At the the Great Train Show, an Etching supplier stop by to look for some ideas and business. Doug and associate of Insight Designs identified many items they made for our Suppliers. So we got to talking about fences. I used only the Micron-Art (THE best), having scale spacing, barb wire, gates, bracing, etc. The issues I mentioned were: * Spacing wrong between poles (WAY to wide for some) * Heights * TOO long per piece and no angle bracing (Miller Engineering 985) * No corner diagonal bracing. * Gates (Walk and Drive, Singe and Double (MicronArt 91405 "IS" the absolute BEST) * Mesh looking large (Fences are commonly 2-1/8 largest or ~.01" in Z) * Cattle barb wire, like Woodland Scenics. They showed me a Security fence which looked like textured surface rather than "fence". REALLY super small holes and was smooth to the touch. Just didn't look like chain link with is ~2" or ~o.01 in Z I also asked for more TV and Radio antenna and some microwave dishes. Cell towers like Blam 8101 Contact: www.etchnow.com or e-mail suggestions to info@etchnow.com Note: NO 1 time etches, unless it is relatively large (business card full of same or else) and preferably sharable to all. I needed more TV and Radio antenna and some microwave dishes.
1. Tie down chains. Deluxe Innovations did etched tie down chains for their N-scale DODX set, and that's exactly what I'm needing, but in Z. Could work for military loads but also farm implements, big CAT stuff. etc. I'll try to find a pic to show them and I'll send it their way. You could easily do an entire fret of chain of varying lengths and configurations with tension bars/"come-alongs", etc. 2. Also ladders would be nice. I do have a good collection but likely will need more. 3. Rollup doors of varying sizes...especially one "Amtrak Cabbage" size would be cool. 4. Other: certainly chainlink fence and antennas/dishes would be good; etched wooden privacy fence would be cool; grain elevator and general industry details; deck girder bridges.
You guys think small. I want etched shells for steam and diesel locomotives to fit over Marklin and AZL mechanisms.
I do too. I want to start small with the Marklin 0-6-0 to make an NP USRA switcher. The switchers have 2 sand domes, one for going forward and one for reverse. The smoke stack has a unique cast flange with 8 giant bolts to hold it to the smokebox.
I’d sure like to see a USRA 0-6-0 switcher. I remember I think searails once spoke of an 0-4-0 tank loco on their chassis. With AZL having the sw1500 small switchers in Z being a reality why not steam?
Joe, I think part of the hesitancy to make steam is the need for different size drivers, dome variations. Even if a USRA loco is produced, there are still different details on different roads. I think the best a company can do is a basic cab and boiler with plumbing, and then have domes, pumps, stacks, and lighting be added. I know Rob brought this up on the AZL forum, and the answer was about the same. Scott
I think you guy are on the same track like, Searails is now with the Shay One main shell with all the different fixtures to design different types!
I have a lot of drawings and research. Now all I have to do is learn 3D modeling and etching brass. Scott
And this line of thinking is the problem. Model railroading has existed since before diesel locomotives, and the manufacturers still cranked out steamers with lettering for different railroads. In Z Scale, you cannot see the difference between 77" and 80" drivers, so I call bull on "The driver sizes are all different" The real question is, if people are willing to pay $800+ for the 20 year old rare MTL Mogul, or the Marklin Bumble Bee, both of which are actually WAY off from their prototypes, then would a generic "United States Looking " USRA 0-6-0 switcher sell? I bet they would, even if they were not prototype specific to ANY single railroad. The argument is always the same, it cant be exactly prototypical, so we can't dare produce them. Yet all the model railroaders crank out 3D resin prints of stuff with scale 6-7" thick handrails, and use any drive mechanisms they can find, regardless of wheel diameter or spacing. In the 60's and 70's, this is what you could fine, and it was OK. I think it would still be OK in Z Scale. Instead, ALL we have is this very different BR98 shoved down our throats with a 4' toilet plunger! So I put it out to United Stated modelers, Generic USRA 0-6-0 or BR89?
Rob, I'm with you. I was just repeating what I have heard. This is what I'm working on: 0-4-0 2-6-0 0-6-0 4-4-0 Not shown is a 4-6-0 camel back and an 0-6-0 PRR switcher.
well, they're not going to do the 'one-sies' but . . . if someone drew up ALL of the shell pieces and doesn't ask, "oops, can you make this change, for me" etc. Maybe. But this is a Commercial company that has made Railroad items but needs volume run orders. Honestly '3' of you could built one. It might be better tho than Searails. They're having quite a bit of delays trying to get a viable castings because the 3D's model still aren't passing.
It's called imagination. I grew up with my model train track haven 3 rails and the Lionel lines Steamer that magically turned into a NYC heading North and a Southern when heading South. (By way of Mom putting a piece of black Electric tape over the name and painting NYC on one side of the tender and Southern on the other.) and each was a perfect scale replica of the real thing. Pull the tape off and Dad had his perfect Lionel Lines 20 wheeler with Magna traction to pull his long string of cars. We didn't have the best perfect scale replica but we made the best of what we had and were happy with it. So i say If you make it as close as you can and use your imagination for the rest and you will always have the perfect scale model to enjoy.
Yes, I tried to deal with Insight Designs in the past to get my items etched by them. They can do some good work. I decided not to use them if I recall correctly because of their artwork design parameters did not work with my already established artwork. I think the cost was not feasible either. PEI is who I deal with. www.photofabrication.com I'd try those etching outfits overseas but I don't have any contacts for them. Just having fun!!!!
I'm one of those that have been designing things at Shapeways with the way out of scale handrails but don't have any experience at etched metal parts! My latest render of a 0-6-0 which some parts will be way out of scale due to the specification that Shapeways has in printing once I have a good print it won't be hard to get a brass on made! but will have to leave out those out of scale pieces! Ray, if you left click a word it will show you the right way to spell! I use it sometimes it doesn't always correct spelling here unless you do that! I enjoying seeing all your projects!
The steam engine handrails are probably best represented with .008"-.010" wire, preferably hard steel music wire like guitar string so it will keep it's shape with handling. The handrail stanchions, cab shades, roof vent hatch, and the condenser coils are great candidates for chemical etched parts.
Walt, Nice looking 0-6-0! I was trying to figure how how to power the USRA 0-6-0. I put the Marklin 0-6-0 chassis on top of a scaled drawing. Was hoping to not have to modify the chassis with a 6x10 mm can motor in a SLA motor mount. The chassis still needs to be modified. Green is chassis, red is motor and gearing. Scott
I have plenty of etched shell frets available if you fancy building one, have to check what, but certainly some different U-Boats and some Alco diesel
Actually I would be interested in a couple RS-11, shell frets if you have any. They should fit a GP9 mechanism, as all the spacings are about the same. I'm only going to buy or build Northern Pacific locomotives for my retirement projects, so I am interested in any NP items like U25C U28C U33C you might have done. The goal is to die with as many as possible. I prefer to trade for stuff, I have lots of Z items foreign and domestic, and can laser cut lots more stuff, we each pay for our own shipping costs.
