Scalefour Forum

Richard, I've got a desktop UV source for curing the smaller prints. Most of the fittings were force-cured that way, but I've found that it tends to accentuate the curling up rather than fixing it. A more uniform light-source might improve matters. I haven't tried heat, but will consider it. In fact...

...Initial tests were favourable: the etched ends of the coaches are true half-ellipses, making it easy-ish to draw up the roofs. It was also possible to print in situ all the roof furniture, including the rain-strips (I hate adding these from separate strip), a better approximation of the gutters,...

Having sorted out the painting, lining and lettering to a standard I can live with ... IMG_8188.JPG ...I've turned my attention to the rest of the train, of which this is most but not all. IMG_8194.JPG Most of these coaches are fossil models that are being refurbished: one of the thirds I built in 1...

IMG_8186.JPG Lining: achieved. This is with the Bob Moore pen, Precision "LNWR lining tan" from a new can, and chemical coercion with airbrush cleaner to ensure paint flow. Jol reckons that a decent bow-pen does a better job and I'm sure that is right, given an expert user. The Moore pen ...

The "alternative products" on the Amazon page suggested by John B. perhaps offer the answer. Most of the IPA products are at least 99% pure, and those sold at lower purity (aqueous solution?) are marketed as antiseptics. My guess is that 50%-70% pure IPA is fine for sterilisation but perha...

You could look at Scale Link Fretcetera. I think the exact product you want is not in their range, but there are various sets of trusses, in various scales, that might be cut up to get the shapes you want.

A quantum of progress after a long pause: I got the basic body-shape to print without distortion. This is actually a big step forward. IMG_8179.JPG Previously, it was warped in various ways. Now, everything seems to be straight, and the interface to the chassis has come out cleanly. The support line...

Very good questions, Will. I didn't log the time to make the CAD for this thing, but I think it was under 15 hours spread over five days, and that produced three slightly different versions. Having dimensioned sketches for everything made it a lot faster, and the shapes aren't particularly complex. ...

Richard, visually, the print quality from my Mars Pro printer (the same one that Paul is setting up) is comparable to Shapeways SFDP on the fine detail and somewhat better on flat surfaces. In the high-resolution version of the photo I posted today I can see a ridged pattern on the flat tops of the ...

IMG_8176.JPG Brake-cylinder assemblies for the remaining none-brake coaches of the set, plus one spare in case I decide to make it up to nine coaches. These are models that I've previously used at Shapeways but now I can print them at home. I need to do one with a handbrake linkage for the brake-2nd.

Another factino that may help specifically with the Mars Pro and its particular design of build plate: wide things stick better than narrow things. The print that prompted the refilming was a batch of wagon brake-levers, printed on supports with skates. The base layers came out about 30 mm long by p...

The old film had picked up a few scratches, so I was getting ready to change it, just in case they were affecting the print quality. Then I had a failed print stick very firmly to the film and in removing it things got a bit wrecked. Essentially, every time something sticks to the film instead of th...

I've just changed the FEP film on my Mars Pro for the first time. It's both easier and harder than I expected: easier, because the tensioning is less of a problem than I expected; and harder, because the official instructions leave out some information. I set down some detail here so that nobody els...

They've come out very nicely, Vlad. Looks like you've shaded the clothes exceptionally well. But how much is shading and how much from the natural contours of the figures?

Does anybody know if the 6-wheelers run well? Three axles over a ~30' length is not an easy thing to get right, even with big flanges.

The panelling is not very Wolverton in either range, except for Hornby's full-brake. The drawing of Hattons' "LNWR" coach shows mouldings painted over white to suggest Wolverton panelling, so at least they're trying.

IMG_8170.JPG The repainted brake-3rd and the all-3rd together. The repainting is not wonderful but definitely better than the original (see picture at the top of this thread). This is the level of consistency between coaches I can get with this method. I think it's just about OK for representing co...

Thanks chaps. The teak recipe is described in a post on RMweb if anybody wants to try. It uses only acrylic paints, c.f. Mike Trice's method with oil paints. The LNWR 3rd is the second vehicle to receive this formulation. I've stripped my LNWR brake-3rd to repaint it in this way, the painting pictur...

IMG_8167.JPG The full-third of the 1897 stock, now with decorated body. I found a way to paint teak that works for me, and is a bit less "meh" than the finish on the brake-third. Also, some transfers for the class numbers on the doors that are reasonably close to reality. Since I don't ne...

When I switched, a few years ago, from normal craft-knife to a chisel-bladed knife, I found that I was cutting much more neatly and with less distortion. Building on Will's technique-not-tools point, there's something subtle about the vertically-applied knife that helps. The blades don't last long b...

At this level would the quality be sufficient to print something like a 4mm wagon buffer for example? Yes. The buffers on my recent SECR stock were printed on a Mars Pro. The surface finish is slightly better than I can get at Shapeways --- less residual texture --- but the holes for the buffer ram...

If you're curious about the level of detail, look at the lettering on the front of the axleboxes in this post on RMWeb. It's 7mm but still... : https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/142773-anycubic-photon-and-mono-x-3d-dlp-printers/page/20/&tab=comments#comment-4311502 Lettering li...

At this level would the quality be sufficient to print something like a 4mm wagon buffer for example? Yes. The buffers on my recent SECR stock were printed on a Mars Pro. The surface finish is slightly better than I can get at Shapeways --- less residual texture --- but the holes for the buffer ram...

27ft-handbrake.png The handbrake wheel was high on the end wall of the coach, driving a vertical shaft through bevel gears. The bottom of that shaft drove a crank under the headstock and that crank pulled a rod connected to the centre crank (or at least to some other crank on the same shaft as the ...

The brake arrangements have been sorted out. The brake coaches have this:


All the other coaches have this:


I have products for both arrangements on Shapeways and will modify my model when the test-print for the new one comes back.