The Great Bear

As you can see from the machine specs Harlequin posted, the XY resolution is 97 microns and the layer height either 50 or 100 microns, the one I got done was at 100. Because of the print orientation, vertical I think, I don't think the smaller layer height would improve things, also then takes much longer to print, and as I believe the one shown took 36 hours that's probably unworkable. I was having trouble getting decent focus on the model so that might make it look a tad worse than it is but clearly not as crisp as the one done by 3d hubs. But that was on a machine I guess costing at least 5x more. Tweaking the design of the ventilator hoods with a bit more exaggeration might bring those details back. The other interesting comparison would be how the finish compares with the Slaters injection moulded ones, but I haven't got one of those to do that. My feeling is it is similar?

Yes that's it. Note the price above is excluding VAT

And would you really want to be in a 700 that long, no table, no charging, no wifi, uncomfortable seats...

Thank you, hopefully this works! So it looks to the public like a politician's threat has got a response and makes Grayling look good, when clearly this has been planned for a while!

Is that possible, even? For instance on my line (East Grinstead) before the peak hour only London Bridge service was class 377s, now they are 700s. Where have the spare 377s released by that gone? (It doesn't seem some of the Victoria services have been strengthened to 12 coaches with these spares so I guess they have gone elsewhere?)

So, reports today say GTR have two weeks to sort things out or lose their franchise, well, contract. To me it rather misses the point based on this thread as to where much of the blame lies, but having a private sector scapegoat suits the politicians, DafT and, ironically, I guess the unions. Given the issue primarily as I understand it (correct me if wrong) is route and traction knowledge for the expanded routes and Class 700s things have got to get better, haven't they? Time rather "nationalisation" would seem to be the thing to fix that...but again it would suit the politicians if their action now magically fixed things!

Latest print of a D45 brake third I've gotten done was by a UK company called Photocentric, a sample of what their LC HR2 printer can do - a machine costing a little under £2k so relatively "affordabe". This was done at 100 micron layer thickness. Not as clean as ones done by Ivan at 3d hubs and less resolution in details like the shell ventilators and door vents, but the small details on the sides, the hinges and door stops have come out, which for me is more important. There is some sign of stepping in the tumblehome but painting will hide this I think well enough. So overall I'm impressed and happy with the print - it's giving me food for thought as to getting a machine like this. That they are built in the UK and so support should be easier than something made on the opposite side of the world is a plus for me. Unlike machines like the Formlabs Form 2, this printer does not use UV light but uses an LCD screen to expose a resin which is daylight sensitive. Hence both machine and resin are more affordable. This coach was printed by Photocentric using their "firm" resin, it's a bit too soft the bottom of the coach is too flexible, if printing again I'd try their "hard" resin. There are other machines using same technology like the Anycubic Photon but their build size is much smaller. Painting of this coach is ongoing... Thanks for looking Jon

Few more of the same train:

Another train with a couple of my Toplights in it: Need to disguise / improve on the blu tack base for the telegraph pole and top up some of the ballast, All the best Jon

As the creator of the model to you are referring I would agree with much of that. Yes, as it stands, totting up the cost of the 3d printed bits and other stuff to make a complete kit adds up to the same as a David Geen kit for instance. For me building a Geen kit to a standard worthy of the kit is beyond my skills and with at the time I started dabbling with the unavailability of the Slaters kits (now supposedly returning) I decided to dabble with 3d printing. I haven't seen in the flesh a completed Geen kit but I have no doubt one constructed well would beat my efforts. Notwithstanding that I would query the point about surface finish. The sides of the resin prints (not the early ones done in SLS nylon or Shapeways FUD) I have got have been smooth and I would imagine would compare near enough with brass. Yes on some there has been signs of banding in the coach ends but I wouldn't see that as being critical. Very much depends on what your looking for. For me and I suspect many other the limitation isn't the standard of the kit but the ability to neatly paint and line it. Which I think builds on sem34090's point. I'm not sure comparing my coaches and printing for something 230mm long is comparable with things 1/20 of the size. It seems most consumer/small business (say £5k or under) SLA printing or similar machines can either offer the very finest of resolutions both in xy plane and layer height or a decent build volume. For the coaches you need the build volume and forgoing the very last bit of detail is a necessary compromise. Enough of this - I was a bit surprised to see my coach in this thread as I'm not really sure of its relevance to what Alan does but I thought seeing as one of my models was being referred to I should comment.

Fabulous

In addition to the liveries above, looking at the Russell books, some appear to have received the all over brown WW2 livery eg a few shots of an E88 compo spring to mind. The problem for the fastidious modeller for the pannelled diagrams is that as I'm sure has been mentioned previously in the thread, in their later lives certainly from 1940s onward many had some if not most of the pannels plated over in a random fashion. Then, later on, some had the the toplights plated over too. With the 3d printed ones I've been experimenting with (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/130385-3d-printed-gwr-coaches-d56-completed/?p=3133192) doing this is pretty easy, not that I've printed any like that yet.

Modelmaster?

A complete kit like the ones I've built so body, interior, underframe, Stafford Road Model Works bogies, Gibson wheels, handrail wire, grab handles, glazing would I think work out at somewhere in the order of £110-120. Around 70% of that being the body, interior and underframe. The Rolls-Royce of kits, a David Geen brass one, is I think £95 plus another £10 or so if you want a better roof. A well built Geen kit would be appreciably better than my efforts I'd imagine (and given the designers knowledge more accurate I suspect). Admittedly my design requires minimal assembly work and a lot less skill. Also the future availability of the Geen kits is uncertain. The better comparison is the Slaters ones, what the re-introduced ones will sell for I don't know, my guess around £60.

The handles, some experimentation shows that 24 no in two rows works out cheapest at just over £16. Noting the comments about rejections and pleased with how they look I have ordered some more and that order has been accepted, so good so far. Regarding offering stuff for sale, I'm flattered that this of interest. This is what I wrote when asked whether they can be for sale in my layout thread. Once again, thanks for the interest shown.

Thanks, both. I don't have the space to use an airbrush nor likely the ability. Also there are the fiddly details like the bollections to get in the way of masking effectively and also needing brush painting. I do not hide that my painting and lining isn't living up to the full potential of the bare models. I think I am getting slowly better. I too would be curious to see what someone who knew what they were doing could achieve with them.

iMaterialise also doesn't add VAT until the checkout process so bear that in mind when looking at their prices too

No problem, Rich. Yes it is hanging basket liner. It was just placed on slopes and then given several goings over with a comb and beard trimmer. The bits of it are still all over the place and are resisting the Dyson - be warned! Most of it was bought years ago now, blimey 5 if not more, and needed no colouring. The last lot I bought of the same brand, Guardsman rings a bell, was a lot paler in colour, not very green so I resorted to painting it, dying it, whatever. See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/26456-marlingford-begbrooke-southbound-freight-and-a-new-name/?p=2158644 and the following few posts.

Thank you. With a bit of experimentation the optimal arrangement is 24 of them, two rows like the attached, that works out as £16.77, 70p per handle. I guess Shapeways didn't know what they were, that the plate was a sprue. Pity given the way they are produced they can't give a volume discount, having made the mould, but logistically I suppose that's a nightmare. Very nice parts you made there.

Thank you. In the meantime I had an experiment with Shapeways' Brass - not sure how it is made, I think by casting? Pleasantly suprised, although not cheap - this lot cost £12. Might be able to cut that down with a bit more design thought, do more at once? Here they are on a coach It is wonky as I drilled out the guide hole too much. The coach is the latest arrival, another C32, from Ivan at 3d hubs. This time I made it clear I wanted 50micron layers and it is back to the same standard as the first one I got, with the hinges and door stops printing. I have also experimented with using PLA for the interior. It doesn't need to be detailed, well certainly if you aren't going to get up really close or light the coach. Rough or what? This was done on an Ultimaker apparently and the hub had good reviews for their prints so I am assuming this is typical of what one gets with PLA? Mind you I made no attempt prior to priming it to try and clear it up. Looking at these photos I might go back and try that. In the dark of the coach it probably wouldn't be noticed and this is the most economical way of getting something which is quite a lot of material and bulky printed; Shapeways to do this part in WSF would charge in excess of £30, Sculpteo less, £21 on their economy plan, but their shipping is much more.

With the layout in a state of being able to run trains rather than covered in junk, here's another one. A 28xx heads south with a class H freight. I've been thinking about changing the station name for a while. I like the alliteration in this one and it is the first name for what eventually ended up being named Kidlington. The weathering of the 28xx didn't go completely according to plan but rescued it I think. All the best Jon

Thank you and no problem, the more info on 3d printing the better! Regarding orders from 3d hubs, I have another coach from Ivan in transit. This has been delayed a bit, Rather than use DHL he suggested using another courier, 4PX. THis was I think due to DHL wanting customs declaration or invoice or something, not completely clear from the message. The declared value of the goods was only $5 but he said EU import wanted to see invoice. I would have been happy to pay the duty due, which I think would be just VAT as would still work out cheaper than getting it done elsewhere. Anyway, how the other courier works it would appear is that they do the international shipping bit then pass on to the Royal Mail to deliver to the doorstep. Not as fast as DHL, but the latest package is now here in the UK and on its way to me, probably arriving today or tomorrow (so a week in transit, still good considering). I will wait and see whether I have to pay any duty. The other issue is that the first print, was the best. On subsequent ones the small details, door hinges for instance, didn't print. On the last coach I specified a 100 micron layer thickness so that may well have been it. The two before that I was too clever I think, in that I put in two orders one for the body and one for the interior with different resolutions. I suspect he got confused and did them all at the coarser one. The one its way to me I specified 50 micron layer and reiterated that so hopefully will be as good as the first one. If not then I may investigate alternative supplier on 3d hubs. The perils of international manufacturing!!!

So here are a couple of the Toplights in action:)

Photos of Stafford Road models bogies as promised: 8' American 9' Fishbelly Both are just as were printed in the Black Strong and Flexible (now Black Natural Versatile Plastic), I see they are now available in what's called White Processed Versatile Plastic which I assumed means they have been polished. That and spray painted may look better than these.

I've been using these from Stafford Road Model Works: https://www.shapeways.com/product/7AZB2W42K/gwr-american-8-bogie-with-boss?optionId=63528891 or https://www.shapeways.com/product/EJDHNJC2X/gwr-fish-belly-9-bogie-with-boss?optionId=63572384 with my "home" made toplights. (I'll try to remember to take photos of the finished product next time I go to the man cave.) Idiot proof one piece, though unlike whitemetal ones doesn't give the weight low down and better riding - though nothing stopping one adding some lead strips to these I suppose if that mattered.