I was trying to figure out how to do some bridge abudtments for a long bridge on my 4 foot module. I looked at commericial and read about casting with hydrocal. The abudtments had to be kind of unique in that the ground underneath is slopped, not flat. The trouble is I’m not the best painter and weatherer.
I have been playing around with 3D printing and wondering about the full color process. So I grabbed some concrete textures on line and this is what I came up with:
Under the bridge it looks like this:
Of course, I made two- the first was too tall for the bridge shoes. Guess which one I ordered? So I’ll have gto find out how to sand it down.
Overall I am real happy with it and will order the rest I need. The cost for a one sided unit like this was about $17. More than commerial hydrocal ones by far, but it’s RTR and that is worth something to me.
I also wanted to see what a foundation would look like. I have two streets ton my module, that is obviously under construction, hat go down a pretty steep hill and have to custom make the foundations. Here’s a full color printed one:
The pictures a little off- the building is actually level.
It was also about $17. Not the most economical solution and more than the normal white plastic foundations I have
I like what you have done, but don’t understand what you mean by full color process and 3D printing? I am familiar with 3Dprinting or stereolithography, but now with full color process. What did you give to the supplier to make the models? We always used a 3D CAD file that was converted to a stp or some other format. I have a similar situation that I have been wrestling with for two years now. Also, who did you use for the 3D models?
-Bob
I use shapeways.com. The basic process I used was placing a photo image on an STL file I had created in a freeware program called Sketchup. I had to export it as a DEA file, which supports color, import it into another freeware 3d Cad program called Blender, and export it as an X3D file, which I uploaded to shapeways for them to print, It took a while to get from one to the other, but I finally figured out a way that works.
The process paints the individual grains of material as they are added to the model. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHxp9Ail6MY is a link to a video that shows the process- along with a bit of advertising from the company.
If someone reading this thinks it sounds complicated, think about al the very technical things we do in this hobby. I can’t figure out diesel locomotive identification- I just nod and smile when someone in my club starts talking GP40.
My next test will be to see how brick comes out. I am not sure I can put motor lines in 3D, though. The full color material doesn’t seem to support that fine of detail. I also am also going to try a rock wall.
Your project looks good, but my computer skills fall far short of understanding 3D.
You could do the project by cutting foam to do the job. Lines can be scribed in it easily or it can be left relatively smooth to represent concrete. Scrap pieces cost nothing, I have made or plan to make several things from scraps: various piles, loads, stone walls and foundations to name a few.
Good luck,
Richard
dcyale:
I think they look pretty good! Perhaps a bit over weathered - depends on how old you want them to look I guess.
A bit expensive but as demand increases prices will come down ( or at least that’s how I remember it from my economics classes 40 years ago).
Dave
DCYALE:
I think they look fantastic. I think they are near to for aged/weathered {though maybe newer?} concrete.
I have to admit my knowledge of 3D printing is nil and my computer knowledge fits in a thimble…I don’t Even know what a STL file is?! Or how to use one?!
BUT if they Can do that and 3D printers are now about $1000 a piece, heading down for $500 a piece, IF and that is an IF, If I learned how to manipulate the files, I could see the printer as a fine Home Modeler’s accessory!
[8-|]
A bit off-topic, but there was a story on CNN.com a couple of days ago about 3D printing. A young child, a baby, actually, was born with a rare lung malformation and was having severe breathing difficulties. Someone had been working on creating 3D body parts, and had done some animal trials, but the doctors decided this was the only hope for this kid. They fast-tracked the legal stuff, and used an MRI to get the right size and shape. The part was made with a material that allows native tissue to grow through it, eventually replacing it while the 3D piece slowly disintegrates and is flushed out of the body naturally.
This little boy owes his life to 3D model builders, who probably never even thought of such an application. It’s not just for trains anymore.
They did come out a bit darker than I wanted, but I was looking for something pretty weathered. It’s definitely a learning process. I need a total of 4- another one sided and 2 double sided. One will have graffiti and one will look like a new replacement.
As to home 3d printers- they are getting better, but the was done at a printing service and the printers they use are VERY expensive. Only home printers if you are a millionaire.
I think they look great. You can always lighten them up with pastel powders. I hope 3D printers eventually come down in price so that the average modeler could purchase one. I have simple structure diagrams for all of the buildings on the old Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh Ry prior to 1910, and it would be great to be able to create models from the prints.
-Stan