5D_Stoke

Thanks for the thoughts about the underframe, I see no reason why the bodies would not fit a BR brake van underframe as the length is the same. I used the GWR one simply because I had about a dozen of them as spares and they have a slightly more antique appearance than the BR versions by Bachmann, Hornby, etc. As you say, you would need to remove the 'concrete' ballast weights at each end somehow, and the body would need to be fixed to the underframe somehow, as the clip-fit tabs are only aligned for the GWR version. It might be a good use for the underframe from one of those old Mainline BR brakevans, on which the body was much too long (they crop up at swapmeets all the time as they look so wrong compared to more recent scale versions). Do give it a go and post us a pic! Mark

Thank you to everyone who has been buying the 4mm scale model 3D printed carriage bodies and seating units. We don't make very much on each sale but it would be very useful publicity if we could hear from anyone who has built and painted one. Pictures anyone? Meanwhile news on the real carriages, on which there is a separate thread at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83566-north-staffordshire-railway-coaches/page-1: First class 228 of 1876 has had a full assessment at Stanegate Restorations and a detailed report is being considered by the Knotty Coach Trust after a site visit in July. Some decisions will need to be made about the restoration to depict a particular era in the life of the carriage, eg the roof profile was changed, as were several fittings and the interior. Once these decisions are made then the restoration can be costed. The grant funding package to fully restore the 1880s Brake Third as the Accessible Brake Coach is in the final stages and it is hoped to announce the go-ahead this month. The completed carriage will be numbered 23, after a lot of research (and some speculation). The underframe has been virtually completed already, by Foxfield Railway's own engineers, it's only finance that needs to be sorted and then hopefully full completion will follow in April 2019. The last chance to ride on the carriages this year is at the Foxfield Autumn Gala later this month.

Thank you to everyone who has been buying the 4mm scale model 3D printed carriage bodies and seating units (see separate thread at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/118949-nsr-4wheel-carriages-in-4mm-scale/).We don't make very much on each sale but it would be very useful publicity if we could hear from anyone who has built and painted one. Pictures anyone? Meanwhile news on the real carriages: First class 228 of 1876 has had a full assessment at Stanegate Restorations and a detailed report is being considered by the Knotty Coach Trust after a site visit in July. Some decisions will need to be made about the restoration to depict a particular era in the life of the carriage, eg the roof profile was changed, as were several fittings and the interior. Once these decisions are made then the restoration can be costed. The grant funding package to fully restore the 1880s Brake Third as the Accessible Brake Coach is in the final stages and it is hoped to announce the go-ahead this month. The completed carriage will be numbered 23, after a lot of research (and some speculation). The underframe has been virtually completed already, by Foxfield Railway's own engineers; it's only finance that needs to be sorted and then hopefully the uniting of a fully restored body with the underframe will follow in April 2019. I'm afraid we don't have drawings readily available but a CAD drawing of he ABC is being followed by the first class 228 - almost finished. Here's two pictures of the two existing restored carriages in the Knotty Heritage Train, thirds 61 and 127, last year, complete with lamp chimneys. They have now carried many hundreds of passengers and, with number 61 dating from 1876 and 127 from only a couple of years later, we think they can claim to be the oldest standard gauge passenger train in regular service in the UK.

That R W Rush drawing is very suspect I'm afraid. There is no other indication (eg diagram book, Stoke Works drawings, photos) apart from Rush's sketch that these 12ft wheelbase wagons existed... Sorry!

One other point to watch out for on these vans is the type of door runner. The photograph of van 114351 has cast blocks which slid on a greased rail, whereas all the others illustrated in "Midland Wagons Vol 1" have wheels at the bottom corners, necessitating a slightly longer rail. I own the body of 8 ton van number 120400, preserved at Foxfield Steam Railway awaiting the fitting of some replacement running gear. I can confirm that was built in 1902 and has cast blocks. I had a new set cast from brand new patterns, because there were only two of the old ones left and they had split. The doors run surprisingly freely on the greased rail despite not being opened many times each year. I also have a full set of door wheels and corresponding rails from another later van broken up for spares, unfortunately none of these bits proved to be interchangeable! I am fairly sure number 120400 is a diagram 362 vehicle rather than early diagram 363. The type of door runner will be very much more obvious in Gauge 3 than in Slaters' 10mm, 7mm or 4mm scale kits so this detail may limit your choice of numbers. Also, one other detail, 120400 had D shaped plates, at least later in its life, though of course if during its service life the solebars were replaced then all evidence of the earlier rectangular plates would have gone. Do please post a photo of the completed van, I would like to one-day build one of these Gauge 3 kits to represent number 120400, maybe before I restore the real one! Mark Smith Foxfield Railway and Knotty Coach Trust

Yes 3D prints of carriages, even four-wheelers like these, do get very pricey. I have done the 22ft NSR 4wheel third class carriage (number 127 in the Knotty Heritage Train) in 7mm scale and cast some in resin but only for my own use, and only two have been test-built so far. I would like to do more in 7mm scale, and have even 3D printed all the components in 10mm scale too, but have not had time to do any more. Plus the building where I do the casting is extremely cold in winter, maybe I'll do some more once spring arrives. Meanwhile I took some 3D prints of the masters for an NSR 20ton goods brake van in 7mm scale along to the AGM of the NSR Study Group today and several members are interested in a short run of resin parts for those. Mark

Models of two patterns of NSR Brake Third and a matching composite are now available in 4mm scale through 3D printer i-materialise. Two of these are slightly adapted to clip-fit onto an Airfix/GMR/Dapol/Hornby GWR brake van underframe. If there is sufficient demand I'll bring out some more versions. NSR Brake Third like the one recovered from Rudyard in 2014: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-1880s-brake-third-body-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=6 NSR Brake Third variant with the guards lookouts at the end (number 24): https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-brake-third-body-no24-4mm-scale-clip-fit-Hornby-airfix-Dapol-chassis?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=8 Seats for either of the above: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4-wheel-brake-third-bodies-interior-seating-unit-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=7 NSR Composite carriage of similar design: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-composite-body-4mm-scale-clip-fit-Hornby-airfix-Dapol-chassis?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=4 Seats for the composite carriage: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4-wheel-composite-bodies-interior-seating-unit-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=5 Again, if there is sufficient interest I have a full brake and hound van that can be uploaded for sale, also to clip-fit the proprietary underframe or will go equally well on a scratchbuilt underframe. I have a five complartment six-wheel third that would require a scratchbuild underframe. Through supplier Shapeways I have also designed and test-printed a one-piece NSR carriage underframe but that still requires some development work on the bearing holes to enable OO/EM wheels to be fitted. they are not cheap, and I only make a couple of dollars design fee on each one, but they do make an unusual and accurate model. There are some 7mm scale parts in development and also one carriage in Gauge 1 but these work out very expensive in scales larger that 4mm so I am hoping to case a few parts in resin from the 3D masters. If anyone has any questions or wants more prototype photos plse post on here. Models of NSR brakevans covered in a previous thread are also still selling on Shapeways (FUD) and i-materialise (Prime Gray) although one variant has been discontinued due to unexplained printing problems, apparently. And if you would like to ride on the two restored full-size NSR carriages, number 61 and 127, their first day running at Foxfield Steam Railway is planned for Sunday 2 April 2017, there will be Trustees dressed in Victorian costume and a sales stand to raise funds for the restoration of the next carriages... Mark

Models of two patterns of NSR Brake Third and a matching composite carriage are now available in 4mm scale through 3D printer i-materialise. Two of these are slightly adapted to clip-fit onto an Airfix/GMR/Dapol/Hornby GWR brake van underframe. If there is sufficient demand I'll bring out some more versions. NSR Brake Third like the one recovered from Rudyard in 2014: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-1880s-brake-third-body-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=6 NSR Brake Third variant with the guards lookouts at the end (number 24): https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-brake-third-body-no24-4mm-scale-clip-fit-Hornby-airfix-Dapol-chassis?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=8 Seats for either of the above: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4-wheel-brake-third-bodies-interior-seating-unit-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=7 NSR Composite carriage of similar design: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4wheel-composite-body-4mm-scale-clip-fit-Hornby-airfix-Dapol-chassis?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=4 Seats for the composite carriage: https://i.materialise.com/shop/item/nsr-4-wheel-composite-bodies-interior-seating-unit-4mm-scale?query=NSR&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=5 Again, if there is sufficient interest I have a full brake and hound van that can be uploaded for sale, also to clip-fit the proprietary underframe or will go equally well on a scratchbuilt underframe. I have a five complartment six-wheel third that would require a scratchbuild underframe. Through supplier Shapeways I have also designed and test-printed a one-piece NSR carriage underframe but that still requires some development work on the bearing holes to enable OO/EM wheels to be fitted. they are not cheap, and I only make a couple of dollars design fee on each one, but they do make an unusual and accurate model. There are some 7mm scale parts in development and also one carriage in Gauge 1 but these work out very expensive in scales larger that 4mm so I am hoping to case a few parts in resin from the 3D masters. If anyone has any questions or wants more prototype photos plse post on here. And if you would like to ride on the two restored full-size NSR carriages, number 61 and 127, their first day running at Foxfield Steam Railway is planned for Sunday 2 April 2017, there will be Trustees dressed in Victorian costume and a sales stand to raise funds for the restoration of the next carriages... Mark

My favourite was the C class 0-6-0, it was the first time I'd looked at GBLs, I could straightaway see its conversion potential and bought three. I've since bought a GCR Director on Ebay which will be equally useful, at least for its tender moulding. The 8F and 2MT were good and I've bought a few of others since, but the ones based on Triang Hornby and Lima originals were disappointing. The one I'd like to see appear, if they ever do another GBL series, is the LMS 10000/1 diesel.

A charming little model but it is that - very little. "Locomotion" looks like it has been scaled to fit the track gauge, which is based on OO ie undersize, not true 4mm scale. I've only put a ruler against the wheels and they are about 12mm diameter, whereas if the prototype is "approx 4 feet" then they should be 16mm. Has anyone else taken a careful look at its scale? Very glad I bought one though, it's very attractive with its chauldron wagon even if it'll be dwarfed by the Aifix "Rocket" I wanted to display it next to.

An update on the 4mm scale LMS 6 wheel van bodies, all four types are available at imaterialise: LMS 6 wheel Milk Van solid sides: http://i.materialise.com/shop/item/lms-6-wheel-milk-body-4mm-scale?query=LMS&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=0 LMS 6 wheel Milk Van slatted sides: http://i.materialise.com/shop/item/lms-6-wheel-milk-van-body-slatted-sides-4mm-scale?query=LMS&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=2 LMS 6 wheel Covered Carriage Truck: http://i.materialise.com/shop/item/lms-6-wheel-cct-van-body-4mm-scale?query=LMS&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=5 BR 6 wheel Cell truck conversion from CCT: http://i.materialise.com/shop/item/lms-br-6-wheel-cell-truck-van-body-4mm-scale?query=LMS&category=all-categories&sortBy=interesting&pageNumber=1&pageSize=18&index=6 Three are available on Shapeways site, I've not added the fourth yet: LMS 6 wheel Milk Van solid sides: https://www.shapeways.com/product/2KMNPCVAQ/lms-6wheel-milk-van-body-solid-sides-4mm-scale?li=user-profile&optionId=41665208 LMS 6 wheel Covered Carriage Truck: https://www.shapeways.com/product/3K3XQMAVU/lms-6wheel-covered-carriage-truck-body-4mm-scale?li=user-profile&optionId=17869348 BR 6 wheel Cell truck conversion from CCT: https://www.shapeways.com/product/HAYLL7LMQ/lms-br-6wheel-cell-truck-body-4mm-scale?li=user-profile&optionId=17869149 I hope to have a couple of fully completed versions to photograph very shortly, using a Brassmasters and a Bill Bedford underframe kit, plus 3D printed solebar and axlebox assemplies that I'll make available. However I have got rather distracted designing some LMS 4 wheel vans in 7mm scale plus a whole series of NSR 4 wheel carriages to fit an RTR underframe, which should also appear in 4mm scale on imaterialise soon. Best regards, Mark (5D_Stoke)

No denying the maths you put forward, but there are far more people reading this thread than just the 61 who follow it - including "guests" who are not members of RMweb...

I agree sadly you're probably right, but a few extra sales are often what make the difference between profit and loss. It is clear from earlier postings that some of the big supermarkets and newsagents no longer stock GBL because they weren't selling enough of them, I'm fortunate that Sainsbury's and WH Smith near to me stock them, and Asda still does too I think. But there must come a time when GBL is not viable, and it would be a shame if that was ultimately because poor quality models resulted simply from duplicating an obsolete original. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed purchasing a few GBLs, I think they are very good value if a decent original has been scanned to make the model, and as others have pointed out they yield useful parts for conversions if that's what you're looking for. The "Brit" was one I was looking forward to but won't be buying if its a scan of a Triang '50/60s effort. Hopefully some of the others on the list of forthcoming models will be created from a more recent original, eg the N mogul and the A1 because that's all that's available. I'm pondering which the Western will be based on as I hope to pick up three or four to repaint; a supplement to this month's Model Rail reminds me there have been 4mm models from Lima, Hornby, Heljan and Dapol, and unfortunately I reckon Hornby to be the most likely basis as they are cheap and plentiful to find. But if anyone from GBL _is_ reading this, lets make a plea for the Dapol one ...!

It's very, very disappointing that GBL have chosen to base a few of their models on such out-of-date versions. I just cannot understand why the GWR Prairie and Pannier were not based on much better and readily available recent offerings instead of crude, innacurate Lima and Triang Hornby. And it looks like the Britannia is going to be even worse - 1950s Triang for goodness sake!!! When GBL have shown what accurate, attractive and useful models they can achieve in examples like the GCR Director, the LSWR T9 and especially the SECR C class, why aren't they all of a similar standard? I have just been buying those GBLs which can reasonably stand alongside recent RTR models or modify into something else, but it must be putting quite a lot of subscribers off as they have no idea of the quality of the model they are going to receive. Surely someone from GBL is interested in customer feedback and reading this thread? If so can they make it known how we might communicate basic things like which RTR models to base future releases on!?

Here's a couple of CAD images of what the restored NSR 1880s brake third will look like, with minor adaptation to make the Accessible Brake Coach or "ABC". There is no doubt this is a restoration using as much of the original as possible, and a huge amount of research, not a replica in modern materials. There's a remarkable amount of original material recovered, including what we dug up out of the ground from where th carriage had sat for 100 years. The Trust's volunteers and a band of archaeologists are returning to the site in a few weeks time, now the weather has improved, to finish off the recovery. Hopefully this will turn up the second threshold plate from the luggage doors (a big chunk of metal like the one we found in November!), plus more door locks and any other useful bits of metal that can be restored. Even more hopefully one of them might have a number stamped on it. The appeal for funds for the ABC is on the Knotty Coach Trust's website at http://www.knottycoachtrust.org.uk/, I've tried to attach the appeal leaflet here but only 1mb attachments are allowed, sorry. Meanwhile I'm posting on here really to highlight that some models will be available in 4mm scale through 3D printing shortly. They cover the Brake Third, a matching 1st/3rd Composite, a Full Brake and the single Hounds Van, all slightly adapted to fit a readily available proprietary underframe. Details will appear here and on the RMweb 3D printing thread. Mark Smith Knotty Coach Trust

I popped back to Sainsbury's after work and bought a third C class, the last one they had in stock. For anyone else inspired by the possibility of a class 159 conversion, here is a three quarter view of number 159 itself, in NSR lined madder lake livery (a lot harder than plain LMS black...). I suppose a 159 could be converted from the Bachmann SECR C class but the prospect of discarding the motorised chassis to substitute one of the correct wheelbase makes it an expensive exercise. Chopping up and detailing a basic £8.99 unmotorised GBL one is much more appealing. Mark (5D_Stoke)

There were a few C class at my local Sainsbury's and having read this forum from beginning to end I invested in two straightaway - my first purchase from the GBL series. Ignored my wife muttering "I don't understand why you're buying TWO". As I mainly model the North Staffordshire Railway pre and post-grouping, this model will convert into a very convincing NSR 159 class 0-6-0. The main alteration will be to provide a chassis of slightly shorter wheelbase at the rear (7'9"+7'9") with a noticable splasher in front of the cab, and removing the sandbox on the centre one. The front footplate may need shortening slightly. The rest of the boiler and the smokebox front are spot on for a 159. Safety valves are fine for the NSR Ramsbottom type but will need changing to Ross pop for LMS era. The tender looks pretty close to a 159 but probably needs more minor modifications than the loco body. Tender needs some toolboxes, NSR axleboxes and coal rails. As the 159s were virtually identical to a Furness Railway class, FR modellers might find them useful too. Although NSR classes were decimated by the introduction of LMS standard classes, a couple of NSR 159s lasted in service until 1936 so plenty of opportunity to have one in LMS black. Here's a photo of 8677. Incredible value at £8.99 and both mine appear to be perfectly assembled and painted. I might just keep them in SECR green for a while... Mark (5D_Stoke)

Prototype photos etc have been added to the imaterialise pages for the NSR brake vans in Prime Gray at http://i.materialise.com/shop, search for "NSR". There are now three types of LMS 6 wheel outside framed van on offer in Prime Gray from imaterialise too. I hope to produce the open slatted fish van variant soon as well. They appear quite expensive but these distinctive vans are notoriously difficult to build in etched brass due to the multiple laminations required so 3D printing is an ideal method. The eliptical roof is included and will need sanding down on very fine wet-and-dry paper but other than that only handrails and buffers need fitting and the body is complete. I am intending to produce a common MR 6 wheel underframe for these vans as well, to suit the Brassmasters cleminson unit, but I need to test-build that combination myself to prove it works... Mark (5D_Stoke)

About 9 months have passed since my last update so I thought I'd bring some news to this thread. 1. Shapeways can print a revised version of my NSR 10 ton brakevan. I've removed the roof as this was the most problematic and vulnerable part, best added from brass sheet to avoid the problem of the ridging and the corners chipping off. The floor and solebar unit has been made integral to the body and the brake handle is now included in precisely the right position so a length of .45mm handrail wire can be threaded up through it and its brackets, glued and then the support sprues can be snipped off. The NSR 10 ton brake van is available in two prototypical versions: NSR 10 ton brake van body with single side window in FUD @ Euro 41.50: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1728463/nsr-10ton-brake-van-body-4mm-scale-single-window.html?materialId=61 NSR 10 ton brake van body with double side windows in FUD @ Euro 41.68: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1728509/nsr-10ton-brake-van-body-4mm-scale-double-window.html?materialId=61 and then I have produced two variants NSR 10 ton ballast brake van body in FUD @ Euro 41.81: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1736376/nsr-10ton-ballast-brake-van-body-4mm-scale.html?materialId=61 NSR 10 ton breakdown train brake van in FUD @ Euro 43.21: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1736563/nsr-10ton-breakdown-train-brake-van-body-ndash-4mm-sca.html?materialId=61 and a completely new model is the later 20ton type supplied by Cravens, also with the brake handle in the correct place and the characteristic double side windows of slightly different design to the 10 ton version, this is a bigger, heavier vehicle but due to some design improvements the model is actually slightly cheaper than the others: NSR 20 ton Cravens brake van Euro 40.29: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1859490/nsr-20ton-cravens-brake-van-body-4mm-scale.html?materialId=61 To the same specification a LNWR refrigerator van body is also available, it's a flush sided vehicle and all the detail is absolutely to scale so it doesn't have the same obvious bulk as the outside framed brakevans do, and the detail could easily be lost if the paint is too thick...: LNWR 8 ton refrigerator van Euro 38.97: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1776119/lnwr-6ton-refrigerator-van-body-4mm-scale.html?materialId=61 Despite what the Shapeways site says about some of these being "First to Try" all of them have been printed at least once, but small improvements made since in some cases. I've discontinued all WSF versions as the detail is not good enough. 2. Prime Gray versions are also available from imaterialise for three of these models, although the surface finish is slightly better than FUD and the cost is lower, the brake handles do not print properly so the modeller will have to make his/her own. As is compulsory with imaterialise, all three have been successfully printed, have a look for them on the imaterialise site at http://i.materialise.com/shop as I can't get the URL's to come up on the home PC: NSR 10 ton brake van body with single side window NSR 10 ton brake van body with double side windows NSR 10 ton breakdown train brake van body I've not re-offered the ballast brake in Prime Gray as I just didn't need any more prints (the NSR probably only had one and I've ended up with three models of it already...) I'm interested in sharing advances in 3D model design and only make a couple of Euros designer fee on each model so if you've fancied a 3D printed model on your 4mm layout do take a look. Several other projects are on the go just now including LMS 6wheel vans and GNR carriages in 4mm, plus NSR carriages in 7mm and 10mm scales but I'll start a new thread for those. Happy modelling! Mark (5D_Stoke)

After about 6 months of DIY and various summer activities, I'm pleased to say the dark autumn evenings have led me to return to 3D design and printing. Thanks for the encouraging messages on this forum and in private e-mails, and especially those who have sent me photographs off-list of the NSR brakevans in the course of construction and finishing. I saw another one today and it makes it well worthwhile sharing the adventures in this new technology for modelmaking. Some updates: 1. Unfortunately Shapeways now seem to be unable to print my NSR 10 ton brakevan and have turned down a couple of orders, sorry, so it now no longer appears in my Shapeways shop until I work on the identified wall-thickness problems - I think they may have changed the FUD spec without me noticing. The ballast brake is still available in FUD (expensive but v detailed) or WSF (much cheaper but don't expect the fine detail and some smoothing of the surfaces will be needed). 2. I remain convinced that Prime Gray is the best material in terms of surface finish, rigidity and economical cost, so I am intending to relaunch the two brakevans with imaterialise now I've calmed down from being messed about (see earlier posts)! I will integrate the floor and solebar section into the rest of the model and remove the roof so the interior is accessible. I have also designed a floorless version but on reflection I prefer Penrhos1920's suggestion to make the roof from brass or plastic sheet. 3. Gave up completely on producing model figures as the technoology is just not up to producing the thin sections needed for fine detail - one to shelve for future years I think. 4. Latest projects include: - NSR KS class Kerr Stuart 0-6-0T in 4mm scale, a WSF test print has turned out perfectly including cab steps, interior detail, etc and I need to now modify it for the Electrotren HO chassis, will post some photos for comment. Aiming to make this available in Prime Gray in 4mm scale, and then maybe WSF in 7mm scale. - RCH CEGB 20 ton tippler wagon bodies in 4mm and 7mm scale to two designs - a 7mm WSF print has turned out reasonably well but it has taken hours to make modifications for it to print in 4mm in Prime Gray due to thickness problems. The 4mm version fits the Hornby/Mainline/Airfix or equivalent kit underframe, 7mm version fits the Parkside Dundas underframe. - Masters for the NSR 4 wheel third class carriage 127 as just restored by the North Staffordshire Railway Rolling Stock Trust - see http://www.knottycoachtrust.org.uk/index.html - this is in 7mm scale to suit the Parkside Dundas RCH 20ton underframe (which it's restored on) or the original design of NSR wooden underframe. I toyed with the idea of making the body available as a single 7mm 3D print but even in Prime Gray that would have been over £150. So I'm sticking to making masters for resin casting as seperate sides, ends, floor, etc. Requests have already been received for 10mm and 4mm scale versions... The main distraction in the last couple of months has been the sudden arrival of a Makerbot 3D research model printer in the labs I manage at work. After a few test prints no-one has been able to print anything useful on it - my first attempt was a 7mm scale platform bench which was a complete disaster. It's a pretty crude minature hot glue gun really, when compared to the technology used by Shapeways and imaterialise, but I'm getting the hang of it and am using it to produce the simpler shapes such as seats for the NSR 4 wheel carriage. In case you're wondering, we bought it to produce disolvable scaffolds for growing human tissues in particular sizes and shapes - so called "regenerative medicine" - not model trains! There's some really good looking stuff appearing on Shapeways now, eg 16mm scale slate wagons, track scratchbuilding bits, whole loco bodies, it's amazing so please do start a thread and let people know how things are moving on, from a designer, printer and builder perspective. Mark (5D_Stoke)

A couple of updates since my last post: 1. I'm giving an illustrated talk at the HMRS Museum & Study Centre at Butterley, Derbyshire on the evening of Wednesday this week, 10 April, and anyone is welcome to attend - see the HMRS website at: http://www.hmrs.org.uk/whatson/details.php?id=1991 This is an opportunity to see some of the 3D printed models, hear about how they were created and ask some questions. I don't prefess to be an expert but will be sharing some of my experiences of pushing the boundaries of this technology for modelmaking mainly in 7mm 7 4mm scales. 2. There have been some serious problems with the CAD file for the NSR 10 ton brake van in 4mm scale as offered for sale in my Shapeways shop. My apologies for this and thanks for your patience if you have tried to order one. Shapeways have found errors in two files I have uploaded for it, although these are only minor changes to files which has successfully printed. Hence I have had to take down the WSF version, and three potential customers are still waiting for their models in FUD to be printed. I will get a printable file reloaded as soon as I can, I have spent several frustrating hours over the last few days trying to remedy the problems, which mainly concern a mysterious breakdown in the quality of the mesh for the flat surfaces of the framing, and the integration of some of the detail parts as separate "shells". There are also queries on wall thickness for the brake handle, and while this has successfully printed in Prime Gray I have reluctantly had to delete it on both the SWF and FUD offerings. It is all particularly puzzling because, as the photos on this site show, virtually identical files have been printed by both iMaterialise and Shapeways already! I think I have now cracked all the problems but still have at least a couple more hours work to do to refix the errant shells. 3. I've been asked whether the 10 ton brake van model could be produced in 3.5mm scale (HO) and the answer is certainly yes, but I will have to fix the basic file first and get it printing successfully in 4mm scale again. The main areas of difficulty in rescaling to 3.5mm are in wall thickness, which for the verandah is already at the minimum spec for FUD, and whether some of the bolt head detail will print or not. As I don't need a 3.5mm scale model myself then if I make one available it will need someone to order a first one and preferably take some photos of it so we can all see the results. The same applies in S scale, as I think I mentioned above, but so far no interest in an S scale version and I'd be the first to admit they would probably be quite expensive. The ballast brake and LNWE Refrigerator Van could also be offered in HO if anyone is interested but I'll only rescale the files and load them up if I have some evidence people might be interested. Hope to meet RMwebbers on Wednesday if you can make it to the HMRS Study Centre, drop Tony Straw there a line if you are unsure how to get there. Happy modelling... Mark (5D_Stoke)

Hi Marbelup, sorry for delay in replying, work got in the way! You have an interesting idea there for maximising quality in prime gray, I'm hoping one day that there will be a material available with the durability and surface finish of prime gray, the detail of FUD, but the low cost of WSF. That day will surely come! In the meantime I have had to come to terms with the fact that I can't use prime gray for most of the models I have designed, as iMaterialise won't budge on their policy about "connected models". Hence I have uploaded three of my models onto Shapeways site and offer them in FUD and WSF. However it should be noted that I have not had them printed in WSF myself (yet) so the only pictures I've loaded up are associated with the FUD prints, which are much dearer that WSF. They are: LNWR 6ton Refrigerator Van - 4mm scale - in WSF Euro 19.42 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/938068/lnwr-6ton-refrigerator-van-4mm-scale-in-wsf.html?li=productBox-search LNWR 6ton Refrigerator Van - 4mm scale - in FUD Euro 49.56 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/877414/lnwr-6ton-refrigerator-van-4mm-scale-in-fud.html?li=productBox-search NSR 10ton Ballast Brake Van - 4mm scale - in WSF Euro 17.36 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/937901/nsr-10ton-ballast-brake-van-4mm-scale-in-wsf.html?li=productBox-search NSR 10ton Ballast Brake Van - 4mm scale - in FUD = Euro 44.45 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/788440/nsr-10ton-ballast-brake-van-4mm-scale-in-fud.html?li=productBox-search NSR 10ton Goods Brake Van - 4mm scale - in WSF Euro 17.28 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/937851/nsr-10ton-goods-brake-van-4mm-scale-in-wsf.html?li=productBox-search NSR 10ton Goods Brake Van - 4mm scale - in FUD Euro 44.22 inc VAT + P&P http://www.shapeways.com/model/877625/nsr-10ton-goods-brake-van-4mm-scale-in-fud.html?li=productBox-search Unfortunate you've not found a way round the lettering problem in Prime Gray, I tend to think raised lettering works best all things considered. My NSR KS class loco project is well advanced but I've got sidetracked experimenting with some 4mm scale and 7mm scale figures in FUD, not yet ordered any but it seems to me the ability to make realistic figures in 3D printing should surpass anything possible by any other method except perhaps lost wax casting. Preiser and others have found some ingenious ways to injection mould figures but with 3D printing there are no limits imposed by undercuts, parting lines, etc. Watch this space for my first experiments! Has anyone else been trying this - there don't seem to be many figures available for sale on Shapeways at all so far. All the best, Mark

Many thanks for the orders that have come through in the last 24 hours for the NSR 10ton Goods Brake Van and NSR Ballast Brake Van. However I am very sorry to have to report that iMaterialise have suddenly taken them off sale and altered the Gallery items to "display only" so no more orders can be placed. This is because the floor and body are connected by four short sprues therefore the staff at iMaterialise in their wisdom have decreed I am trying to get two models printed, ie floor and body, when it is surely perfectly clear to anyone that this is one model?! Apparently iMaterialise classes them as a "connected grouped model" and this deprives them five Euros handling fee. After accepting, pricing and delivering them, their technician Darya mailed me to say "we do not accept connected grouped models for production in Prime Gray anymore. This causes troubles during finishing and the handling cost is paid only once for two models." This is very frustrating and annoying to me and to anyone else who wants one of the Brake Vans but had not yet ordered. It sounds like a money-making strategy to me and I frankly don't believe the point about "troubles during finishing" as they have already printed and delivered several perfectly good examples - I have two on my desk in front of me. I'm assured all those of you who have successfully ordered today will get your models. Meanwhile I'll try to get these Brake Vans reprinted by Shapeways, probably in FUD and WSF, which have different properties and cost/cm2 to Prime Gray. This will probably mean extra time and cost for me, paying for new test prints to be done which I don't really need myself. Clearly Shapeways doesn't think the same, they readily make and sell "connected grouped models"; has anyone else come up against iMaterialise's dogma on this? Ho hum, on with the next project... Mark (5D_Stoke)

Yes, there are the minute remains of some supports visible under the roof so they must have taken some support sprues from somewhere. But not from the upper surface of the floor - that is as perfectly flat as glass. Virtually all the remnants of sprues have been cleared away before it was shipped so it is difficult to see how they've done it. I may see more when I separate the floor unit from the body by snipping through the large supports at each corner under the headstocks. I'll do that after this weekend as I'm going to a meeting of the NSR Study Group on Saturday and want to show exactly what is supplied by iMaterialise. The I'll get on with building this one up into a finished model. That's a good suggestion, I think the raised lettering looked amazing on the Shapeways FUD prints I had made (see earlier on this topic) but in iMaterialise Prime Gray they are not so good due to remnants of some tiny sprues. This would be more important if I was using these particular models for resin casting masters, but not so vital here as these will just be built up as models. I'll experiment with some recessed lettering too. This has been tricky to get right. It's an area where scale dimensions just don't work. Real tongued and grooved boards have only very tiny gaps of about a sixteenth of an inch between them and what we see as a line in a photograph is usually a shadow made by a chamfer at the top of each board to ensure that rainwater running down the face doesn't penetrate each T&G joint. Open wagon planks are also similar but tent to have a bigger chamfer. On a 4mm or 7mm model we like to see a line for each joint and some processes like etching can produce a really over-emphasised groove on a model. Then we apply a few layers of paint, the grooves fill up with more paint than the flat surfaces and we end up with something that looks about right. I've deepened the lines on my NSR 10ton Brake Van since having the first FUD prints made. I initially tried making a proper chamfer 1/2 inch high and 1/4 inch deep but it was almost imperceptible on the 3D print and vanished under some paint. Now I use a 1/2 inch wide rectangular groove 1/4 inch deep and this works fine on some 7mm models I've had done, but is still probably too narrow and shallow for 4mm models. I draw everything full size and then scale down, so it can be difficult to know what the finished effect will be. Changing all the plank lines later is very tedious...! I'm always interested in methods for curved roofs, and boilers, loco fittings etc because it is the stepped nature of 3D prints which seems to be putting some people off designs where the look of the curves is important. Van roofs are relatively simple, I make them a few thou over thickness and then lightly sand them on a very flat new sheet of the finest wet & dry paper. I'll start a new topic shortly on a NSR KS class 0-6-0T body shortly, my first 3D print of a loco and this is will be testing the technology on its ability to produce convincing complex curves. Many thanks for your interest Marbelup, I look forward to seeing your results, Best, Mark (5D_Stoke)

These are photos of the print available now from iMaterialise at Euro 22.61 excluding VAT and postage. It includes the floor unit and a handle to fit onto a wire brake column. The ridges on the roof will sand off easily with a very fine flat sheet of wet & dry. The printers at iMaterialise seem to have slightly thickened the walls around the side windows - I had incorporated recesses inside for conventional glazing but one of the recent liquid glazing products could be used instead. Best, Mark (5D_Stoke)