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All that glitters is.....Brass! GLR Models PKP Px48 build continued.

46444

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Work has continued on the GLR Models 3D printed PKP Px48 kits today.

 

As I've mentioned previously these 3D printed kits are like a blank canvas and offer many variations in the level of detail you want to add. In this case and as with many Continental locos it's going to be pipeworktastic but for the time being I thought I'd concentrate on getting the main work done on the body prior to adding handrails and pipework.

 

As with any 3D printed kit there are limitations to the level of detail that can be portrayed and also the finesse of the detail. Richard has designed a brilliantly thought out kit but one area I thought that could be improved is the roof of the cab and tender cab,

 

I carved off the rain strips from the cab and tender and made smooth. In this case Shapeways have used a really hard nylon to print the kit and it's not the most easiest of materials to cut. Also on the cab I removed the overhangs from the front and rear of the roof and bevelled the edges to the rear of the tender cab.

 

Thankfully in my drawer of 'bits' I had some brass sheet of various thickness and have made new roofs up for the cab and tender. Having cut the brass sheet to shape I scored the edges from behind to facilitate bending the tight curves that meet the cab sides, I then rolled the brass on a couple of sheets of kitchen roll to get a curve, followed by bending the edges with the handle of a needle file. The centre part of the roof is held in place with Blu-tac for the time being.

 

Here's the close ups testing the ability of my HTC's camera:

 

blogentry-7584-0-29122600-1386451763_thumb.jpg

 

blogentry-7584-0-34883600-1386451793_thumb.jpg

 

Nothing is fixed at present hence the 'wonk' of the new parts. I made a front vent up from scrap brass sheet and the rear vent is a piece of 60 thou plastic sheet sanded accordingly. I've also marked four points on the roof to add the lifting eyes as well. These will be applied once the roof is glued into place.

 

I've also added some etched chequer plate to the footsteps sourced from Mainly Trains and added two brass overlays to the front of the loco beneath the firebox door.

 

blogentry-7584-0-10133100-1386451718_thumb.jpg

 

You'll also notice I've cut away the rear of the coal bunker and this will be replaced with a vertical back piece made from plastic sheet. Looking at photos of my prototype locos these had this style of bunker with the slope sides continuing towards the rear.

 

Also with the tender I've opened up cut away to the front of the tender cab to take it to the point where the roof meets the tender side. Beading will be applied to this area as well.

 

blogentry-7584-0-90640500-1386451736_thumb.jpg

Quite a productive session really, although there's a long way to go yet and I've a second loco to be getting on with.

 

However, I'm really enjoying this build and I look forwards to seeing them run on some 'static grassed' track with a couple of Rollwagens and a green PKP bogie brake van.

 

I'm away for a few days now so no further progress until Thursday.

 

Na zdrowie,

 

Mark

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Fenway Park

From the photos there are distinct lines in the boiler barrel giving the impression it is not completely circular. I presume in real life these are not visible from normal viewing distance. 

 

Looking forward to the project developing as the work so far is excellent.

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  • RMweb Gold
46444
  • RMweb Gold

From the photos there are distinct lines in the boiler barrel giving the impression it is not completely circular. I presume in real life these are not visible from normal viewing distance. 

 

Looking forward to the project developing as the work so far is excellent.

 

Hi FP,

 

Totally agree with you.  

 

This is one of the problems with 3D printed kits and not down to the design of this kit in particular.  

 

Because the plastic is an hard nylon it isn't very responsive to sanding etc. Even filler primer doesn't eradicate the lines.

 

In this case I think it's a case of accepting the limitations of the kit and making the best of it.

 

There will be a lot of pipework on the sides so hopefully this will draw attention away from the boiler itself.

 

Thanks for the comments too.  At the moment this or scratch building is the only way to go to get a Px48.  Eventually I would imagine the likes of BEMO will produce a RTR version but this would be in the

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  • RMweb Gold
Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

Hi Mark, this is coming along very nicely, I think. Amazing what a difference the brass has made already. I like the idea of seeing 3D models as "blank canvas" as you say. It means each loco will be a little different.

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  • RMweb Gold
46444
  • RMweb Gold

Hi Mark, this is coming along very nicely, I think. Amazing what a difference the brass has made already. I like the idea of seeing 3D models as "blank canvas" as you say. It means each loco will be a little different.

 

Thanks Mikkel.

 

It's interesting you mention each loco will be a little bit different.

 

On NGRM there's about 5 of these kits on the go from TT-009 scale plus a scratch built one so it will be good to see how people approach their builds.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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  • RMweb Gold
bcnPete
  • RMweb Gold

Some nice enhancements there Mark :good:

 

Once that mist coast of grey primer has been added it may give further clues on the final finish and your excellent painting and weathering skills will have that in hand...

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N15class

I think if you cannot eradicate the printing lines the finish to me would be unacceptable. There are other materials and methods that give the correct result. We are  after all to to copy the prototype, just because an idea is modern it does not mean that it will do everything. This is obviously the wrong material and method for this job.

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  • RMweb Gold
46444
  • RMweb Gold

Kind of agree with you there. Like I said previously I think 3D printing asit's limitations and in an ideal word this kit would benefit from a multimedia approach. 

 

However, what it does give is a cost effective means of producing a Px48 and I'm sure the,finished article will demonstrate this.

 

 

Thanks once again.

 

Mark

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  • RMweb Gold
46444
  • RMweb Gold

Some nice enhancements there Mark :good:

 

Once that mist coast of grey primer has been added it may give further clues on the final finish and your excellent painting and weathering skills will have that in hand...

 

Thanks Pete,

 

I'm pleased with how things are progressing.  

 

Once this lot is all glued on I'll start on the spaghetti of pipework :O

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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