spsmiler

Quite why the processing fee has to be added as an extra beats me - it should be included in their basic charge for the item What peeves me is that prices start in US$, then switch to €Euros and finally £GBP. This must increase the final cost too? To get around the VAT (and possible import tax) issue I delayed my purchase until they had a special cyber Monday offer that (this year 2023) includes multiple purchases and both discounts and free shipping (based on order value). For a 3 coach MU train I am making several purchases which must be treated as different purchase orders - as otherwise the courier (UPS) will see the combined package value and assume that VAT has not been charged ... and charge it again! Plus add their brokerage fee. This actually happened to me (just the once!) and whilst Shaepways refunded their VAT charge I still lost out because the UPS VAT fee included tax on the VAT element of the Shapeways invoces.

With print at home buildings you can print as many copies as you like - and this means that if kit bashing and you get it wrong you can just reprint and start again. If every print attracted a reuse fee then the attraction of buying that print download would be minimal.

I do exactly the same - model trains, mostly the somewhat coarse versatile white nylon but some items (eg: London Underground signals) come in a better quality plastic which shows fine detail better. Shapeways have a new nylon material which is somewhat cheaper. I've not yet used this but am about to buy something in it. Tyneside Electrics carriage (third rail). I am hoping that this does not have the visible layering marks that are often seen on the versatile white nylon items. Generally I've had great success with Halfords paints*, but models painted with one rattle can of white primer have given me grief because the top coat paint flakes off. This is with both Shapeways 3D printed items and Radleys resin items. *) Halfords paints are OK but not their shop staff who said I should be buying toy shop paints because I was unable to quote a car make and model for a certain colour paint ... and I told then what I will be using the paint for.

As an aside, I've just made the purchase from Shapeways that I mentioned earlier in this thread (9th October) - they have a two day cyber Monday offer which offers both discounts and free carriage based on order value. Because of the free carriage and risk of import duty (VAT I expect to pay) I am buying items individually, as three purchases. They also have a new (and cheaper) basic nylon material and I'll say more about this in the thread about 3D printing.

The person who has the shop that contains many model trains (as well as other items related to railway modelling) has hinted on his own website that there may come a time when .stl files might become available - which will lead to people being able to 3D print these trains for themselves.

Hello everyone, Class 312 trains are certainly on my 'wish list', having very fond memories of travelling on them on GEML services out of Liverpool Street - with journey times far shorter than those offered by the Elizabeth line today! I have not even attempted to model them. Cut and Shut (or whatever its correct name is) is not within my skill set. Perhaps it would be if I had a vice and better tools, anyway its not neccessary. 3D printed bodies of Class 310 trains can be bought at Shapeways - you must still supply chassis, seats, pantographs, paint, underframe, bogies, wheels, etc but you do get white plastic bodies. Its a coarse plastic, almost pockmarked and the cabs might have what look like a cattle grid from the 3D printing process. But this is (arguably) still better than the alternatives. I have not got around to buying these trains as I'm building others, but eventually , well they are on my wish list. Painted in BR Blue, as its easier. First Great Eastern stripe and NSE toothpaste would be nice but they have curves that are beyond my capability. See here: https://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/passenger-stock-br/3d_printed_sg-br-class-310.htm nb: Orders below €150 have VAT added whilst above that value they do not add VAT at time of sale but instead the courier adds VAT and import duty*. Oh and their handling fee. Its easier and possibly even cheaper to buy each coach individually. *model trains do not attract import duty but Shapeways use a commodity code for plastic which does attract import duty. I intend to challenge Shapeways about this later this year as I would like to buy three passenger carriages at one time - which should in theory be cheaper than buying them singularly. The person behind this Shapeways Shop mentions on his website that Shapeways (and he) are looking at selling the STL files for home printing. This is a new development that is still to become reality. Simon

Oh joy! I painted the rail blue several hours ago and now whilst I wait for it to dry and I have some waiting time I thought that I should search for tips about the grey. All is not lost however, I will still benefit very considerably from the information about the white lining. Simon

These come in many types, and sizes, what I was looking for is indeed the little counter type shops which is only big enough for one person, such as found at island platforms. That said, I feel sure that many modern image modellers would like (by way of contrast) a modern glass wall structure which also sells newspapers, has a few table spaces and even has toilets. Such as at East Croydon.

I think I've found a gap in the market ... I admit that I do not know every product from every supplier but I'd like a model of the small (portable?) coffee shops that are seen on many station platforms - and so far I've not found any. Ancorton sell a wood kit of a structure that has a food sales counter but it also includes a waiting room, which is not the type of platform building that is to be found at many stations in the present era. Even a printed paper wrap that goes on to a plain card box would be better than nothing. I'm modelling in 00.

Not all of us have the skills to use etched brass successfully! I have tried, hence my comment. I think and hope that I will just about manage a white metal KW Trams Great Orme tram kit. Perhaps the only advantage that I can see in using brass etches (or white metal) is that there is no risk of interior illumination shining through the carriage sides or roofs. Printed cardboard model trains is another option but perhaps best only for static display, a cheap way to fill sidings / an engine shed, etc. I have used Shapeways 3D printed carriages and found that they often have visible lines that come from the laying down of layers of resin during the printing process. This makes them very much a choice of last resort. But for limited-appeal models that cannot justify the cost of tooling up for metal or injection moulded resin 3D printing is the only solution. The person whose Shapeways shop includes these carriages only offers bodies - a one piece 3D print comprising roof, sides, ends. These seem to be reasonably robust, although I admit that I try to handle them gently and have no plans to test their robustness in a way that could actually damage them. The rest of the job is in the scratchbuilding category - and for a novice like me sourcing things like seats, bogies, other components is a challenge. In this respect I have found Andy at Issinglass to be very helpful. For many reasons, including supporting innovative cottage-industry retailers and that the models include everything I would like to try Issinglass carriages but their models are more historic 'steam locomotive hauled' era than electric multiple-unit era. In the 1990s I had a Dave Alexander Tyne & Wear Metro kit professionally made for me and it could yet be that I'll adopt the same solution for a Judith Edge NER or LNER electric locomotive, such as used on the coal train route or was planned for the York to Newcastle electrification.

Thank you Ade Simon

Scale Model Railways have just included this YouTube to their weekly newsletter I've never heard of either Microset or Microsol, might their use be better than just plain water? Simon

On reading the Amazon questions and answers section I've seen many positive results, at least one from someone using this on Scalescenes 'print at home' model railway buildings. But one reoccurring comment is that it only works on inkjet coated papers - not ordinary papers.

Hmm, that is not something that I had thought of doing -I was only going to share still image photos. However, 'never say never'. If I do create a video it might be on a rival service (Rumble) and not YouTube. The first two carriage train will not be motored. Instead what I really want to do is make a five carriage train with another articulated trainset at the other end and a motored pramb carriage in the middle. This had longitudinal seating. Just in case anyone reading this did not know, on warm weather weekends, bank holidays and possibly weekdays too during the school holidays the North Eastern Railway ran some trains with carriages designed for the conveyance of perambulators. This way whole family groups with young children could get to the seaside, without blocking the aisles of the normal passenger trains. It was a really excellent idea. Although the rolling stock used for this type of service changed over time the LNER continued with this, and British Railways too - at least until the dieselisation of the service in the 1960s Nowadays perambulators are rarely used but instead children are carried in pushchairs / buggies / strollers.

The May 2023 edition of 'Underground News' (the magazine of the London Underground Railway Society) includes a modelling update which talks about forthcoming new models of London Transport (and Metropolitan Railway) trains - including the possibility of another model train manufacturer introducing some London Underground trains - and also provides updated information regarding the model trains which were sold by the late Phil Radley. The O gauge trains that Phil marketed were actually produced by someone else. It is not explicitly stated whether or how these will be marketed in the future. At least some of the OO range is likely to become available again, but everything is taking time because Phil's estate is still in probate.