paint and painting technique, it'll be very visible.

The painting techniques and colors can make a big difference.  I'm still trying to find ways that are quick, repeatable, and still look ok.

what are your plans with this?  Are you going to offer the finished file to modelers seeking ultimate track realism in N-scale?

No plans as such, other than just seeing where this can lead.  I'm thinking to try perhaps a turnout next.   How does a #8 or #10 sound?   If you have any proto drawings, that would of course help make things go quicker

I'm fine to share, tho the grain pattern on these strips is itself from @timwatson , so he would have to be OK with it too.

(Side note:  it would be awesome if TRW had a place to post/share the .stl files.... @tom mann  and @Ed Kapuscinski how big an ask is that?) (I only ask because the other file sites are kind of a PITA.... logins, links changing, etc. ....)

Now...what about code 55?  Any possibility for mainline ties for Code55?? ...and maybe branchline/siding/spur Code40 ties that have smaller tieplates, are spaced less densely with much more decrepit woodgraining??  Just askin'! 

Anything is possible, it is just a matter of finding the time to generate the drawings.  Tieplates have to be adapted for the rail base size and to maintain gauge.  For more woodgrain I am messing around with Blender, tho it is a steep curve.  As always specific proto drawings/dimensions always makes things easier.  If you like, PM me and I can send you some samples to try out when I have any (tho I can't make commitments about time frames).

Thanks for all the great comments and feedback!

Cheers,
Ed

[tom mann]

@ednadolski Ok you can as an attachment now

[PJPickard]

Ed,

I sincerely hope you make files available...yes I can design and print my own, but it would be another thing on a LONG list. Your results are great and I hope you can do in code 55 and 40. Thanks!

[ednadolski]

@ednadolski Ok you can as an attachment now

Seems the .stl file is too large -- 25MB, tho it says that the attachment limit is 5 MB.

It' probably because the meshes for the woodgrain are pretty large.

Ed

[sd80mac]

I know it's not N-scale, but I'm going on principle here. I created this test piece reinspired by your efforts here, along with something I caught almost a decade ago on the TTnut forum where a guy showed a hybrid track system featuring laser cut ties and 3D printed tie plates. European modelers use a similar technique. My version follows suit featuring laser cut ties from .0625" Poplar plywood with 3D printed tie plate inserts minus any spikes. Yes, you can see the 20um layer lines, but only in the photos! Not sure where this will go...probably nowhere. I will likely do a spiked version, meaning one with spikes printed on the tie plates, and hole to accept Proto 87 Stores' scale spikes. I also want to try a bridge tie section cut from .125" thick material, as well as printing more tie plates, this time with spikes the will actually hold the rail in place. Okay, I'll just get to the pictures...

Donnell

[Mdrzycimski]

Seems the .stl file is too large -- 25MB, tho it says that the attachment limit is 5 MB.

It' probably because the meshes for the woodgrain are pretty large.

Ed

Hi Ed,
What if you cut the stl down to just a few ties?  Maybe that will reduce the file size enough to post it. Folks that want to print it (shameless plug) can just duplicate the stl in the slicer.

[ednadolski]

Here you go.... this is only 4 ties, I had extended it by replicating and rotating as needed.  It should be possible to connect them at the point where the web meets the ties.

Caveat, this is a modified version of what I had printed, and I think it may still have some issues with inverted normals. I did fix a few manually and ran the Cleanup extension in Sketchup.  Still,YMMV depending on which slicer program you are using.  I printed on the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8k with the Aqua grey resin and default print settings.

(I do have another version in the works with some things like variations in the tie lengths and a few other tweaks, tho it is not quite done just yet.)

Cheers,
Ed


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[Mdrzycimski]

Thank you Ed.  Very much appreciated.