Feasibility of 3D printing Erie Stillwell coaches

[Upstate Gator]

Is it feasible to produce a somewhat intricate car, such as the Erie Stillwell coaches below, with 3D printing? If so, does anyone know of a source for drawings?
Ben
Fairport, NY

[sd45elect2000]

I think it would be feasible. Here's some Rock Island coaches :

https://www.shapeways.com/product/54E27G9PB/ri-2500-series-x-3?li=shop-results&optionId=21994423

I would also like to see some Boonton cars off the Lackawanna as well as the Stillwell cars from the Westchester electric.

Randy

[CNR5529]

Yes it can be 3D printed, with quite nicely rendered details. I've had success printing fine features such as rivets and intricate window frames in FXD. I would recommend however to add separate grab irons after the fact, as shapeway's minimum wire size is very chunky.

That said, it will be quite costly if you need a fleet of them! Also, it is imperative to first have a set of accurate drawings to work from. I've been working on CNR "canadian flyer" cars for a while now, and with only rough diagrams to work from, getting the roof to look right has been difficult at best. Your roof line seems much more complex.

Kind regards,
Fredrick

[thomasjmdavis]

If indeed someone did the C&WI (which I think are ex-Erie) coaches, I would be interested in perhaps 3.  However, the trucks would also be a potential problem.  I wonder if resin might not be more economical than Shapeways?  Would there be enough interest to justify making the master and molds?   

[Upstate Gator]

Tom,
The C&WI cars are ex-Erie. I don't have the skill set to create them, but wondered how much interest there might be.
Ben

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I would try that as a flat kit which would give better sides

[peteski]

The best way to approach many of the 3D-printed projects (both currently available from the members of the forum, or on someone's wish list) would be to have the item 3D printed on a printer which has much finer resolution than even FXD, then use that as a master to cast resin copies.  This would make things much more affordable and much better overall quality (FXD still has plenty of fuzzies and layering).

I have seen many examples of this type of production. Good example is Showcase Miniatures. I suspect that all of their new offerings are designed in CAD and the masters are 3D printed.  If I take a magnifying glass and carefully examine their pewter models, I can sometimes see very fine rastering on them. But much finer that what can be achieved in FXD.  Having multiple large items (like N scale passenger cars)  3D printed by Shapeways is crazy expensive. 

[Chris333]

3D the roof and etch the rest.

[Lemosteam]

3D the roof and etch the rest.

+1 multi-layer etch the sides, 3D the ends, floor, trucks and roof. 

[jimmo]

What scale are we talking about here?

[Upstate Gator]

N scale

[thomasjmdavis]

I know Scott Lupia did an article for RMC (2007 ish ?) on modeling a Stillwell from a Lima/Minitrix/MP coach.  Were there drawings with that article?  And Joe Lofland's article in Prototype Modeler (I think) maybe 20 years ago (had a intercity long distance version, not sure if it had a drawing).

I'm moving next month, and most of my magazines are packed up, but seems like some one or another had a drawing of a Stillwell coach.  The Erie diagrams are online, but those are pretty rough.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/pax/d8.gif

[thomasjmdavis]

And I should note, I am not sure that drawing is specific prototype that Ben was discussing, but most Erie passenger car diagrams are available on the site.

[Upstate Gator]

It would be great to have the C&WI Stillwell commuter coaches. I have C&WI decals I purchased through Gary Roe a few years ago.
Ben

[reinhardtjh]

I would also like to see some Boonton cars off the Lackawanna as well as the Stillwell cars from the Westchester electric.

I need some Boonton coaches and combines.
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