Just out of curiosity and in case a 3D printing company sees this, what do you all think are the most desired 3D printed model railroading objects?
That’s simple – either cast or 3D-printed: an accurate, non-swaybacked PRR BP-20 shell. (Ideally for both A and B units.)
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While it would be great to have railroad specific rolling stock and motive power shells compatible with mass produced frames and mechanisms, basic detail parts would also be nice, especially for N scale. Think doghouses, spark catchers, various diesel horns, Elesco feedwater heaters. Parts that enable modelers to take stock models and easily make them railroad specific. There used to be more cast metal details parts, but those appear to becoming less common these days.
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As part of my other hobby, 43rd scale model vehicles, I have been quite involved in creating 3D printed 43rd scale models in the recent months to add to my 2700 item display. I look for 3D files of historic cars/trucks that have not been commercially produced…yet. I do not do the printing myself but have an associate that is quite willing to do that for me. He buys 3D files from the CGtrader website and prints them for me and i do the construction, painting etc. So far all these have been already available files from this website which has literally thousands of 3D items available. It is also possible to “hire” a designer to create a new file of a specific item but one needs to supply them with many photos of the item one wishes to have replicated. So far I have not had great success in going this route but am working with one fellow now to create a file for a 1959 Studebaker Lark 2 door station wagon and a 1954 Plymouth station wagon. Progress is slow and quality of the end result is unknown so far. Here are some photos of items I have built from 3D prints. Sorry, not railroad related, but I am sure railroad subjects could be done or maybe already exist. The 3D files can be printed in multiple scales, I pick my collecting scale of 43rd, the most common international collector’s scale. Here are some examples, 1964 Studebakers.
And what the 3D “kit” comprises.
Bear in mind the quality/accuracy of the 3D files can vary depending on the designer.
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For those who run older equipment replacement gears for proto2000 engines replacement axles for bachman steam engines. Just general replacement parts
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For those sort of mechanical items they would have to be printed in harder more robust material than PLA or resin which my items have been printed in.
A print in softer material can be cleaned up and used as a pattern for epoxy or even lost-wax metal castings; adjusting for ultimate shrinkage in software should be relatively straightforward.
Ive printed things i need, such as the infamous “blue flags”, modern style turnout throws, and small detail parts like grills, AC units, and figures
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Cat D 17000 V-8 diesel engines in GE 44 tonners, HO please. Dan
More 1980s and up figures and vehicles.
In terms of volume, I would guess there would be demand for small accessories, like roadside accessories, and inexpensive, easy to assemble small buildings. The price of these has gone through the roof and I’m guessing there is still demand for them, especially for NEW models of roadside structures.
There could also be demand for small part components for scratchbuilders, like brick walls, windows, chimneys, etc. Again, anything that differs from what is already available.
More “niche” markets would be HOn30 and HOn3 rolling stock, in easy-to-assemble kit form. They are hard to find at reasonable prices.
Simon
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I recently printed a bridge that came out pretty nice. It took quite a bit of searching before I found one that met my needs. Most options I found were fixed in size, but this one was modular, allowing for customization to any size you need. Coincidentally, I also printed the top orange container. The one on the bottom was store-bought. Printing is a much better value! I also found a similar well car I might print, but the one pictured is a model I built. I will also be printing a modern cantilever signal bridge. Those are expensive to buy.
Someone needs to do the combination of politicking and quality assurance to reintroduce what remains of the Jordan Miniatures line.
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While I don’t do the era they focus on… i entirely agree!
Also worth noting, i picked up a new resin printer and will ble glad to start printing my own detail parts again
Car and locomotive parts like pressed metal ends and louver sections.
I’ve been looking for flatcar and boxcar ends and beyond a reference to O scale ends on some 20s Southern boxcars I just haven’t found them.
Welcome PulpHerb
Welcome to the forum, PulpHerb!
O Scale conveyors for O industrial sites. Have not found anything in O scale.
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Welcome to the forum, SouthernRRfan!
Thanks