Timber

Importing STLs is not always as simple as you would wish, something I find strange given the idea behind STL is that it is supposed to be portable. In Fusion it is imported as a mesh and you then have to convert to a Solid. But I have never really understood why it does not get imported as a Body or a Component. Tinkercad is very good at importing STLs so i suspect that Rob did not hit the problem. Let me post a link in the CAD section of RMWeb and see if anyone has any ideas.

The leading wheels may be tricky to print. To help I have a strip that you could send to Shapeways. It is configured to have the maximum number of wheels for their smooth plastic table. With Shapeways the cost is determined by the material plus handling time and cleaning time. A strip of 18 is not that much more expensive than a single wheel. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ntv7DYFdM-v7ASjqD8bnRPorNQfBp-IA/view?usp=sharing

Rob - no problem - I can do the rim thickness to what ever people want. In fact I have made some wheels for another member with a thinner rim. My only caution is that (as we all know) a plastic wheel is more flexible than a metal wheel. I spent some time trying to optimise the wheel design so that it had minimum flex without becoming a solid piece of plastic. This involved thickening the rim as it does make a difference even with a big dollop of glue. But maybe a resin print will be more sturdy. I will make the changes and post. I would be interested in feedback. But if anyone is setting out on an S Scale journey and this is their first loco then I would recommend this wheel. Once you have built your track and have smooth operation then that may be the point to introduce finer wheels.

Here is the 10 spoke leading wheel. This has to be printed with a diameter of 14.96mm to fit the society 3'7" tyres. The same wheel is used for the tender. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w7JGbftnplCjYqzrkPpZTrBXQqFOy4Nq/view?usp=sharing

Early safety valve base. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ykpyP3tjHt3ljKSL6NG_rabRyeDaoPur/view?usp=sharing

Early Chimney STL https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yieit1Tr08ynutZ4ITwptYVXoOi0cMyj/view?usp=sharing STEP https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jXJTDRaVM-M3JARsW4SesD5kDP6Elvhi/view?usp=sharing

Here is a leading wheel, you have to print to an outside daimeter of 24.6mm to fit the society tyres. Trailing to follow. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E4hXq_B6W-rKconWtG7Neoj7NJLBLGqu/view?usp=sharing Outside diameter has to be set to 24.6 to fit society tyre.

here is the boiler and smokebox without fittings https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s3Ub2vK3aAdcMP4UBjZ08JapOaZGmf_2/view?usp=sharing

I like this and well done for such good artwork. I have a couple of options on chimneys and safety valves. Please let me know or email me a drawing. The block on the side of the boiler is to the hold the badge....I can take this off if you want. Email me direct with any changes and i will upload.

Thank you Rob. I have attached a link to the complete boiler and fittings. Will post all the parts seperately. As Rob suggests you may want to hollow out the dome.... STL https://drive.google.com/file/d/17NxAlxek11k5oUyV9TTmBejB5dy7NtZF/view?usp=sharing STEP https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-yqW5KxFbgqbbY-gNP9t-eWB47fZNZtW/view?usp=sharing

First attempt at linking in a .stl. The dimensions below are protoytpe inches. I think the file will be presented as 1mm to a scale inch but you should be able to work that out on your slicer. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qV0FafaaX6AE2RLa5dbiN-SMDSwuWvk4/view?usp=sharing

Visio can create multiple layers but I draw in one layer. I draw exactly what is on the attached PDF save in PDF and then send this to the etchers. The etcher then converts my PDF into the layers depending on the colour and sends back to me for checking. The drawing tool in Fusion is very clever but is not really designed for large detailed 2D drawings, I have tried a few times and asked for help on the various fusion noticeboards but the consensus is that it is not the right tool for the job. It is best suited for creating the shape that is then extruded into a solid.

A fellow member has asked for a copy of the etch. It pushed me into sorting out a few snags. The locomotive etch (no tender) is £13.50 excluding postage. If anyone else is interested then I have attached a copy of the pdf so you can check very carefully before making a purchase. I also have some castings for the brass loco parts. The set costs £5 excluding postage. I am simply sharing what I have made so any changes in material costs will impact the price going forward. The costs above are simply what I pay. If anyone wants to use the PDF to produce their own etch then I am ok with that. But I do not want to get caught up in discussions around rescaling..... If anyone wants the 3D STL files I can send the artwork via email and you can find a friend with a printer. Once again I am not the world's best modeller nor a professional kit designer - the model is very simple and may be inaccurate (securing accurate dimensions for this loco was very hard and what I could find was inconsistant). It is what it is. (36452-1 16.11.21) Production per RMWeb (1).pdf

Just made some 9 spoke 3'7" wheels for a fellow member. I now have a supply of pinpoint axles should anyone be interested...with the 3D prints, society tyres and newly aquired axles it is possible to make any coach/wagon/tender wheel.

This is my latest engine a Manning Wardle De Winton...

this looks great - i am interested in how you fitted the second crew handrail. Did you use a handrail knob? Hard to see in the picture.

Less exciting topic but I have an STL for 9 spoke wheels that fit our society 3'7" tyres. I can provide these wheel inserts with any number of spokes. I wanted to share the STL but that is not possible via RMWeb. Does anyone have an idea of where I could save my 3D prints so that other members can down load them? I have squeezed the maximum number of wheels on for a Shapeways print but the file can be edited for smaller print plates.

A while ago I successfully 3D printed a gearbox. Using top hat bearings. I found meshing the gears a bit of a challenge but by using 3D I developed something that worked in an agile way. To be honest I started without bearings. I simply had the axles running in plastic - it was fine to get something running. I have seen a couple of examples on line where people have 3D printed gears.....not sure what plastic you would need but once again just to get something running it could be a quick answser.

All, We had a great Zoom meeting yesterday evening where many different models were shared. There appears to be an increasing interest in 3D printing. I propose that we have a section for "what is on the computer" where anyone working on artwork in either 2D or 3D can drop in some screenshots. Once the artwork becomes a proper 3D solid then we should move the discussion to "whats on the workbench" but this may be a good space to share ideas. In my opinion S Scale is the perfect scale for 3D printing. It is large enough to avoid too many thin wall problems but not so large that some of the irregularities of 3D printing are amplified and detract from the finish of the model. So I will kick this off with a couple of screen shots on my Manning Wardle reworked with additional detail.

Lovely work. I will be interested to see where the leaf springs attach. On the original etch it looked like they were to be folded up. Are you going to do something different now in construction. The model looks lovely - enjoying the read,

If you are using gibson wheels why not use pickups? I am sure that split axles will give better running but if this is your first chassis then pickups will keep it simple.

Here is a Class 9 No 11.

that really looks good

Here is a Sharp Stewart Small Saddle Tank

Sharing pictures from a collection of Brecon and Merthyr Locomotives I am building. They are built in S Scale. More detail in the S Scale section of RMWeb but thought I would post a few pictures here to help promote interest in S Scale. First up is a model of WYE....based on the Sharp Stewart small 2-4-0 passenger locomotive.