FDM PLA 3D printing - with a model making inclination

[Dave Ward]

I realise that I've been concentrating on my 3D printing to the detriment of my other models, so after the present range of models has printed, I'll be cutting back on the prints, and going to be opening a few boxes from the stash - starting with a Sukhoi Su-2 for the WWIII Soviet wingy thing GB.
I have started printing out the Deacon 6 pdr SPG, and I have to say that the results have really surprised me - I'll be putting up a few pictures of some parts shortly
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Printing the parts for the 1/35 Deacon ( blown up from 1/56 )............
The turret


Need a bit of cleaning up & removing supports was a bit nerve wracking, but happy with that. Roof - separate print

Chassis ( or sub frame as they call it )


Supports needed careful removal, but as a single piece print, I don't think it coild be much better. I keep on saying that, but a very minor tweak in the slicer program can have quite an effect. The turret & chassis both took around 7 hours to print on the SunLu, with my normal Geeetech Silver PLA.
I'm going to finish printing the other parts for this, cab, rear deck, fuel tank, wheels etc, but these were the two that I thought may give me grief! Thw printer wll then take a back seat as I turn back to my bench & normal kits
Dave

[Dave Ward]

These will be last pictures for a while of new prints _ I'm having a break to comcentrate on the GB
The Deacon dry fitted.......................

Still missing the fuel tank..................


M11/39 - not happy with this, the tracks don't look good - blowing up from 1/100 was a bit too much.


Fiat 2000, again in 1/35. Problem with this was the upper hull insisted on warping - I printed it out again, and used 2-part epoxy glue with four clamps, but there's still a warp & needs filler to close gaps. Thhe upper hull has thin & thick sections, which cool & contract at different rates - giving a warp. It's really noticeable here due to the large size. It may have been easier to split the upper hull at one of the joint lines & printed the halves verticaly, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.......................
Dave

[Dave Ward]

A major fifficulty with FDM printing is with thin hollow sections - you can use the standard grid support, but removing this often wrecks the part, even after a successdul print. I've neen trying to print a General Electric Dash 9 diesel Locomotive, but the cab was not printing.
There is another method of support, which is generally used for resin printing, organic, or tree support. I had read that it could be used on FDM printers as well, for very delicate parts. Unusually this has been scaled down from G scale to OO ( 1/22.6 to 1/76 )

This was the fourth attempt to print, the first organc support. You can see why it's called that, or 'tree' It lloks really weird. This support is automatically generated by my PrusaSlicer slicer programme. It ony took about 80 minutrs to print.
After a minute or so of cleaning up

The supports just cracked away. There are certain areas that need a bit of a file, but given that the cab is under 30mm wide not too shabby. The wall sections are very thin and were the mjotr problem with normal supports

I was pleaed to see the window frames actually printed - the edges need smoothing, but not a lot else. No interior for the cab though.
These big American Diesel locos always look impressive to me, and some have eyecatching colour schemes - there's a huge following of this type of model in the States, and loads of OO decals available (or HO - I'm not that fussy! ). I'm not a mad train buff, but it's a different genre!
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

glad to see it worked ,Dave. I guess the thin walls is a consequence of scaling down?
Something to watch

[Dave Ward]

glad to see it worked ,Dave. I guess the thin walls is a consequence of scaling down?
Something to watch

Yes, not something you usually have to worry about! I was wondering what sort of machiner could print this in it's original scale, but I realised that all the pieces are about 200mm long max. - so it could be printed on a standard Ender style printer, but a train at 1/22,5 is a bit big! ( about 800mm long! )
Dave

[Gary MacKenzie]

Yes, not something you usually have to worry about! I was wondering what sort of machiner could print this in it's original scale, but I realised that all the pieces are about 200mm long max. - so it could be printed on a standard Ender style printer, but a train at 1/22,5 is a bit big! ( about 800mm long! )
Dave

If the model isn't higher than the build area height you can print very long items with conveyor belt printers like the ones @ https://3dwithus.com/conveyor-belt-3d-printers

The cosplay/ props people use them for swords etc.

[Dave Ward]

This may be wishful thinking, but I'mm attempting to print this

Foden Type C Steam Wagon
It's not all in one piece, the roof & wheels are separate - I've blown it up to 1/35 - two failures already, if the one that is on the bed now fails, then I'll forget about it. I was looking for a Scammell Scarab, but the only ones I could find just don't look right. I've only ever seen the old Airfix/Dapol 1/76 Scarab as a model, and I thought one in 1/35 would look very different from the usual 4 wheelers!
Dave

[Gary MacKenzie]

https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-mod...old-steam-days << free , might be ok
https://www.printables.com/model/477...man-00ho-scale >> free on printables , but a different nose to scarab
https://www.printables.com/model/295...al-horse-1-148 >>> mechanical horse version

[Dave Ward]

https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-mod...old-steam-days << free , might be ok
https://www.printables.com/model/477...man-00ho-scale >> free on printables , but a different nose to scarab
https://www.printables.com/model/295...al-horse-1-148 >>> mechanical horse version

Thanks for that, Gary - I'd seen this one before - first on your list, the Scarab I'm looking for

When you get it to 1/35, there's no real detail - even the windows aren't marked..................
The other two, well, Im not familiar with these, are they earlier, or later than the curved version?

I didn't know that they were also called 'mechanical horse', or 'nightman', so that may be another avenue of search.
Cheers
Dave

[Gary MacKenzie]

The problem with a lot of the 3d stuff is it can be printed, but maybe shouldn't be due to low polygon counts in the designs.
They tend to be made for use in games , where a skin is wrapped round the frame and creates the details

I remember the yellow/orange painted 3 wheeler tractor and a trailer behind it in Edinburgh and Newcastle stations in the very early 70's. but at least one had no cab on it.

[Tim Marlow]

Mechanical horse was an early designation for them, but I thought that was the version around in the days of the big four railway company (pre BR) days, superseded later by the scarab. Never heard them called “nightman” though, that’s a new one on me. Seem to remember pictures of them cabless, but can’t find any on line so that might be my imagination.

[Gary MacKenzie]

[HEADING=2]One version ,[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]Conveyancer-Scott unknown British Railways Electric Elevating Platform Truck[/HEADING]


================================================== =======================

This states there were 3 wheel units that replaced the item ( d ) , but no pictures of the replacements


Electrically powered trolleys were invented at a railway station in Philadelphia (USA) in 1906 and arrived in Britain shortly before the First World War. These would not be seen on a branch line platform but all the major passenger stations and larger goods depots had them. Early types were often rather complicated looking machines (see Materials Handling - Introduction) but Fig___D shows a type in common use on the railways, docks and in industry from the mid 1930's to the end of the 1960's. The driver's left foot is raised as he has taken it of the 'dead man's pedal', cutting power to the motor and applying the brake. This type was taken out of service in the 1970's because of health and safety legislation. They were replaced by small three wheeled or later four wheel tractors with a seat and steering wheel, first seen in the 1930's but mainly confined to larger stations.


The closest I can find that I ''remember''

https://www.modelrailwayscenes.com/products/oo-scale-platform-truck-tractor-1-pack

[Tim Marlow]

Your first photo is the type I remember from pictures Gary. The second type developed into British Railway Universal Trolley Equipment (BRUTE) in the sixties. They were everywhere up until the eighties when loss of parcels and newspaper traffic made them redundant.
The trolleys were like this


They were pulled by these


A lesser known use was as an invaluable place to base yourself when train spotting. They were just the right height to sit in comfortably and held your kit while you were at the station.

[Gary MacKenzie]

Your first photo is the type I remember from pictures Gary. The second type developed into British Railway Universal Trolley Equipment (BRUTE) in the sixties. They were everywhere up until the eighties when loss of parcels and newspaper traffic made them redundant.
The trolleys were like this
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1211006[/ATTACH]

They were pulled by these
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1211005[/ATTACH]

A lesser known use was as an invaluable place to base yourself when train spotting. They were just the right height to sit in comfortably and held your kit while you were at the station.

I remember a variation on the last pic you placed where the shield up front was more like a motorbike windshield curved design, but as I said either Edinburgh Waverley or Newcastle , and usually hauling mail sacks and a few larger baggage items