My Canadian vans on Shapeways

[chrismears]

Good afternoon. I've been working on a series of Canadian vans as 3D printing projects. I thought I'd share some previews of the ones that are currently for sale.


http://shpws.me/z4WX
This is my latest and one that I particularly need for my own Prince Edward Island layout. It is designed to fit over the familiar frame/floor that Atlas have used under their Santa Fe caboose. This approach forces a minor compromise in the car's length and width but really offsets the printing cost and it's a compromise I figured I could live with since it gets a pile of these cars onto my layout.


http://shpws.me/wi20
I've scratchbuilt several of these in HO and N. When I first started fooling around with 3D printing I thought this would be a fun test of the process and I couldn't be more proud of the end product. This model's windows are recessed on the inside face so the glazing sits almost flush. I couldn't develop handrails that could be 3D printed so left them off of this model and will just add them in using brass wire later. Unlike the other vans, this one includes the floor. The van in this photo (the N scale one) hasn't been sanded at all - it was cleaned and painted exactly as it arrived from Shapeways to really showcase the print quality Shapeways are producing these days.


http://shpws.me/vV59
I've always had a soft spot for CP's plywood-sheathed vans. I wanted to explore the idea of using the Atlas floor idea that I'm also using on the CN wood version and since I had the plans for the CP van in front of me elected to use it. As with the transfer van, this one also has the recessed windows for an almost flush-glazed appearance.

Cheers


/chris

[craigolio1]

Uh oh.  I just found three more cabooses to order.

Can you please link to your Shapeways page?

What other models are you working on?

Thanks, Craig

[chrismears]

Uh oh.  I just found three more cabooses to order.

Can you please link to your Shapeways page?

What other models are you working on?

Thanks, Craig

Thanks Craig

I included a link to each particular model with each of the above photos. My store on Shapeways is Prince Street and can be found here:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/princestreet

I expect to have a pretty solid delivery schedule of N scale vans over the next few months. There's an NAR one next and some variations on the CN van shortly too.

Thanks


/chris

[Catt]

Ok Chris, what the heck is a GMD NF210? That cab looks quite interesting.

[craigolio1]

I didn't see those. Thanks, I'll check them out.

Craig

[chrismears]

Ok Chris, what the heck is a GMD NF210? That cab looks quite interesting.

The NF110 and NF210's were unique to the Newfoundland (Canada) and were built as 42" gauge diesels. I've always found them appealing. The link below should take you to Railpictures.net and a photo of four of them lifting a train out of Cornerbrook, Newfoundland:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=444028&nseq=2

Following the closure of the railway on Newfoundland, some of these engines made their way to Chile where they are still working today:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=444031&nseq=0

The cabs are in production now and at some point in the next few months I plan on offering a kit that includes the hood, frame and sill, as well as the cabs. They'll be available in N, HO, and TT. First I need to get caught up on the Sweep kits and the rest of the things on my to do list for Shapeways.

Cheers


/chris

[lock4244]

The CP plywood sheathed and the CN transfer Van are of interest. Is the CN van going to be for sale at some point?

[Catt]

That cab looks like good kitbash fodder for one or more of my blue box SW-7s. 

[Philip H]

I'd seriously consider the transfer van if it were in production . . . .

[chrismears]

Thanks guys

After looking over my transfer van I had a few minor revisions I wanted to make to the design so I temporarily took it out of production. This evening I was able to tie off those last few loose ends and tonight it is back online and for sale. It's a pretty charming model to behold and will remain a favourite of mine for a while to come.

Here's the link to the page, within my Shapeways store, for the transfer van:
http://shpws.me/wi23

Cheers


/chris

[BCR 570]

Chris:

Have you had decent prints of these?  Someone did PGE plywood cabooses a few years ago and the prints were awful.

I could use the NAR one when it is ready.

Some nice parts on your site - another useful part would be the narrow 1200 gallon fuel tank found under PGE/BCR RS-10s, early RS-18s, NP RS-11s, etc.  The Kaslo Shops kit has been out of production for ages and a lot of people could use one.


Tim

[Andrew Hutchinson]

Hi Chris,

What are you using for software in developing your 3D models? Meant to ask for a while.

Cheers,

Andrew Hutchinson

[craigolio1]

Some nice parts on your site - another useful part would be the narrow 1200 gallon fuel tank found under PGE/BCR RS-10s, early RS-18s, NP RS-11s, etc.  The Kaslo Shops kit has been out of production for ages and a lot of people could use one.


Tim

+1

[chrismears]

Chris:

Have you had decent prints of these?  Someone did PGE plywood cabooses a few years ago and the prints were awful.

I could use the NAR one when it is ready.

Some nice parts on your site - another useful part would be the narrow 1200 gallon fuel tank found under PGE/BCR RS-10s, early RS-18s, NP RS-11s, etc.  The Kaslo Shops kit has been out of production for ages and a lot of people could use one.


Tim

Thanks Tim

I've printed the transfer van and plywood-sheathed CP van. Both prints turned out exceptionally well. I've been fooling around with 3D printing for a while now and can appreciate thoughts about print resolution. Both vans printed so nicely that no further surface finishing was done before painting (beyond washing off any leftover wax residue). I'm a lousy photographer but my friend Steve Hunter took some nice macro shots of the RSC13 sideframe I have for sale in my store, here's a sample photo:

Keep in mind the above is zooming in on a HO scale sideframe. I think it turned out pretty alright.

I think I know the fuel tank you mentioned. I have a similar narrow tank that I offer, in HO, for the RSC13's. Creating these tanks is easy and I don't mind adding one in N scale if it's useful for anyone.

Thanks again


/chris

[chrismears]

Hi Chris,

What are you using for software in developing your 3D models? Meant to ask for a while.

Cheers,

Andrew Hutchinson

Hi Andrew

I'm using AutoCAD 2005 to create these parts. I've been drawing in AutoCAD for the better part of the last twenty years so it's nice to work in something so familiar.

Cheers


/chris