...Apparently George didn't notice the price of their women's clothing. Bras starting at $200.00. Anyways, I've been secretly following this thread, and have submitted a model of my own to shapeways. If the result I receive is as good as they make it appear, I expect shapeways may play a HUGE role in advancing our hobby! This guy had had an entire locomotive shell created! :thumbs_up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgLdVBm5VcE (You might want to mute sound before clicking) Here it is painted and running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC12DieZeI8
Very cool Mark! I have already gotten some Z scale items from SW and they are GORGEOUS! The detail lines are crisp and there is VERY LITTLE flash on any of them! I am going to try and increase my detailing skills on each new model. Are you going to release yours or at least give us a peek? :tb-biggrin: I would love to see what others are creating!
I think another good idea to go with the Amtrak F59PHI by Athern would be the Surfliner cars in N-scale. This train is ran in California. I have read many posts elsewhere of people trying to get Atlas, Kato or Athern to make these. They all said no because the market is so small they think. I do think if you made these & were good they would sell. I would buy 4 of them. Just my idea to you.
LookModel in Japan makes the Surfliner cars, and they place them up on eBay from time to time. I suspect a finished model using Shapeways (shell and truck side frames) and Kato parts (frame and wheels) will likely make the price higher than that of the LookModel brass version ($120 each - $400 set - neither available at the moment). LookModel Surfliner Cars FWIW.
For $200 they must be really special. We have been lurking here, too. Mostly wondering how close 3D printing can get to injection molding. We are interested in N-scale trucks, especially older wood-beam trucks. Here is an example of some trucks from Shapeways (older process I think). And I wouldn't mind trying my hand at some of the other things missing from our pre-Civil War layout.
Hello, I was thinking out loud here and I thought of another selection of usefull items. Maybe some detail parts for the trucks. Such as Cranes and Maint. of Way Boxes, not to mention Bucket Truck Mech. to name a few to help convert the trucks into Maint. of Way vehicles. Which seem to be in a short supply. Thanks in advance for your consideration Larry
Bruce- I will definitely look into making some Surfliners for you. Since I can take a bunch of the dimensions directly from my Kato Superliners and then add the details and such from pictures and the detailed drawings I have come across that shouldn't be too hard to do! I will definitely add them to the list. Thank you for the suggestion. Larry- You are right that truck details are in short supply and I would love to give them a shot! It might be tricky with some of Shapeways minimum thickness and size requirements, but I will sure give it a try!
Oh no. That is no where near the best. That is an OLD process and an old material as well. If I may link to an item on the site: http://www.shapeways.com/model/245517/taconite_ore_car_ii___z_scale.html?gid=sg4375 That car is in Z scale! Shapeways has increased their production abilities and with the new materials, even smaller details are available. Take a look at the ladders on that car and even the details on the brake wheel came out!
Brian- In the Surfliner train consist the last car is a cab-controll car. It looks the same as the other cars except on end has windows, lights, horn with a door in the midle. I will look for pics. Then you will have cars to offer. I think others would be able to use these cars for a modern comuter train as well. Thx Brian.
Reality check... I'm not trying to discourage anyone from making what I believe to be a nice addition to the N Scale community. I'm simply giving my opinion based on what I know about some of the processes involved. I have considered my own version of the Surfliner using Shapeways, but that day is a long way off, even though the 3D model is complete. I keep hoping the LookModel version will return in my lifetime... I'm not entirely clear though on the pricing methods on the Shapeways Shops - is it for material only, or do some of these creators get a cut? For argument sake, let's say it's material only, and that all parts are using Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) and round-up to the nearest (approximate) dollar... Shapeways: - Shell: $30 - Trucks: $10, or use Kato, but it's for a Superliner-I Kato: - Superliner-I: $20 on eBay I don't see the frame listed separately on the Kato website, so if you use a separate Shapeways frame, expect it to cost nearly as much as a complete Superliner car. If you already have a car at the ready, then all the better. Misc: - Glass: ? (vacuform or create from individual transparent or opaque pieces?) - Decals: ? (these need to be custom printed, and there's going to be a minimum order) If you use the Kato Superliner-I glass and trucks for the new Shapeways model, then why bother with Shapeways? After all, if you're willing to live with the discrepancies of the finished kit, then why not just paint a Superliner into Surfliner colors, especially considering the amount of effort on producing the 3D model, modifying the Kato parts to fit, painting and lettering, etc., and it still doesn't give you an accurate model? So, $60 bucks each, and without glass, decals, paint or assembly. $40 if you already have a Superliner on hand you're willing to sacrifice, and it's still not accurate. Add to that the misc details above and other items, and you can see the price is quickly approaching that of the LookModel version. Besides, and according to the OP, it would be based on measurements from a N Scale model. Close enough is fine for beacons and crew sheds, but I expect closer tolerances in rollingstock. And we haven't even gotten into the points on inconsistencies, tiny details or part breakage. All that will likely drive costs upward. The LookModel, considering their accuracy, would be a steal IMHO. Nevertheless, you can control a lot of the costs by using the Shapeways models as master for a resin kit, which would also need to include decals and brass etched details, as well as being mailed to customers (don't forget the detailed instructions), and $50 per might cover it with a very small profit margin. A 100 kit production might be enough to see if continuing with another 100 is worth doing.
Is there any chance of getting these ore cars in N? I'd be in for a ton of them to add onto my BNSF taconite trains.
Not sure. I will ask him if he would be willing to redo them for N and if he won't and is willing to let me, I will put some out. I have to admit that I have often thought that these would be awesome in N scale. :tb-biggrin:
Marc- I really do appreciate your position on this, but I really do feel as though you're insulting my modeling skills. I can agree that it may just be easier to repaint and bash up a Superliner, but why not wait and save the criticism and such until I'm finished? You may be surprised. And I will be using an N scale superliner for some measurements, but I do also have access to a few detailed drawings and pictures of these cars that I will be going through and looking as as well. I agree that it is important to have detail when doing rolling stock and that accuracy matters. This is why I will most likely be doing a bunch of things for myself that kitbashing just didn't seem to get right. All I ask is that you at least let me try before you shoot it down. Just a respectful request for a reasonable action...
Are N Scale locomotive bodies possible?? I have a specific locomotive that I'd like to consider having done. To fit the Kato SD45 chassis.
Brian, My apologies, but I believe you've misunderstood my point. Basing a Surfliner model on a Kato or Con-Cor Superliner might not be the best approach. After all, you would be banking on the accuracy of either of these examples, and there are subtle differences between the Pullman and Alstom designs other than just door placement and roof curvature. I was simply pointing out some of the challenges you would be facing with such a project. There was no criticism meant or implied. I wish you only the best of luck and success.
If you search through the Shapeways website then you will see a number of passenger cars and locomotive shells. So, yes. They can be done. It's "simply" a matter of someone making the 3D computer model so the printer can do its magic. I would love to have an EMD E2 ABB set, if anyone has any clue how to do the artwork. Create a consortium of people? Terry
