Magnificent. If I were starting a new layout now, I would invest in a 3-D printer because I see so much potential as you have demonstrated. As it is, I just don’t have room for many more structures as I am nearing completion on my almost 20 year old layout and have no plans to ever start another. Now if reincarnation is a thing, maybe in my next life I’ll buy one, but there’s just not that much I could do with one in this life.
I don’t know that much about 3-D printing but is seems to me you could make a few bucks by selling the files for those structures to others with 3-D printers. Is there any reason you couldn’t do that? I would bet there would be a market for it.
I would sell the .stl file in that case. There’s plenty of online services that can be used. The buyer would then use a slicer program of their choice to prepare the file in a format compatible with their printer. The model above would just be 3 files. Wall shells. Roof. Fire escape/skylight/windows. It would take a week to print everything for the above model. Obviously it would print while you are at work or sleeping. But would only take 2 hours at most to patiently assemble.
The interior detail is amazing. The recessed walls, paneling, stairs, railings, et. al. are stunning. I can’t imagine how you have the patience to prepare the 3D model. Your work is in a league of its own.
That logic can then be applied to building models. I started using sketchup in college and then found myself using it professionally. The software hasn’t changed much from 2005. So the skills of using it remain stagnant for over a decade. I re-use alot of module pieces, especially brick walls, windows and arches that are somewhat like lego bricks stacked.
So the Baltimore Ohio Station in Chicago might only require just 10% of the building be modeled. You’ll notice a lot of repeating facade components that would be stacked over and over to comprise the larger structure.
I haven’t experimented with printing anyting N scale. I know the Prusa MK3s can pull off some great tolerances. The layer height can print a real life scaled object at a half an inch high with a horizontal width of 1.75" at one filament dimension in HO scale. So at N scale, you can pull off window frames at close to their real size by almost doubling the dimensions above.
I hope that you will keep us posted on on your progress with the B&O Grand Central Station. That was always one of my favorites and an absolute travesty when the City of Chicago tore it down unceremoniously instead of granting it National Landmark status.
I think some of you may have seen Custom Model Railroad’s version of the B&O station. Wasn’t a kit because it’s massive but I own 9 of their kits and they are fun to put together.
So the latest I have to show is outfitting the interior of a DPM modular structure. I built this model back in 2017. Pre-printer days, I’d use styrene to make walls and floors. I still do that, but will populate the interiors with printed furniture. I’ll do a mix of both for this.
While watching the other night’s World Series Game, I knocked out this model of a sandwhich shop and printed it overnight, then assembled it on my lunch break. Already on the 2nd model tonight which will be a Walgreens or CVS to the left of the sandwhich shop.
Yep, it was fun seeing their progress images. They have a laser cutter to make the bricks etched into sheets of acrylic. So the shell of the building is much faster to print. I know this because I used a laser cutter back in college in the early 2000’s. I don’t think much has changed other than the equipment has gotten much more affordable. You can get a decent machine for about $2900. Couple that with a $700 printer and you have a full on model shop to build any structure you want. The up front cost is a lot, but this equipment will pay itself off in just a couple years. Particularly 3D prints since the feedstock is so cheap
Alright had some major progress to post but I now see why some of you said you couldnt see pictures. Links need to be https. Used to have flickr 10 years ago. Is that properly formatted on flickr? I’ll sign up for an account and edit the thread so previous ones show up.
Happy new year! A new in progress building to start off. This structure is meant to be a multi-level furniture gallery store. I’ll be starting on the interiors this week which will have varying room types on each level, an atrium with a skylight in the center and interior lighting. I’m considering a working “neon” rooftop sign as well.
This is inspired by a real building in Detroit. It’s just optimized for my layout with 2 less column bays and 1 less floor.
