I have been using a British company called Modelu for the cabs of my modest OO9 collection for a while now. Modelu uses single color resin printing, so while you still have to hand paint them traditionaly; their finish even in smaller scales is pretty smooth. They even have a few figures based on historic figures (Isambard Brunel and the Rev. Wilbert Awdry for example) for those who want some trackside Easter Eggs. Examples of their products finished and painted are available on their social media pages (their main shop site uses renders to show off products primarily). I am hoping they expand with products aimed towards the American market with time, since I believe they could offer a lot to historic focused HO scale modelers. https://twitter.com/Modelu3dAlso speaking from personal experience, 3D printing in general has been a godsend in OO9 and other burgeoning/niche scales. I know that Cal Scale and other HO scale detail parts cover the general needs of HO already (general needs, but not all of them though), but printed parts allows anyone with CAD skill to model whatever they need and print it quickly; and the quality of home resin printers are impressive as is now; gaining a lot more fine detail compared to traditional extrusion printers. Not to say extruder printers don't have their use either, I have printed off display stands and other pieces that don't need the same level of fine finish pretty easily on extrusion printers.Yes, full scale locomotives can roll off a 3D printer as well. Just look at what Toma Model works has produced already. I have a friend who owns their HOn3 Porter, and its an amazing little model. Just print off a shell to match existing chassis, plop it on and you got a brand new kit locomotive. In OO9 there is a British company that has been working on replias of Talyllyn rolling stock and other narrow gauge lines, and their Kerr Stuart Tattoo kit is being sold by the Talyllyn's own shop to convert the Bachmann Peter Sam chassis into a more accurate model.
Lindsay in OzI'll have photos of the first colour prints soon, and if anyone can advice how to add them here I'd be grateful - I've had no success with the 'Insert' command, nor the 'Add Image' button.
Hi Lindsay,
You can't post photos directly to the Model Railroader forums. You have to use a photo hosting service like Imgur (currently still free). You save your photos on the host site and then link to them when you want to add a photo to your MR post.
https://imgur.com/
There is a more detailed explanation at the top of the first page on the General Discussion forum.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave, I'm impressed and interested. Do you think that the suggestion about producing 60's-70's era railroad personnel can be considered or feasible?
Hi Antonio, Lindsay from West Edge 3D in Australia here. Following enthusiastic urging from lots of our North American customers, we are currently working on sets of contemporary USA railroad loco crews. We should have them ready to to add to the website store sometime next week. We will follow those with track workers and other railroad workers, based on photos we can access on the web. Being based in Australia, you'll understand that North American railroad employees are pretty thin on the ground here and thus difficult to scan in colour! I'll have photos of the first colour prints soon, and if anyone can advice how to add them here I'd be grateful - I've had no success with the 'Insert' command, nor the 'Add Image' button.
tstageCA is known to yellow as it ages so it may become more noticeable over time.
Hi Tom,
I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing the potential problem out. I'll do the others with canopy cement.
richhotrainHow about another photo with a closeup of just the figures.
Hi Rich,
This is as close as I could get the camera to focus. I tried using my Sony Cybershot 35mm digital camera and my Samsung Galaxy cell phone and the result were about the same. If yo click on the picture a couple of times you can blow it up to get a very close view:
I should note that the actual figures are not much more crisp than the photos. They have a tiny bit of 'fuzziness' to them.
I should also mention again that you can send WestEdge3D a scan of yourself or other people dressed as you wish and they can print them for you. I don't know what the cost is. You can request a quote here:
https://westedge3d.com.au/3d-printing-services/
Dave,
I'm impressed and interested.
Do you think that the suggestion about producing 60's-70's era railroad personnel can be considered or feasible? Cool factor is that since casual dress was the norm, the figures don't have to be listed as "railroad". They could be standing and sitting that would fit nicely into locomotive cabs, decks, or businesses, like what you see in the photos that I posted on the 1st page of this thread. For shop scenes, mechanics' uniforms and blue jean coveralls would fit the bill nicely.
- Thanks for thinking about it
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
hon30critterI will note that the HO figures are extremely delicate. I managed to break a foot off of each of three figures just by giving them a slight push to get them to stick to the clear tape I was using to hold them upright. If I was going to use them with Woodland Scenic's Accent Glue, I think I might try using a bit of gel CA to fill the gap between the legs/feet before gluing them in place with the Accent Glue. Overall, I'm quite impressed. I will invest in some more once they come out with some 1950s figures. Cheers!! Dave
Dave, Thanks for taking the time to review and photograph the West Edge printed figures. Regards, Peter
ATLANTIC CENTRALAs a technolgy I'm not yet overly impressed with 3-D printing - but I do see the potential.
3-D printing does not seem to be doing in Model Railroading what it is doing in other hobbies.
I think the main difference is that in Model Railroading there has already been an abundance of detail parts available, so there are no big "holes" to be filled.
I would believe that era-specific automobiles for the 1970s-2020s would be something people would want, but the desire for chrome details and clear windshields seems to be just beyond the capabilities of 3-D printing right now.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
A few thoughts.
As a technolgy I'm not yet overly impressed with 3-D printing - but I do see the potential.
I like detail but I'm a big picture guy building a big layout, not much of it will be viewed from that close up. There will be some effort to make forground details a bit more refined, but it is after all 1/87th scale.
There is a very old line of figures, somewhat still available from Campbell Scale Models, call Weston Figures, cast in soft metal, hand painted, dating back 60 or 70 years in this hobby.
Looking at them in the 1983 Walthers Catalog the average price for a single figure was $2.25, or about $7 today - and that is price Campbell is charging for what they currently have available - $7-$8.
In 1983 a set of six Preiser fiqures was typically $6.
And Merten sets of six figures were $4 on average.
So measured historically, adjusted for inflation, the price is about right.
I must admit, I need to see one in person, because the photos are just too fuzzy looking for me.
Sheldon
Call me cheap, but too much for my blood. Let's hope the future of HO scale figures doesn't require spending more than a set of freight cars.
tstage A thin layer of Elmer's white glue might be a better choice and is removable with water, if desired.
To quote a famous acquaintance, Canopy Cement
hon30critterOkay folks, here are two of the WestEdge3D figures. The one on the left has the gap between its legs filled with gel CA, and the one on the right is as received: The CA is barely visible even when I hold the figure up close to my eyes. There is a very slight reflection between the figure's feet but IMHO it is hardly noticeable. Problem solved! Cheers!! Dave
The CA is barely visible even when I hold the figure up close to my eyes. There is a very slight reflection between the figure's feet but IMHO it is hardly noticeable. Problem solved!
CA is known to yellow as it ages so it may become more noticeable over time. A thin layer of Elmer's white glue might be a better choice and is removable with water, if desired. Testors Clear Parts Cement would work well, too.
FWIW...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
hon30critter richhotrain Is it is really you camera or is there a problem with the figures. I can read the lettering on that boxcar behind them quite clearly. Hi Rich, I think that the boxcar may be part of the problem. I suspect that the camera is focusing on it instead of the figures. The fact that the figures are so delicate is a bit of a problem, but I think it is easily surmountable with a little gel CA applied between the legs. I'll give it a try and let you know how well it works.
richhotrain Is it is really you camera or is there a problem with the figures. I can read the lettering on that boxcar behind them quite clearly.
I think that the boxcar may be part of the problem. I suspect that the camera is focusing on it instead of the figures.
The fact that the figures are so delicate is a bit of a problem, but I think it is easily surmountable with a little gel CA applied between the legs. I'll give it a try and let you know how well it works.
I am still concerned about that breakage. Something that expensive should be more durable.
Rich
Alton Junction
Okay folks, here are two of the WestEdge3D figures. The one on the left has the gap between its legs filled with gel CA, and the one on the right is as received:
richhotrainIs it is really you camera or is there a problem with the figures. I can read the lettering on that boxcar behind them quite clearly.
SeeYou190 richhotrain Is it is really you camera or is there a problem with the figures. I can read the lettering on that boxcar behind them quite clearly. The faces need a repaint, and the clothing needs shading. Other than that, the fact that plaid patterns are possible in HO scale is amazing to me.
The faces need a repaint, and the clothing needs shading. Other than that, the fact that plaid patterns are possible in HO scale is amazing to me.
I remain optiistic.
hon30critter My set of four West Edge 3D figures arrived today, and I am fairly impressed. Here is what they look like. The pictures are not perfectly clear. Sorry about that but apparently that's the best my camera can do. I will note that the HO figures are extremely delicate. I managed to break a foot off of each of three figures just by giving them a slight push to get them to stick to the clear tape I was using to hold them upright. If I was going to use them with Woodland Scenic's Accent Glue, I think I might try using a bit of gel CA to fill the gap between the legs/feet before gluing them in place with the Accent Glue. Overall, I'm quite impressed. I will invest in some more once they come out with some 1950s figures. Cheers!! Dave
My set of four West Edge 3D figures arrived today, and I am fairly impressed. Here is what they look like. The pictures are not perfectly clear. Sorry about that but apparently that's the best my camera can do.
I will note that the HO figures are extremely delicate. I managed to break a foot off of each of three figures just by giving them a slight push to get them to stick to the clear tape I was using to hold them upright. If I was going to use them with Woodland Scenic's Accent Glue, I think I might try using a bit of gel CA to fill the gap between the legs/feet before gluing them in place with the Accent Glue.
Overall, I'm quite impressed. I will invest in some more once they come out with some 1950s figures.
Is it is really you camera or is there a problem with the figures. I can read the lettering on that boxcar behind them quite clearly.
And then you give the figures a slight push and the feet break off. I see nothing impressive here.
Sorry, but that's my take.
hon30critter The pictures are not perfectly clear. Sorry about that but apparently that's the best my camera can do.
Better than the pictures on their site!
The figures look great. Thanks for the update.
Which one is you?
Hello Lindsay) Welcome to the MR forums.
I'm pretty impressed by what you folks are doing. I think your products look great. I can only imagine what your sales catalog will look like in say.... 5 years.
I think the secret of your sauce is the scanning. The detail in your prints had to come from somewhere. Its immense! Ofcourse, the multi-coloring at such small depths - raises the bar again for 3d printing too.
Count me in on one of those who would like to see 'steam era' figures made (of all kinds). And feel free to up your post count by threading your experiences of producing such fine looking 3d models. Details preffered!
For me personally, what you offer is a good thing. Some of us (not all.... yet), either dont enjoy detailing figures, much less can even see how to do so. Couple that with the shaky hands at the older ages and yeah, somebody else needs to paint smiles on my little peoples.
Good Luck!!
PMR
Linday,
Thank you for your posts! The figures are amazing and hope that you are willing to consider what I wrote in my post above.
Lindsay in Oz Sorry Peter, couldn't see the link to Luke Towan's video above, so it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL4U_rv0Cf0. Our figures look especially good in his scene (there's even one of me there - look for the older guy in the light grey jumper with a red backpack on one shoulder. :-) You can also search YouTube for "Paper Kits have never looked so good - Realistic Scenery Vol.35".
Sorry Peter, couldn't see the link to Luke Towan's video above, so it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL4U_rv0Cf0. Our figures look especially good in his scene (there's even one of me there - look for the older guy in the light grey jumper with a red backpack on one shoulder. :-)
You can also search YouTube for "Paper Kits have never looked so good - Realistic Scenery Vol.35".
Hi Peter, yes the 'frosting' is a reflection off the edges of the printed layers. It's most apparent when the figures are lying down flat in our light studio to be photographed next to the ruler for the shop photos, because they're lit from behind the camera, for maximum reflection!... We've recently discovered that 20mins in Isopropyl Alcohol microscopically "rounds off" those layer edges (which are only 19 microns high!!) and the effect is much less apparent, and we treat all our figures this way now. It's also proportionally more evident in a photo of an N or HO scale figure, but it is virtually absent when the figure is standing up on a layout - see Luke Towan's video that Dave linked in the first post in this thread.
Lindsay in Ozanyone has any questions
Like your figures, but wondering if the 'frosted' appearance some of them exhibit is due to the printing process or the material?
Thanks, Peter
Hi all, my post responding to some of the questions here has finally been approved, albeit appearing way back in the list where the post was that I originally replied to. If anyone has any questions about how we create our colour 3D-printed figures, ask away. They're printed on a Stratasys J55, a very cool 3D polyjet 3D printer that operates very similarly to a CD player! See an intro here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv5mSaH1hc8&t=13s
Note that, at about US$100,000 this is not a hobbyist's home 3D printer! We sent figures today to Wisconsin and Utah, and earlier this week to Germany, California, New York State, a military base in Maryland, Canada (Dave!) and Colorado, so our little people are really getting around.
Lindsay O'Reilly, who owns WestEdge3D, sent me some pictures which will give us a better idea of how crisp the details are on his figures. The photos that have three of the same figures in them are of N, HO, and O scales.
Here is a view of part of the collection:
You can see that the details are not absolutely crisp, but I think they look pretty good.
By the way, the website prices are in Australian $ so the price for HO figures in USD would be about $5.00 ea plus shipping.
WilmJuncIt sounds like with this new technology, you will soon be able to take photos of freinds, family, and yourself and have them made into figures to place on your layout.
Hi WilmJunc,
These guys are already able to do that, and apparently all you need is a scanning app on your phone.