ben racey

These are looking very nice, great stuff! Regards Richard.

Hi Wild Boar Fell, Latest screenshots show these are looking really good. There's a couple of notes I hope are constructive: Might be better leaving the brake handwheel and coupling hook. From my experience, the are likely not to print to well, and particularly for the hook, you'll want some strength in there if it's to be used - just put a cut out instead so you can thread a 3 link etc coupling through: Some of the panels are showing as 'blue', indicating they are facing inwards, rather than white, as outward - it won't work for printing unless all surfaces face outwards - it will also need to be 1 'shell', you may have some separate shells on the inside of the model, perhaps? Other than that, looks very good, look forward to seeing the printed version! Regards Richard.

Hi Eric, If you've reasonable computer skills, then you should be able to use Google Sketchup, it's pretty straightforward to use - but as with all systems there are quirks. Yes, the book is in 'normal' text, if you can use windows you should be able to get into it. Regards Richard.

Hi Wild Boar Fell, Yes, it's free, Link below: http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/rubyscripts.html A good book to have a look at, If you haven't got it, this is worth a read:Beginning Google Sketchup for 3D printing by Sandeep Singh, some good stuff in it! Regards Richard.

Yes, that's right with Sketchup the min. radius is 0.5mm for a circle. Have you got the 'shapes' plugin, that can allow you to do 'domes' more easily than using short cylinders? I don't tend to try and do rivets myself, preferring to use plasticard, or paper, overlays embossed with any relevant rivet detail. That way the smaller detail doesn't get 'lost' when cleaning up the model once received. Regards Richard.

Hi Wild Boar Fell, Looks really good to me, glad I've helped a little with your designs... re the rivets: bear in mind there are various makes of stick on rivets that you can get these days to help with that. Regards Richard.

Over on platform 12?! I caught the WAG express from Crewe to Cardiff the other week, and waited on that trolley with a coffee and a cake.... most nostalgic! regards Richard.

Given the acknowledged similarity between the leader and 66 diesel as noted earlier in the thread... I had a flash of inspiration of an alternative history where the leader was a massive (export) success, a la the SD40-2 and was exported to the USA and used as power over there.... then had another beer! Of interest is that on an Irish railway Modeller thread is that the frame of the turf burner is in use as a bridge on a golf course 'somewhere in ireland'. How true this is I have no idea - but it's nice to think a substantial part of one of Mr Bulleid's experiments still exists.... Regards Richard.

Here's some links to the relevant pages on 'german steam info' of in cab shots of 18-201 whilst doing her fast run in 1995: http://www.germanste...loco.html#these Other pages as well: http://www.germanste...astestloco.html Including some stuff on 05002 vs 4468. Having had a run with 18201 at the Easter 1994 plandampf, it really is a remarkably fast machine, very soft exhaust beat and not much thrash - but soooo much speed...... Regards Richard.

Interesting, thanks for the clarification on that PhilJW. I guess it comes down to the differences in outlook and planning system in the UK vs France. Here we have a very consultative approach, even for the newts, whereas in France the impression appears to be that it's in the public interest, or seen to be, so get on with it. Our approach is a democratic one which does take everyones view into account (It does, I've worked in it!), but it does take more time to get projects developed than, say, China.... (Where High Speed Rail lines are developing at a massive rate...). Indeed Ron, it will only be a superficial view in a five minute slot, but as I mentioned, the 'anti' views put forward only really came across as 'nimby', points of view, rather than any structured wider view of the transport needs of the country. Regards Richard,

HS2 covered at the start of todays ONE show if you want to catch up with it on the Iplayer. It covered the issue largely from the 'anti' perspective, and to be honest, I don't think they did their views any help at all! Larry Lamb (Gavin's dad from Gavin and Stacey) made an interesting point, which is that in France when yuo buy a house you sign away your right to object to a national/strategic interest scheme - which is an interesting perspective, can you see that here?! Does anyone have any experience of this, is it correct? Anyhow, his vehement support for the scheme pretty much finished the debate, this must be done! Regards Richard.

Hi guys, Just noticed this thread, thought you might be interested in this one in the narrow gauge section of the forum: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/28552-3d-modelling-irish-narrow-gauge-and-zrr-15th-class-garratt/ which details where i've got to with the 3d printing process. Like others, I'm using google sketchup, then running the files through netfabb and cadspan to develop these models. Seems to work well so far. I'll keep updating the narrow gauge thread as things develop. Interesting to see the tank tracks and they really are very high quality prints. As the costs of printers comes down, this technology really will be useful to model some of those more obscure prototypes. I especially think it's useful for modelling carriages, as you always need a fair few of them, they take ages to build and this process can really take the edge off that. Regards for now. Richard.

Hello All, Still getting to grips with the new RMweb, thought I'd add a blog on an Irish project I'm working on. First up are a couple of Photos of a Worsley Works U class 4-4-0 'scratch aid' kit that I've been working on. It's approaching completion, just needs a bit more lining and transfers on it and it's there... for now. It's built to 16.5 mm gauge, though having seen the difference that 21mm can deliver, I'm going to convert it to 'proper' 5 ft 3 inch gauge. My longer term plan is to build a model of Belturbet where the GNR(I) and the Cavan and Leitrim met. If anyone has any photos of the place I'd love to see them (I have most of the published books on Irish Railways and there are plenty of photos in there that I am using for now. Regards