3D printed road vehicles

[grahame]

Osborns Models have just released un unpainted 3D printed Commer Walk-Thru van in N gauge (1:148) scale: 

 

https://www.osbornsmodels.com/arch-laser-commer-walk-thru-unpainted-47118-p.asp

 

Apparently the model is formed from approx 500 layers so doesn't have a lot of print 'lines' that need a lot of filing/preparation. If you hover your mouse over the image you get a better idea of the printed surface.  

 

G.

 

 

[acg5324]

It certainly looks the part, I need to order a milk float anyway so I think a Commer will be coming my way.  Need to research some liveries.

[grahame]

I order several on Thursday and they arrived yesterday. Here's one just tidied a little with a sanding stick and given a coat of white primer:

 

 

G

 

[acg5324]

Looks better than on Osbournes website. Nice model.

 

A trawl through the Interweb shows several suitable liveries available including WHSmiths. The BR Express Parcels version I found looks like a higher roof version.

[BernardTPM]

4 hours ago, acg5324 said:

The BR Express Parcels version I found looks like a higher roof version.

There were both high and low roof versions.

Edited March 2, 2019 by BernardTPM

[grahame]

Yep, you can see both types next to each other here: https://binged.it/2HfNaL9

 

G

[BernardTPM]

Nice find, Grahame. Also there, the first low roofed version there has the flat front, which means it has a petrol, not diesel engine. The old Efsi 4mm model was that version while the Husky H0 one was diesel, with the 'snout'.

[grahame]

I've finally managed to start getting the glazing fitted to some of my N/2mm RailNScale 3D vehicle prints. The windscreens are less than half the size of your little fingernail and need to be accurately cut and shaped to fit:

 

 

G

[grahame]

I've got some basic colour on the Commer Walk-Thru van. It's rather rushed and basic but was to show that it is quick and easy to get an unpainted 3D print ready for plonking on the layout despite it's small size (just 35mm long). It still needs glazing and for my other models of it that I purchased I'll be trying to add some extra details like roof gutters/rain strips high on the sides, wing mirrors, wire door grab handles and a rear bumper. And hopefully to paint them in the BR white/blue Rail Express Parcels livery.

 

 

G

 

[grahame]

I've not yet glazed the Commer Walk-Thru van but these days I find that, even though the windscreens are tiny (being N/2mm scale), using liquid glazing (Micro Glaze, Crystal Clear, etc.,) seems to end up with a concave finish and sometimes milky finish. Consequently I now try and cut them from clear plastic and glue in place. The liquid stuff is okay for the smaller side windows. But it is tricky cutting and filing the small bit of plastic accurately to shape. Here's my attempt a few cars (somewhat cruelly enlarged and exposing my dodgy modelling):

 

 

 

G

 

 

 

[Mike Harvey]

After being away for a few days I now have had the chance to examine the two Commer Walkthru vans I ordered. I intend to finish one as a Fire Service support van and the hinged back doors will be fine for that one. For the blue/white Rail Express Parcels version the rear door needs to be a roller shutter, and I think that I have a spare of an old 5 thou etch I did for an SNCF 2nd class/baggage car which will fit the bill with a bit of added framing. In both cases I will look at extending the rubbing strakes on the bodyside so that they end just behind the closed cab doors.

 

The quality of the print from Osborn's is exemplary, and as Grahame's posts above show very little work is needed to clean up the print, prior to painting.

[grahame]

It was also my plan to change the rear doors to roller shutters, and fashion and add a rear bumpers, move/replace the indicator ears, and add wire door grab handles, wing mirrors and the high level guttering. But it might overpower what is a tiny model.

 

Having hacked away the back doors (of one of my models) the internal roof thickness makes it difficult to increase the height of the shutter (above that in the pic below) without very tricky surgical carving unless the doors are fitted on the outside. And the material is still quite brittle making cutting and trimming it difficult. I'll probably not bother to hack the other one's back doors although I have trimmed away the rubbing strakes and indicator ears on both to beef them up with new ones.

 

  

G

Edited March 16, 2019 by grahame

[grahame]

New rubbing strakes, gutters, rear bumper quarters and turn indicators cut from plasticard and added. And then given a coat of white primer. The new bits are probably a bit chunky but they'll have to do - they are very small. Hopefully when there's some paint on it they'll look more integrated. 

 

 

[grahame]

Starting to get some paint on it but there's more to do, touching up, matting down and glazing. And the large close up pics are very cruel. I appreciate the BR 'arrers' logo is the wrong size but it was the closest I could find in my stash.

 

 

The tuppence in the pic above and the one on my hand below are to give a sense of size

 

 

 

G

Edited March 18, 2019 by grahame

[grahame]

I'm starting to amass a collection of suitable vans for my planned layout:

 

 

 

Left to right: Renault T1000 (1980-89); 2 x Commer Walk-thru (1961-79?); Renault T800 (1980-89); Mercedes T1N (1977-95) and Ford Transit 1 (1965-86). All are 3D prints (except the Trannie which is a white metal kit). I've also got several others still to do and have done several truck/lorries. However, 3D prints do take a lot of effort and time to finish, paint and glaze. 

 

What is really needed is a range of RTR/RTP bog standard common-or-garden private saloon/hatchback cars in N 1:148 scale for the 1975 to 2000 era (a quarter century period that seem ignored by RTR/RTP companies). ODC have concentrated on the 1950s and 60s and ignored the later 25 year period although they do have some modern 21st century vehicles. But they seem to have just about given up on new vehicles in N/2mm. And Tomytec have also run out steam for producing new models (which are better quality than ODC).

 

G.

[grahame]

I've got some paint on to my third and last N/2mm Commer Walk-Thru van. Next is some sign writing (hopefully I can find some suitable transfers), glazing and final detailing:

 

 

G

 

 

 

[Number Six]

You are so right about the lack of modern (or fairly modern) road vehicles in 1:148! It seems you can get some very nice ODC coaches and trucks but when it comes to cars.....! Someone in my local model shop told me it all has to do with royalties. If a manufacturer makes, say, a Mokka, they will have to pay Vauxhall for the privilege. I don't know how true that is, but I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a really good 1:148 modern (i.e. 21st century) car.

[grahame]

12 hours ago, Number Six said:

 

Someone in my local model shop told me it all has to do with royalties. If a manufacturer makes, say, a Mokka, they will have to pay Vauxhall for the privilege. 

 

 

Sometimes I wonder if that isn't a bit of an excuse - surely they pay royalties on the majority of models they produce. It never seems to be a problem for producing buses, commercials, agricultural vehicles, military types, cars from the 50s and 60s, and boy racer/top end vehicles that ODC churn out. It's really a matter of subject choice. And wouldn't some of the no longer produced car models like Ford Granadas, Capris, Escorts and Sierras or Vauxhall Cavaliers, Novas, Carltons and older Astras have cheaper royalties than current modern types that they do make (like the BMW mini, Jaguar XF and modern Ford Transits).

 

G 

[Number Six]

Yes, it didn't make much sense to me either. I would have though it would make commercial sense to produce a range of up-to-the-minute (or at least fairly recent) 'bog standard' cars - a Qashqai, Mokka, Juke etc etc.. They'd sell thousands I would have thought.

[grahame]

52 minutes ago, Number Six said:

. . . . to produce a range of up-to-the-minute (or at least fairly recent) 'bog standard' cars - a Qashqai, Mokka, Juke etc etc.. They'd sell thousands I would have thought.

 

 

I'm not so sure those could be considered bog standard saloon/hatchback cars - aren't they all SUV/sports crossovers? And probably rather too modern to appeal to a wide period to sell thousands.

 

For me I'm more interested in the quarter of a century from 1975 to 2000 and the motor vehicles suitable for that era. But unfortunately the ODC range gives the impression they think the railway modelling period stopped with the end of steam.

 

Price is another issue. Aren't the ODC N gauge cars rather under-priced these days particularly comparative with the way other models prices (like our trains) have increased significantly. That does make them currently excellent value. An increase could help pay for any royalties and improve quality, and perhaps allow the range to be increased as less of each model would need to be sold to produce the current return/margin. After all a 3D printed N/2mm car costs around £8 to £10 which is about double the price of the ODC RTP ones and the 3D printed ones need finishing, painting and glazing.

 

G 

[m0rris]

On 20/03/2019 at 19:55, Number Six said:

You are so right about the lack of modern (or fairly modern) road vehicles in 1:148! It seems you can get some very nice ODC coaches and trucks but when it comes to cars.....! Someone in my local model shop told me it all has to do with royalties. If a manufacturer makes, say, a Mokka, they will have to pay Vauxhall for the privilege. I don't know how true that is, but I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a really good 1:148 modern (i.e. 21st century) car.

 

Unfortunately though, the cost of 3D printed cars vs ready to plonk cars still kills any chance of 3D printing taking off. The supplies of 1/160 and 1/148 models out there are reasonable prices mean that even at the 3D printing end models don't wash their faces - I have had some common modern cars in my range and uptake has never been more than a slight trickle unfortunately.

[Scottish Modeller]

12 minutes ago, m0rris said:

 

Unfortunately though, the cost of 3D printed cars vs ready to plonk cars still kills any chance of 3D printing taking off. The supplies of 1/160 and 1/148 models out there are reasonable prices mean that even at the 3D printing end models don't wash their faces - I have had some common modern cars in my range and uptake has never been more than a slight trickle unfortunately.

Hi Morris,

 

Modern Road Vehicles in N.......

 

If Grahame hadn't insisted on publicising the models you do on the forums and in the News - I would not have known that you did them.

 

Anyway - now that I know - I have started ordering some of them - I have a long list of 1980's vehicles I need (or want) to obtain!

 

Thanks

Phil H

[Mike Harvey]

I understand that there are three elements to the "royalties" issue. Licensing, approvals and royalties. Licensing and approvals incur monetary and time costs, and royalties incur monetary and some admin costs. A few years ago Oxford Diecast invited people who wanted particular vehicle types to commission their own. Those who tried found that they needed to fund 12000 or so units in a maximum of 4 colour schemes to get off the starting blocks.  Looking across the world car market there are very few modern vehicle types in mass production in any of the N scales, and equally few in the 1970s to 1990s era. Tomytec were a notable exception but even their range is quite modest for the much bigger Japanese market, whereas their bus and truck production is prolific. Add in the 1:160/1:148 dichotomy and the few that exist in 1:160 (like the Wiking Ford Sierra and Capri) get rejected too for British usage.

 

Oxford's former MD was explicit about their position on N gauge vehicles back in May 2015:-

"I get regular emails on N scale suggesting that we are not producing enough. The market is smaller than the other scales, so our decision making is driven by the commercial realities. Our investment in the range continues and by the year end we will have released over 275 items in this range." and
"Those who know me will realise that I enjoy straight talking, so if you are prepared to comment, then you have to take the response. So what I would say is “We are always open to constructive criticism, but if our products are disappointing you, put your money where your mouth is and invest in some tooling yourself. Our releases this year – 17 new moulds and over 100 different liveries, some with additional tool mods." Of course I respect your views and we being in the public eye have to take the rough with the smooth."

Edited March 22, 2019 by Mike Harvey

[Mike Harvey]

Not sure if these have been flagged before. They are sold fully finished by EtchIT, and as plain 3d prints on Shapeways. Of course , they are 1/160 scale but a polite request for genuine purchase might get them blown up to 1/148. The Citroen Ami 6 might fit that elusive no models period.

 

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/3dcerebro?section=1%3A160+N&s=0

 

http://www.easy01.de/etchIT-store/pd-1155833398.htm

 

 

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

 

A little contribution to the thread...

 

I asked on the NGF about suitable plant for British Army use

 

First - Wheeled Loader from Osbournes

 

Second - Bulldozer from Hattons

 

I'm happy with the wheeled loader but the bulldozer is way over scale compared to the Komatsu drawing I found of it.

 

Thanks

Phil H

Edited March 22, 2019 by Scottish Modeller
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