3D printed road vehicles

[grahame]

The two 3D printed Ford Cargo box bodied trucks I ordered from Shapeways have arrived. There was no extra import duty or VAT charges to pay for them. I asked for 1:148 scale and RHD. They are certainly RHD and appear to be the correct scale. Here's a pic of one as supplied:

 

 

Each consists of three parts (cab, chassis and body) grouped and joined together. The other example I've cut in to the separate parts, trimmed the joining sprues remnants away and cleaned them up with a toothbrush and cream cleaner and rinses in warm water. The parts are currently drying in front on one of my central heating warm air registers. When I've got some grey primer on the parts it'll be easier to see the details but they do look rather good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[grahame]

I've now got some primer (white and grey) on the two models:

 

 

I think I'll go with the BRS livery (as in the pic below which has an 80/81 plate)  - the colours are easy enough to paint but it'll be a matter of making up some suitable decals. And I can't do that until I get a new printer which will probably have to wait for lockdown to end as no-one seems to do home deliveries or has stock. For the other truck I'll probably scratch-build a body - perhaps an open/tipper although that'll possibly mean shortening the chassis.

 

[Steadfast]

Those Ford Cargos do suffer styling "of their era"! Nice little model though.

For anyone who has one of the unpainted Scanias from Osborn's and hasn't noticed, the cab is a separate part and can be removed for easier painting. It slides upwards to remove (on the tipper at least!).

I plan to do some decals for lights, badges, number plates etc for mine to make decoration easier, and will make them available for sale via the website for anyone else undertaking their own paint job.

 

Jo

[37114]

12 hours ago, grahame said:

I've now got some primer (white and grey) on the two models:

 

 

I think I'll go with the BRS livery (as in the pic below which has an 80/81 plate)  - the colours are easy enough to paint but it'll be a matter of making up some suitable decals. And I can't do that until I get a new printer which will probably have to wait for lockdown to end as no-one seems to do home deliveries or has stock. For the other truck I'll probably scratch-build a body - perhaps an open/tipper although that'll possibly mean shortening the chassis.

 

Nice model and good choice of prototype.  For the open wagon you could model a Scaffolding truck, Cargo's were popular with the scaffolding companies and it save shortening the chassis 

[grahame]

10 hours ago, Steadfast said:

 

I plan to do some decals for lights, badges, number plates etc for mine to make decoration easier, and will make them available for sale via the website for anyone else undertaking their own paint job.

 

 

Now that sounds great and helpful. Let us know when they're available.

 

[Steadfast]

15 hours ago, grahame said:

 

Now that sounds great and helpful. Let us know when they're available.

 

Thanks Grahame, here's the artwork I've drawn up this evening for the Osborns Models Scania tipper.

The sheet includes marker lights for the sun visor (including the optional trio that some trucks have in the centre of the visor), grill spotlights, grill badges, headlights, number plates, bumper spot lights, rear red reflective tape, rear lights, rear number plate, side underrun warnings, side reflective strips and highway maintenance marks for the rear tail gate.

I'll be ordering a test set for myself in the next few days, plus a couple of sets for stock. If the test one goes ok, I'll offer the other sets for sale.

The model represents the XT (extra tough I believe) model with the lower height P cab, matching this prototype pic quite closely.

https://www.commercialmotor.com/sites/default/files/styles/1880px_wide/public/news-article-images/2019/05/7_0.jpg?itok=dc3khCGF&timestamp=1559297735

I'll be doing mine orange with a black body. The optional blind spot plaques will need some rectangles of plasticard cutting and glueing to the side underrun bars, I've provided the dimensions on the decal sheet. 

I've got a second truck, which I'll modify the body slightly and do in an operator livery, probably Hanson, but livery decals will not be for general sale due to copyright. I can however do company branding etc as custom orders, if anyone is interested then please get in touch.

 

Cheers!

 

Jo

 

[grahame]

On 05/02/2021 at 22:28, 37114 said:

Nice model and good choice of prototype.  For the open wagon you could model a Scaffolding truck, Cargo's were popular with the scaffolding companies and it save shortening the chassis 

 

Good idea. I've knocked up a representation of a scaffold truck body with drop sides in plasticard:

 

 

[Ian Morgan]

Etched steering wheels would be nice. Does anyone do them? I know you can get etched wing mirrors and roof racks and the like from Germany.

 

[37114]

3 hours ago, grahame said:

 

Good idea. I've knocked up a representation of a scaffold truck body with drop sides in plasticard:

 

 

Takes me back to 1988 already, looks great. I made one in 4mm with a load, I am struggling to find some good photos of it but I made a load for it from plastic rod and plastic strip. Most seem to have a framework of scaffold poles with poles on the bottom, clips at the front and the planks on the top:

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/scaffold-lorry.html

 

[grahame]

On 10/02/2021 at 11:15, Ian Morgan said:

Etched steering wheels would be nice. Does anyone do them? I know you can get etched wing mirrors and roof racks and the like from Germany.

 

 

Might get away with an appropriate sized brake wheel etch. They're available in different diameters and spoke numbers (or some could be cut away).

 

 

 

[grahame]

Getting there on the Cargo scaff truck. Not quite finished but perhaps time to get some paint on the other Cargo (the box van):

 

 

[acg5324]

Has anyone come across or purchased these before.....1/148 3D resin printed, painted and lettered. transit, Marina, Escort...more to come.....

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164700732954

 

go to sellers other items to see the range.

[grahame]

Very interesting. They are finished, painted, number plates and so on, although the paintwork could probably do with a tidy up. And it says more will become available. I couldn't see that it says 1:148 scale but it does say 'N gauge' rather than 'N scale' (1:160). 

 

Has anyone got any examples to report on?

 

[acg5324]

I have sent the seller an email...also see if he’s going to sell them unfinished.

......watch this space.

Edited February 18, 2021 by acg5324

[acg5324]

Reply from the seller...

Thanks for your comments, as it happens i will be putting unpainted versions up tomorrow along with more painted models. the unpainted version will be standard resin initially, (ie, not transparent). I will also be lowering my pricing. The cars are British N Gauge-1:148.

[grahame]

That's a shame they won't have transparent windows. I wonder why. The old French range of vehicles (Pion?) in 1:160 scale were formed of clear plastic/resin.

 

 

[Ian Morgan]

Yes, the painted versions shown appear to be transparent, and the seller did say they would not be transparent initially, so there is hope for the future.

 

I did once make a rubber mould from a whitemetal Transit, and made a couple of castings using transparent resin so I could produce a minibus. It was all a bit messy, and getting the two halfs of the mould alligned without producing joint lines was tricky. I did not repeat the experiment.

 

[acg5324]

The extra sets are listed along with a solid set.....prices have been reduced.......so I’ve ordered a set. It includes 2x Rover 3500, one Police...a Mk3 Escort and a Transit Van in BR yellow.

Ill report back once they arrive.

[acg5324]

The seller has also added single vehicles printed in the translucent resin....these are supplied under coated. Morris Marina and Mk1 Transit so far....

 

I notice that on the picture he has of different types there looks to be a Viva HB Estate.

Edited February 22, 2021 by acg5324

[BernardTPM]

That's a Mk.2 Escort estate though, like the van, from the windscreen back the body is the same as the Mk.1 Escort.

[grahame]

Some slow progress on the two 3D printed 1/148 scale Ford Cargo trucks, but, unfortunately not yet finished:

 

 

 

[acg5324]

Well my pack of cars and van arrived from eBay today.

Overall impression they look like the vehicles they are a model of, always a good start. Paint finish is OK but far too shiny. The resin is translucent but you can see the printer marks. They are quite fragile. The roof mounted search lights on the Rover Police car had snapped off in transit.  7/10. I hope the seller increases the variety of unpainted ones as that will allow the purchaser to take more time smoothing them and getting a good paint finish of their choice......and now some horrible close up photos.

[acg5324]

The seller now has the Escort estate on sale and other vehicles just in undercoat....I’ve ordered one and some Marinas and a Mk2 Escort. There is a Rover SD1 in the pipeline too.

Click here for sellers items.

Edited February 23, 2021 by acg5324

[Steven B]

Would a few layers of satin or gloss varnish help hide the build lines on the car windows?

 

Steven B.

[BernardTPM]

Milliput?