Modelu Figures & Component News

[Modelu Chris]

Happy Friday everyone!

 

We have had a busy week this week with the first batches of water cranes being shipped off and more new products incoming. I may drop some images over the weekend of a couple of bits we have been up to that I'm sure will interest you all! Before that though lets get on with another newsletter...

 

Last month we released our first Cameo Pack of 3 figures for our Modeller of the Month Competition, the winning image being from Steven Draper.  Following on from the success of the first pack we've added 3 more to the range.  These packs are at 33% off the individual figure price so are an ideal option to add some interest to a scene in your diorama or layout.

They feature a pack of 5 childen, a pack of 3 people in some sort of situation (use your imagination!), and 3 people shopping.  We love to see the stories people create with our figures, so please remember to share your scenes with us to be in with a chance of winning a £25 voucher and Modeller of the Month!

 

 

 

 

We've added two new packs of cats and kittens to our range of animals.  The packs feature a cat walking on a wall/fence, cat drinking milk and two cats together.  The kitten pack features two kittens playing, a kitten and ball of wool and a cat and kitten together.

 

 

 

 

That is all for now, although I only work Monday to Friday I do try to be a responsive as possible out of office time for you all. 

[BenL]

That’s the need for a station cat sorted!

 

Is specifying the lengths of the GWR water crane arms still in hand, I haven’t seen them on the website yet but may be looking in the wrong place?

[Modelu Chris]

4 minutes ago, BenL said:

That’s the need for a station cat sorted!

 

Is specifying the lengths of the GWR water crane arms still in hand, I haven’t seen them on the website yet but may be looking in the wrong place?

 

We now have 3 different cat bundles you can choose from, or treat yourself to all 3 if you want to move them around from time to time.

 

The water cranes are live on the website, please see link below:

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/detailing-components/water-columns/

 

We will get some measurements sorted out next week for you. 

[Hal Nail]

1 hour ago, Modelu Chris said:

 

 

I appreciate this isn't quite the point of the post but that's a nicely subtle weathering effort on that terrier.  

[Modelu Chris]

5 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

I appreciate this isn't quite the point of the post but that's a nicely subtle weathering effort on that terrier.  

 

It's all part of the image that won, fully recommend looking up Terrific Trains on Facebook or Instagram to see more of his work. He has recently started moving over to O gauge from OO.

[Modelu Chris]

Good afternoon all, with all this rain recently we would love to cheer you up with a newsletter from Alan! 

 

We've had a busy month thanks to the wet weather, with new product developments, new collaborations and piloting our Patreon subscription.   We've also been working on upgrading our 3D scanning capabilities and looking at photogrammetry.

Photogrammetry is a widely used method of 3D scanning using overlapping photographs of the subject taken from different angles.  Whilst this can be achieved using a single camera or even your mobile phone, using multiple cameras at the same time allows for almost instantaneous 3d scan capture.  This is a capability I've been looking to achieve at Modelu almost since I started back in 2015.

In pursuit of this goal we visited a company in Amsterdam who use a portable 3d scanning rig.  Scans take a few seconds to capture and we were shown samples of scans of young children, pets, or whole families together.   For now we are still looking at options, but all being well this could be the future of our scanning at Modelu and exhibitions.

 

 

We're excited to announce that after a successful pilot our new Modelu Patreon subscription is now live!  Patreon is a subscription based service where subscribers receive a monthly download of 5 figures to print on their own 3d printers.  As well as 5 monthly figures, new subscribers can also choose from 1 of 7 welcome packs to get another 5 figures to get them started.  Each month we generate a poll where subscribers can shape the type of content they will receive in the monthly release.

As well as our subscription service, we've also added a new STL Store to the Modelu website where you can piurchase packs of figure STL files without becoming a subscriber.  Subscribers get a discount on the STL Store as part of their benefit package.   For more information see our Patreon page or drop us an email.  Please note that printing of the figures is for personal use only.

 

 

We're pleased to announce Yarmouth Model Works will be the first stockist in North America to stock our figures.  YMW will be stocking our North American range in HO and some 1:48, though you will be able to order anything from the range.  We are hugely grateful to Pierre Oliver for facilitating this!  Thanks to Hunter Hughson for the super promo shot.

 

In a new monthly feature we pay a visit to Dan Evason's busy figure painting workbench.  Dan has been professionally painting Modelu figures since taking it up full time in lock down and offers a complete figure painting service, alongside commission work of buildings, dioramas and layouts.  You can also see his monthly how-to articles in Hornby Magazine,

This month has seen Dan painting a 1/12th Ghost Buster figure after a chap visited us for a scan in the Spring, alongside couples, children and retirement gifts!  Variety certainly is the spice of life.

If you are interested in getting your figures professionally painted by Dan, you can view his prices and get in touch via our website or Dan's Facebook page.

 

 

We're pleased to announce the first of a new series of collaborations with Rapido.  The first of these is a set for the new SECR 6 Wheel brake van.  Set includes a guard (Andy Hardy himself!), two side lamps and a tail lamp with 5 red and 5 clear 3d printed lenses to fit.  Shown here painted by Dan Evason.

Look out for crews for the beautiful new LMR Lion, GWR 15xx, LNER Dynamometer Car and more in the coming months.

 

 

Thanks to the staff and volunteers at Sheffield Park station we will shortly have a new range of figurines suitable for pre-grouping and grouping era layouts.  These test prints show LBSCR station staff including Station Master, Signal Man, Ticket Inspector and Porter.  Look out for news of their availability next month.

 

 

 

[Modelu Chris]

We've added a 12 pack of seagulls for your seaside and dockside scenes.  The pack includes 5 seagulls on water, 5 standing and 2 flapping their wings.  Available in all scales via the website.

 

West Hill Wagon Works have kindly given us a number of their superb depot interior detailing kits for us to make bespoke figures for.  The first of which is this set for their Wagon works 15ton Lifting Jack.  The pack features 3 operators wearing boiler suits and bump hats and hard hats.   Thanks to Chris Field from the SVR for his assistance in creating the scans.

 

 

Whilst Chris visited us to capture the lifting jack scans, we also created a number of new fitter and shunter poses for modern image depots.  These two new packs feature fitters inspecting, using a torque wrench and at rest, and a shunter pack featuring a shunter calling on with bardic lamp and a shunter using a radio.

 

 

Thanks to feedback from a number of customers we've updated the straight arm water crane design.  We've now added a bolted flange version as well as the earlier (pre-1900?) filleted type flange as per the GWR engineering drawings in the GWR Journal.  

 

 

August sees us return to Didcot for the first time in a year for a 2 day new product scanning session! On our to do list will be a figure pack for the forthcoming Kernow Rail Motor, Edwardian passengers, Rapido 15xx and 45xx crew and a wealth of new shed and depot details.

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by Modelu Chris

[Tim Dubya]

4 hours ago, Modelu Chris said:

seagulls

 

Mate, Chris Packham's on his way 'round!

[Bucoops]

12 minutes ago, Tim Dubya said:

 

Mate, Chris Packham's on his way 'round!

 

Do they have a chip in their beak? Modelu is famed for realism after all.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

You've been had, it's a shower cubicle!

 

Mike.

 

[Hippel]

Nah, it's a transporter from the USS Enterprise.

 

Paul

[MrWolf]

Or the brain pattern machine from Joe 90.

[Modelu Chris]

We have a couple of days at Didcot Railway Centre, really excited with what we can add to the range! 
 

[Modelu Chris]

Happy Friday all, we hope you are well. We have some updates that may interest you regards to our Patreon!

 

Our new Patreon subscription service has been running for almost 2 months and we are approaching our 3rd release of figures.  So far subscribers have been able to download packs of workmen, mechanics and our September release features seated passengers suitable for the 1930s-1960s. 

Hobbyist, Creator and Creator Pro tier subscribers can choose from 1 of 7 welcome packs to get them started, each including 5 themed figures,  along with the monthly download of 5 STL files.

Our popular Creator Pro tier allows subscribers to suggest a theme for each months figure development and their contributions are then open for voting by Creator and Creator Pro tier subscribers.  This allows the Creator/Creator Pro tier subscribers to shape the content they receive, ensuring that they are getting the maximum return on their subscription.

For more information on our subscription tiers and benefits see below!

 

If you are interested in becoming a subscriber but don't own a printer, this is a great article which reviews 5 of the most affordable MSLA resin 3D printers.  Any of these would give you a fantastic start in the world of 3D printing and would be ideal for printing the STL's from our Patreon subscription.

https://www.3djake.uk/info/guide/5-affordable-entry-level-msla-printers?mc_cid=61843fac24&mc_eid=cfb4438c1e

 

As well as accessing STLs via our Patreon subscription you can also purchase files without having to subscribe, or if you are a subscriber you can purchase the other welcome packs or monthly releases that pre-date your subscription using your discount code (see below).

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/downloadable-models/?mc_cid=61843fac24&mc_eid=cfb4438c1e

 

This chart compares the prices and benefits of our subscription tiers, please see below for full details.  Please note that you can change tier at any time.

 

The £3/pm Patron tier subscription is for those looking to make a start in 3D printing without a big financial commitment. You'll receive a single free figure to print at home as part of your subscription.

It is also a way to help us at Modelu to keep pushing the boundaries and provide new content each month.

 

Patron Tier Benefits:

1x Welcome Figure STL File

5% Modelu STL Store Discount

Email support

 

The £7/pm Hobbyist tier is aimed at people with their own 3D printer. This tier allows access to one of our seven period themed Welcome Packs which include 5x figures to get you started printing your own miniatures. You'll also gain access to our Monthly Digital Release of 5 figures.

Hobbyist Tier Benefits:

Choice of 1 of 7 Welcome Packs with 5x figures

Access to Monthly Digital Release of 5x figures

10% Modelu STL Store Discount

Email support

Our £10/pm Creator tier is aimed at those who wish to have a more interactive relationship with their subscription. As well as a choice of one of seven themed Welcome Packs and our Monthly Digital Download of 5x figures, you'll be given Voting Rights to shape the way Modelu Patreon content is created!
As a welcome promotion, we'll also give you a single use 50% discount off the previous digital releases and welcome packs via the Modelu website.
Your subscription at Creator level is also much appreciated, so you can expect Loyalty Rewards in the form of exclusive figures at 3, 6, 9 and 12 month anniversaries!

 

Creator Tier Benefits:

Choice of 1 of 7 Welcome Packs with 5x figures

Access to Monthly Digital Release of 5x figures

Single use 50% discount for Modelu STL Store

15% Modelu STL Store discount

Exclusive Loyalty Rewards at 3, 6, 9 and 12 month anniversaries

Voting Rights on new content

Access to Modelu Discord channel

At our £15/pm Creator Pro tier, as well as all the benefits of our Creator tier, you'll be included in our design and development discussions and have a unique opportunity to shape the content you will receive each month! This includes interactive 3d scanning sessions at our film & TV costume hire company, along with the chance to get yourself 3d scanned at our premises in Bristol or at an exhibition we are attending.

 

Creator Pro Tier Benefits:

Feedback on product design and development

One free 3D body scan at our Bristol Studio or an exhibition we are attending

Choice of 1 of 7 Welcome Packs with 5x figures

Access to Monthly Digital Release of 5x figures

Single use 50% discount on previous Digital Releases & Welcome Packs via the Modelu website

20% discount on previous Digital Releases & Welcome Packs via the Modelu website

Exclusive Loyalty Rewards at 3, 6, 9 and 12 month anniversaries

Suggestion & Voting Rights on new content

Digital Commissions

Access to Modelu Discord channel

[Modelu Chris]

With it being a bank holiday this weekend we are also delighted to say we have a sale off everything on our website! Please see the image below for the details!

 

 

[The Fatadder]

Re the patron STL downloads, is any advice given as to how to add supports  to them in order to get the optimal results?

[SteveM666]

37 minutes ago, The Fatadder said:

Re the patron STL downloads, is any advice given as to how to add supports  to them in order to get the optimal results?

The Patreon downloads provide three files for each model - one without supports and two with supports already in place. These are already optimised for O and OO.

[PeteN92]

I've signed up to the new service and have been having a play.

A little fettling with the settings on my elgoo mars and I've had results with this lot, will be intrigued once I've got some paint on to compare them with modelu's own as id assume they have a higher quality printer than myself. 

 

 

I've now downloaded some more and with my 50% off code so some railway workers will be getting printed next as well as the imminent September sitting figures release which I think will be very handy for populating coaches. 

 

Cheers 

 

Pete 

[SteveM666]

Paint definitely helps.😉

[Modelu Chris]

Great to see your printing of our figures at home! As mentioned the figures come with some sprues already. For anybody struggling with other scales we do recommend giving us a message and I'm sure we can offer some advice. 

[Modelu Chris]

Good morning everyone, apologies for the delay but please see the newsletter below that was released last week:

 

SYLVIE ALICE BUTTLER

I'm very happy to announce that our second daughter Sylvie was born on Thurdsay 26th August happy and healthy.  We are home now and getting to know our little girl who her big sister Margot already adores!

 

August has flown by as I've been completing and handing over projects whilst preparing for my paternity leave. Our new product launches this month would not be possible without the relationships we have with some of the big manufacturers.  We are hugely grateful to Accurascale, Rapido, Kernow and Heljan who share with us engineering prototypes and CAD for forthcoming and released models.  This gives us an enormous help in designing bespoke figures for their products, which add the finishing touches to what are already fantastic products.

We are also extremely grateful to the volunteers and staff at heritage railways that give their time to help us develop these figures.  The combination of their expertise and the CAD from manufacturers that make the process of creating new poses more enjoyable than ever.

 

 

At Modelu HQ, we bid farewell and good luck to Ed as he moves on to a new design job.  Ed joined us in June 2022 as part of the UWE internship programme and stayed on as a full time employee focusing on CAD and scan editing. 

Ed's skills helped take our capabilities at Modelu up a few notches including working on design commissions, complex scan customisations and posing for many of the scans in the range. 

Thanks for all your hard work Ed, you'll be missed and the best of luck in your new role!

 

 

Dan popped by to see us last week after working on a client's layout in Bristol.  He's had a busy month with a workshop move and an impressive O gauge layout commission.  Of the figures we sent to Dan this mornth, this pair was notable being a wedding cake topper for their cake.  As usual Dan has done an incredible job bringing the figures to life.

If you are interested in getting your figures professionally painted by Dan, you can view his prices and get in touch via our website or Dan's Facebook page. (Tunnel Lane Model Railways)

 

 

Thanks to Thomas, Leigh, Alastair and Laura we had another successful scanning session at Didcot Railway Centre.  Our focus on this trip were bespoke crew for Rapdio and Kernow products and coaling stage detailing components.  Look out for tender and tank engine coaling tubs and coaling stage ramps being added into the range soon!

 

Crew and Passenger packs will shortly be available for the beautiful Kernow GWR Railmotor.  Firstly our crew pack features driver, fireman and guard, pre-cut to the right height to fit the false floor in the unit.  Our second pack features 5 passengers in Edwardian clothing pre-cut to the seats and floor.  Both these packs will be available un-cut for other scales or kit built versions. 

We've a long list of people to thank for this one and it's been quite a journey - ever since I happened to be at Didcot on the day the railmotor was 3D laser scanned long before I dreamt of Modelu.  Firstly thanks go to Graham Muspratt at Kernow for loan of a unit and interior CAD which enabled us to make the precise cuts in CAD before printing.  And from the Didcot Railway Centre thanks to Leigh and Alastair who gave us access to the real Railmotor.  And finally thanks to Thomas and the volunteers at Didcot for dressing up in their Edwardian clothing on a balmy afternoon in July!

 

 

[Modelu Chris]

(Newsletter continued)

 

Thanks to Rapido we are pleased to announce a new crew pack for the LMR Lion.  The pack features driver and fireman depicted in 1930s uniform as worn for the LMR Centenary celebrations.  Look out next month for the Victorian style uniform version as worn in the Rainhill Cavalcade in 1980.  We'll be also taking the opportunity to create a new range of Victorian crews!

 

Thanks to volunteers at Didcot we have a new crew pack for the forthcoming Rapido 15xx.  Pack features driver and fireman designed with the assistance of Rapido for a perfect fit in the cab.  Look out next month for the NCB crew versions

 

Designed for the Rapido GWR Toad but suitable for any model or scale, our new GWR Toad Brake Van Pack features a goods guard, GWR tail lamp, two GWR side lamps and a guards bag.  The lamps are provided with 5 white and 5 red 3D printed clear lenses to fit.

 

 

Thanks to Chris' boys we've 3 new bundles of school kids/train spotters in the pipeline! Here are a few snaps to give you a taster  scanned in 50s/60s school uniform and casual clothes from the 1970s/80s. We even used the boys' granddad's spotting books for extra realism! Look out for these in the Autumn.

 

 

[Bucoops]

Congratulations to that part of the team ;)

 

And more great products, top notch.

[big jim]

1 hour ago, Modelu Chris said:

 

 

 

loving that mermaid fishbar, had many a chippy tea from there back in the early 80s when my great grandma had a flat above it after downsizing from one of the big Victorian houses on the front 

[Modelu Chris]

3 minutes ago, big jim said:

loving that mermaid fishbar, had many a chippy tea from there back in the early 80s when my great grandma had a flat above it after downsizing from one of the big Victorian houses on the front 

 

It was made by Dan from Tunnel Lane a few years ago. Takes pride of place in the office with Alans love of Barmouth.