Melbourne E Class Tram - Printed in Colour!

[bluemattersoda]

Hi everyone, 

Lately I've been experimenting with full colour sandstone 3D prints. I have noticed a lot of people are turned off buying 3D printed trains because of the painting - especially modern liveries with complicated graphics. 

 

This is the new E Class trams running in Melbourne - modelled in HO 

 

So here are the renders of the 3D model, in Rhino:

 

 

 

 

 

And here are the test prints from Shapeways. I had two test sections done, one in standard Colour Sandstone, the other Coated. I think the uncoated version looks better. The Transparent Detail Plastic windscreens are a bit of a disappointment...more frosty than transparent. Also, the indicator lights didn't come out in the colour, so I will be revising in the model. The roof details are looking sharp though. 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be revising the colour in the panel joints - as you can see they are bleeding onto the white. I also need to finalise how the chassis will work, but i'm happy with how this is turning out.  

Edited July 22, 2017 by bluemattersoda

[Gwiwer]

E1 class tram, suitable for cars 6001 - 6050.  Cars 6051 upwards have a redesgined front and cab area to reduce glare and are class E2.

[Penrhos1920]

Have you tried polishing the Transparent Detail as Shapeways recommend?

[Alan J Kirkman]

Sorry to me this is futile done in such a "Fluffy" texture. Compared to FUD or the Black HDA this as rough as the proverbial Badgers whotsit. A reasonably smooth body shell is prerequisite especlally when you can't even contemplate sanding etc. it down as its precoloured. Today producing a transfer for the side etc. from a reasonable dead broadside photo isn't  a big job and not beyond many peoples Computer kit with no metallic colours involved equally in the UK we have some people ( like TramAds) able to do it by a printing process anyway to deal with gold etc. numbers or lining. I'd be very interested in a decent Melbourne  E body that was in a proper material but not something in material more suited to a scenic item of Dawlish Cliffs . I suppose the clue is in the material name Sandstone! When I compare these photos to the Black HDA Blackpool Glasshouse I was handed on Saturday I just want to weep. So disappointed.

[bluemattersoda]

E1 class tram, suitable for cars 6001 - 6050.  Cars 6051 upwards have a redesgined front and cab area to reduce glare and are class E2.

 

Thanks, I've already been down to the Brunswick terminus of Route 96 to get some images for a future E2 model. Tramtracker's very helpful for showing the tram number so you know when the E2's coming!

 

 

Have you tried polishing the Transparent Detail as Shapeways recommend?

 

I haven't tried that yet, but it may be difficult with the embossed windscreen wiper!

 

 

Sorry to me this is futile done in such a "Fluffy" texture. Compared to FUD or the Black HDA this as rough as the proverbial Badgers whotsit. A reasonably smooth body shell is prerequisite especlally when you can't even contemplate sanding etc. it down as its precoloured. Today producing a transfer for the side etc. from a reasonable dead broadside photo isn't  a big job and not beyond many peoples Computer kit with no metallic colours involved equally in the UK we have some people ( like TramAds) able to do it by a printing process anyway to deal with gold etc. numbers or lining. I'd be very interested in a decent Melbourne  E body that was in a proper material but not something in material more suited to a scenic item of Dawlish Cliffs . I suppose the clue is in the material name Sandstone! When I compare these photos to the Black HDA Blackpool Glasshouse I was handed on Saturday I just want to weep. So disappointed.

 

Mate, I really don't know why you're so upset over me experimenting with materials. Of course it's got a rougher surface - that being said the prints are less rough than I had been expecting.

 

I'm perfectly aware of different methods to colour, see below previous n scale work with decals. I also haven't ruled out making the E1 models available in FUD or HDA. 

 

Edited July 27, 2017 by bluemattersoda

[rue_d_etropal]

I wonder if it actually works better on the small models. What happens if you give it a liberal coat of varnish.

For me the downside to sandsone is the minimum thickness. I think it might work well for some buildings, but then again some detail is too fine

[JDW]

My first thought on seeing this was "wow", I'm not really into 3D printing myself but follow some of the topics on this part of the forum now and again.  To an extent, I agree with Alan that its a bit fuzzy, that was always going to be the case and I'm sure you knew that.  But I think he's judging it a bit harshly, its a relatively new technology, and as you say, it's an experiment.  The finished result is already much better than I'd have predicted from looking at the drawings.  It will never be a top of the range RTR model, but that's not what you're aiming for, and if I were looking to model something similar, with a bit of refinement I'd be perfectly happy with it - it looks like what it should look like, and I look forward to the finished model!

[bluemattersoda]

Hi Simon, I think I agree that the minimum wall thickness is a problem. It will be difficult motorising using Tomytec chassis in n scale for example, cos there won't be enough room. It's something I will be playing around with though!

 

Thanks JDW for your support! I think I'll make a detail plastic version for those looking at a smoother finish. Cheers!