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About this blog

I thought I'd start a blog showing my use of 3D prints in building my rolling stock collection.... I found my skill level in scratch building and finishing conversions was sadly lacking when I compared it to the great posts I see on here. So, I thought I'd have a go at designing and printing parts that would make that job somewhat easier! It started with things like roller shutter doors for my support coaches and then replacing bits I'd lose or break and now I am producing complete coaches that don't require a donor for the most part...

Entries in this blog

The prints

Network Rail 62287 UTU2

I have now modelled 62287. I think I've made improvements over 999602 here. I'm just workingout how to print the model. I'm planning on a removable roof, separate coach ends and I have put in wiring chaneels and a decoder mounting position in the tanks. I am really pleased with how this looks:    
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LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Meridian Generic Rail Universal Barrier Vehicles

Having put a fleet of the NVA ex-GUV Motorail vans together I was wondering what had happened to the rest of the prototypes....   A bit of googling revealed: https://www.meridian-generic-rail.co.uk/universal-barrier-vehicles/   I have therefore been working on modifying my NVA to be able to print these.....     I intend to source some dellner couplings for them and am working on the graphics and colour scheme...  
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The prints

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The build

Class 73/9 - development of a body shell or kit......

Someone suggested I ought to have a go at a 73/9 kit. My first instinct is to try to do a full replacement body shell. We will see how it goes!! My first task is to see if I can get a decent shape to the cab - trying to blend the curves and slopes is always tricky when I don't have dimensions, but, the trial is coming along. Haven't made the walls thick enough yet but this is really about getting an acceptable shape for a Hornby/Lima replacement shell:      
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The build

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The prints

Class 37 Noses

I wanted to convert some of my Vitrains models to those that work on test trains today. So, I've had a go at a few:   37025 37610/612 37099   Trial printed: ...and mock fitted:  
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LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Propelling Control Vehicle

Someone persuaded me to have a go at a PCV.... After having to look up what it was I started to put the model together. As these run on B5 bogies I will be designing this around Replica Railways bogies and it won't require a donor....   I have worked on the profiles so far, the lengths of the various sections are just thrown in for now until I can work on the actual dimensions!    
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LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Mk2E Ex-Caledonian Sleeper BUO - crew coach

Another one that I couldn't find to complete my rake for a test train. This one is designed to replace the sides on a Hornby donor mk2e, cutting out the original sides and replacing between the end doors. The glazing is modified and re-used.   Sides have to printed in 2 pieces, using the middle door as the join line,    
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Mk2F DBSO Conversion

I wanted to do a fleet of these DBSOs - modelling the differences in the prototypes as they run today. I was somewhat phased by the amount of work involved in doing the conversions but, I thought, printing all the parts so that they would go together pretty cleanly using existing moulded shut lines would make things easier.   I created kits of parts for each variant:   9701/9714 in Network Rail with generator and the UV lamp front brackets 9702/9703 with the wider cen
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LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Rail Operations Group Mk2 Translator Coaches 6330 and 6346

Someone reached out to me to see if I could help them with a model of these MK2 barrier vehicles. I looked a the various RTR models for a base but in the end took the plunge to design and print one complete. This is designed to run on Replica Railways B4 bogies and is printed as 2 parts with integrated chassis. I have modelled both vehicles - one a former Mk2A BFK and the other a Mk2A BSO - with the different window/compartment spacings and the different plated window styles. A simple glue toget
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The prints

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The prints

Network Rail NVA ex-Motorail GUV

I'd been looking to create a full protoypical rake for my test trains and was completely unable to find anything that I could really work with to do this ex-Motorail car. So, I thought I'd have a go and making from scratch....       I am really pleased with the result. The body and chassis are both 2 parts and are printed separately and glued together. It is designed to take Replica Railways B5 bogies.    
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The prints

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The build

How to glaze Mentor - maybe it's becoming clear

I decided to try and print the windows. I used translucent resin. Once printed, washed and cured the resin is heavily opaque..... at least the lavatory window will work!   However, I have experimented with sanding the surface back and then dipping the window in a thin clear varnish. I think it will work with a bit more practice......
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LMSfan72 in The build

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The build

Mentor takes better shape

The body is glued and the interior was painted. The interior is printed in filament rather than resin so the finish isn't as smooth but I think it works.... Nuts are positioned in the interior to be able to bolt the chassis to the body - I had originally intended to glue the whole assembly together but if this works it's obviously more flexible!   I picked up the crew to check they can see out the observation window      
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The build

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The prints

975091 Mentor post-2016 livery

I decided to design a printable Mentor coach to add to my growing Network Rail collection. I used a Bachmann Mk1 BSK and a lot of google searching to work out the dimensions and over many hours got a design together..... then I had to section it for printing and work out how it would go back together. It's been a very iterative process but I now have a set of parts that I can print. 2 main body halves with the detail printed in - including roof mount spotlights that will take 1206 LEDs a
LMSfan72

LMSfan72 in The prints

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