I haven't previously calculated. It's not cheap, when you factor in the cost of the .STL file ($50), the printer ($229), the resin ($40/L) and the curing kit ($29). I have other incidentals already in my modeling toolbox, such as brushes, tweezers, needlenose pliers, flush cutters, sprue cutters, and palette knives. I built a stout workbench (photo) for my other tools, just to have sufficient work space for this printer, but used materials I had on hand from other project surplus. Software that I'm using for supports and adjusting the file is freeware, although I have a student-level subscription for Fusion360. I have used about 2/3 of a liter of resin to get this far, but have printed a small miniature castle, and the test cube, plus the 3 rejected bodies due to misplaced supports. The idea was to buy the setup because Shapeways would have cost the roughly $350 I have invested so far to do 18 cars. I might not get all 25 out of this bottle of resin, but the investment will go further once I finish the fleet of 25 and can be printing stuff for the kids, layout details, etc. Long story short, if I only get 18-20 cars out of this bottle of resin, including the other prints, that $350 figure is spread out to under $18/car. This doesn't include paint, and custom decals, trucks or body-mount couplers. I never said the project would be cheap, but it'll be worth it!
the printer over time will pay for it self. the big thing is you can make things you can not get elsewhere.
Great job on the cars. Cant wait to see them completed. I would love to do this my self. I could if I just invested the $$$ into it rather than my other misc projects like my Trail90, my Harley, Kids, other modeling projects, Ham Radio... the list is long on all my A.D.D. hobbies LOL.
I built 2 of the already painted and windowed buildings tonight and the Tram Layout is starting to take shape. I think this is going to be the “final” location for the track and buildings that are built so far. I still need to raise the ground up to track level, make some roads and other scenery.
So this is getting closer to being shipped back to its owner so he can start racking up revenue miles again. Enjoy
Working on a Bmann 4-4-0 the bane of my existence. Have been trying out some mods to the tender to solve the froze up dragging tender problem. One of these is fitting Kato caboose trucks to the tender with mods of course. Jury still out on that one. Have another in the cradle that has been given new trucks from Bmann. Now giving the traction tires a coat of Bullfrog Snot. Yes it is a real product, the jar in in the photo. Applied with wheels turning and using a 9 volt battery for power while in the cradle. 100_0317-1 by John Moore posted Jul 1, 2020 at 12:02 PM
Thanks Massey yeah it's return home will take it back over the hill on BN train 14 to its home in Eastern Washington
That's not too far from me!! I'm in a little town just south of Tacoma about 30 mins or so from Mt. Rainier.
Ok so tonight I got some work done on the tram layout. It now operates with the Arduino actually mounted to the layout. I put the sensors in the rails held in place with hot glue. I wanted to get the smooth-it spread out tonight but I ran out of time getting the rails mounted and the sensors in place. I had a small hiccup where the unit wouldn’t power up but I found a ground wire that didn’t stay connected to the H-bridge. Here are some pics. Cork is being used to raise the floor up to the tops, or near the tops of the rails. Smooth it will do the rest. The underside. Hole for a sensor. Here is the tram running on the surface.
Looks Great everyone. One of the last photo shoots for this engine as I'm waiting on the number boards to dry after I painted them. But did get the railing/walkways pretty much done. Enjoy
This will be hitting my workbench tonight New propane tanker from Royale Models. This is the 3rd style trailer I have gotten from them and am very pleased.
Are the Royale prints cured or do you have to cure them with UV light? The supports still in place gives me that vibe. Looks good!
While I have not purchased one of John's kits yet. When I was last talking to him about them he mentioned that he keeps the supports on the models to keep costs down, and to help prevent warping when exposed to different temps.
They seem to be cured. I have not had to do anything special with them. Clean up is easy except around the mud flaps and fenders. They are very delicate. Guess how I know. Some nippers and maybe a little sanding but very little and it's ready for paint and assembly. looking forward to this one.
