Station canopy support columns - N gauge

[bill badger]

Looking to pick the collective brain please.

 

I'm drawing up plans for a scratch-built station building and integral canopy (for an N gauge layout). At 1:148 scale, the canopy support columns scale down to 1.3mm square by 21mm long (with a lower section of 2mm square).

 

Whilst these columns are tiny and obviously can't show every Victorian embellishment, I want to try and give an impression of the tapering and a flared mid- section. They will also need to support some of the canopy weight (although the main effort will be done by cantilevering both sides through the building (an island platform).

 

I've thought about several options:

 

3D printing - stongly suspect the size won't be achievable (with any degree of strength if a print can be done)

 

Use brass square section tubes and try and overlay / detail in some way, perhaps with some bespoke etches to fold round?

 

Resin casting - can such small objects be cast

 

I think there are some kits for station canopy that appear to include injection moulded items, but then I would be limited by their size & design.

 

Has anyone tried anything like this?

 

All ideas gratefully received.

 

 

[L49]

I would recommend going for the 3d printed option, especially as you don't have to print in plastic. Shapeways ( and I'm sure others too!) will print in brass, with a minimum thickness of 0.8 x 0.8mm. Your 1.3mm square to scale will be well within the material tolerances, and if you have any fine detail to add in terms of fancy brackets, then you could have them etched.

 

Here is the link to Shapeways material page for printing in brass

 

https://www.shapeways.com/materials/brass

 

and a link to the 4mm columns and brackets which I have designed for FUD, just to give an idea of the level of detail which is possible (I know this is 4mm not 2mm, but the process is the same)

 

https://www.shapeways.com/product/ZJC4X9EWJ/8-00-scale-ger-canopy-support-columns?optionId=42699924

 

Hope this might help...

[bill badger]

Thanks for the info; I hadn't realised that things had become so accurate. Looking at the Shapeways site, there may be other materials that would get even more detail; the High Definition Acrylate is one that jumps out, although the brass would be much more robust perhaps. 

 

I'll put together a file and see what the costs work out at for a test print. I wonder if there may be mileage in getting a 3D print in the most detailed material and then use that as a master for resin casting.

[BernardTPM]

Scale Link do some cast station canopy supports, though not quite as tall as you require. Nonetheless casting could be a good way to go if you can make a master.

Edited September 14, 2017 by BernardTPM

[bill badger]

Thanks. Not quite tall enough, as you say, or the right design, but's good to have a fall back if I can't get anything else to work.