3D printed road vehicles

[rue_d_etropal]

Every so often I need a change, and one challenge modelling non standard scales is road vehicles.

I have been wanting to design some Scammell Mechanical horse vehicles, partly because my grandfather was works manager at Scammells, and the MH was one of his babies. I had already done a cab for the FAR - French version(originally just a licensed version, then developed in its own style). I had some small drawings which could be resized. As it is a small vehicle I resized them to twice the size of O scale.

As the MH3 drawing was at the top of the page, I thought I would start with that. The early version with upright windscreen and no side doors. It is a bit basic, and this is the HO scaled version, so windsceeen frame is a bit thick, but it captures the feel of the MH3. I need more info on the rear end, but for a small scale model is nearly there. There were numerous small variations, dependant on what the customer wanted.

[rue_d_etropal]

Eventually got some printed. Christmas and New Year slowed down the process.

Started with HO scale, but intend to resize them. I never photo 3d stuff till I have given them a coat of paint.

 

From left to right, we have an early 3ton MH,without doors, a 6 ton with doors, the slightly later cab version, then the french version produced by FAR. Then a 3ton and 6ton Scarab, and then one of the post war FAR units. Behind are both 3ton and 6ton trailers. The jockey wheels are separate items, and if having a standing trailer, tey can be fitted, but wheels need to point in direction tractor would pick up/drop off the trailer. Windows glazed using Glue n Glaze, even te large ones,with a piece of cellaphane behind. No interior detail or floors in cabs so easier to paint, and a basic seat could be added.

[FPH 603]

Looks good. I follow with interest.

[Robin2]

They look lovely.

 

Are they printed in a single piece? If not can you post a pic of the components?

 

What are you using to print the parts?

 

...R

[rue_d_etropal]

All printed in one piece. The trailers are one piece, but the jockey wheel is a separate item, which is joined to trailer by a small sprue. This was so trailer could either stand or sit on back of tractor unit. The jockey wheels can then be positioned correctly to suit drection  tractor dropped it off. It seems obvious now, but most models(including the Oxford one) have the wheels folding up in line with the trailer, when they actually line up with the tractor. I was tempted, and might still do it,  producing another set of jockey wheels to sit on tractor , but if you cafefully cut the jockey wheel supports, it should be possible to position them in that position. Not so visible in smaller scales, but something I will do for bigger scales( G1). I really need to get more info on details before i do the bigger scales. With the current design, it should resize down to TT3, and up to OO and possibly 1/55,1/64 and 1/43.5 .

I did manage to get the bigger FAR cab down to N, but not sure about the rest.

 

Printed by Shapeways in WSF, which is why I painted before photographing them. If asked I could offer FUD as well, but I won't do an redesign .

 

Difficulty with any road vehicle is the more complex shapes/curves so I have got shape as close as possible, but still need to do a bit of cleaning up.

[Robin2]

Printed by Shapeways in WSF,

I was hoping you had printed them on your own printer - then maybe I could try something similar on mine.

 

And, out of curiosity, what CAD software are you using?

 

...R

Edited January 11, 2018 by Robin2

[FPH 603]

 Difficulty with any road vehicle is the more complex shapes/curves so I have got shape as close as possible, but still need to do a bit of cleaning up.

That's the exact same problem with recreating any sort of vehicle. I make several attempts to 3D print but the furthest I've gotten is fixing up errors. My interests do change frequently, so I have a bit of a habit to abandon a project in favour of another. Although most times it's the stupid program wreaking the model. There's always some kind of distortion that's going to wreak it all.

[Robin2]

What about getting the approximate shape with the 3D print and then refining it with a bit of elbow-grease and a file or sand-paper?

 

...R

[rue_d_etropal]

I have now been doing this for 5 years, still only use a fraction of what I could do with the software. CAD program is Alibre(Geomagic version). I am on my second version, as I had to buy another copy when I got a new computer.

If I was printing at home I probably would not have time to do anything else. If I did have a printer I would only use it for small simple items, and even then I am not sure it is worth while. My way, I can design items I want, then let others order them from Shapeways. It is a lot less hazzle for me.

I am getting better with curved shapes, but even when software creates something curved, it can still end up as a set of straight edges, so needs smoothing down. An aid to scatchbuilding , was how one editor described 3D printing, and that is how  now see it. Getting a design so it has passed the tipping point means that there is a better chace of a good model being finished. That tipping point is somwhere between kit/scatchbuilding and r2r, and leaves enough for someone to feel they have built something, not just assembled it.

[rue_d_etropal]

Trouble with road vehicles is finding scale drawings. Even when there are any, no measurements are given. Sometimes can work out by finding out wheelvbase, but even that info is not always easy to find.

I have resorted to using some models to help me with designs. I just use them to take a few measurements and design then seems to develop OK. Actually not as difficult as I feared, but body shape cn be tricky.

I wanted some steam road lorries. Some were even converted to rail use. I started with a Garrett, as it looked reasonably easy, and then a Sentinel. The scale for the Garrett was said to be 1/60, so started there. The Sentinel was 1/50. By doing he designs and resizing to a common scale, it would be interesting to see them compared.

Width wize they are virtually the same, suggesing I got the Garrett to right scale. Platform height is alsothe same, but the cab of the Garrett is much higher.That s probably correct.I have seen a drawing for the more rounded cab version of the Garrett, but no scale given. I may have to assume that most lorries from one manufacturer were to same size, using common parts.

 

There is another version of the Sentinel for which I have drawings but no scale given. This is the Sentinel-Skoda produced I think on license. The cab is very similar, but has a more curved cut to the curved front corners(might be difficult to replicate), and there are some kits available in 1/87 scale. One is shown in British livery, suggesting some wee actually sold here. The Skoda version looks like it might be more basic. Photos i have seen show no from window glass, and solid tyre wheels. Quite a few different backs including a bus version, so I might be able to use these to create a British Sentinel. There is also a photo of one to run on rails.

[AMJ]

These are looking good.

 

For many of your future designs during the summer you could visit an old vehicle event. Take a good camera and possibly one of the black and white measuring stick. Asking most owners if you can measure and photograph their pride and joy they will usually be happy to help especially if you offer them a model when completed.

 

Many of the owners club's will have access to or advice who has drawings as owners will need these for restoration.

[rue_d_etropal]

It is surprising just how few drawings there are. I am a member of the Mechanical Horse Society and know that most of the official Scammell drawings were just dumped when the factory was closed. Unless there is someone local, or local group who happen to there at the right time, then a lot of valuable documentation gets lost.

Investigating road vehicles and finding drawings could be a full time occupation, and I am only doing some which interest me.Hopefully there will be others who will specialise in road vehicles.

It is a shame there hasn't been as much interest as for railways. Most of the scale railway drawings have been done for modellers, not historians. THE MH drawings were done for MTI magazine a few years ago. Enough detail for small models, but priobably not for model engineers.

 

Possibly the easiest way to create a 3D print design for a road vehicle, is to actually scan it, so that would only be ones that still exist. Not something I have got into, but sure to be something that will be done more in the future. It is something museums are considering so they can keep valuable originals saf, and have ful sized 3D printed versios on display. Obviously it is then very easy to resize for models.

[rue_d_etropal]

Really need to do more on those steam lorries, but in the mean time I have done a basic body for an RB10 excavator. 1950s cab. The cab and chassis are actually separate items,, so in theory it would be possible to 'motorize' it. Obviosly it would then be fixed to base.

I have not included the boom etc as these vary, and would probably be better made in metal for a working model. Also I don't have enough info on the drawings I have.