3D Printed HO Cars

stretch
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3D Printed HO Cars Oct 25, 2022 23:07:26 GMT -5 dastumer and umpdan31 like this

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Post by stretch on Oct 25, 2022 23:07:26 GMT -5

Aside from running a number of buses off the 3D printer to give to some friends, I've done very little lately on the modelling front. Just thought I'd check in with what I'm up to!

If you scroll back to the very first post in this thread, you'll see my printed Nash Metropolitan. Around that time I had a full-sized example of this iconic car as a project, but unfortunately the rust issues revealed themselves to be rather extensive. That car was sold off to another enthusiast who needed a parts car. Fast forward to last month when I found a far more viable specimen...

My local shop gave me the rundown on what it needs to pass a safety inspection (window regulator, windshield, brake line, and a few small holes in the floor patched), which I've been chipping away at.

Here it is with the new windshield installed. I had the glass cut locally, the gasket is from a US dealer of Metropolitan parts, and the chrome trim was polished and re-used. While the glass was out I hit the window frame with some single stage automotive paint (the Mets were all originally single stage). I'm no rustycuda, but it should shine up nice!

The window regulator on the captain's side is straight and moving again, one brake line is in and the second is currently on its way. Yesterday I re-installed all the interior windshield trim, and today I gathered up hopefully all the tools I need to weld in some floor patches. Here it is basking in the sunlight with the Concord.

We'll see if I can't get this thing roadworthy before the snow flies. Once the dreaded white stuff does arrive, I'm sure I'll be back inside with the model trains!

Just for posterity, here is the original Met I owned a few years ago. It looked good... from 10' away.

The tortured modelers department.

rbturner Abraham Lincoln Acts 2:38 Posts: 20,707	3D Printed HO Cars Oct 26, 2022 7:26:59 GMT -5 umpdan31 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rbturner on Oct 26, 2022 7:26:59 GMT -5 What I want to see is a video of a 7' tall guy getting in to that tiny car.
	Randy; operating the Vicksburg & Eastern Railroad.

dastumer California Zephyr Hi Posts: 3,796	3D Printed HO Cars Oct 26, 2022 11:45:35 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dastumer on Oct 26, 2022 11:45:35 GMT -5 Way cool! Looks like a fun project. Tiny cars with character like that are hard to come by.
	-Peter. 3D printing enthusiast, Korail modeler.

stretch
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3D Printed HO Cars Oct 26, 2022 16:43:07 GMT -5

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Post by stretch on Oct 26, 2022 16:43:07 GMT -5

That can be arranged Randy.

The headroom is no worse than my old Corolla, so I should be ok!

The weird and tiny vehicles certainly have character. Metropolitans were designed in USA, but all labour was done in England, so it's closely related to the small English cars of the time. The nice thing with the Mets is that current prices haven't skyrocketed like some other cars.

The tortured modelers department.

stretch
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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 14:36:25 GMT -5 brian4321 likes this

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Post by stretch on Jul 12, 2023 14:36:25 GMT -5

I've been working off and on for months to re-do the New Flyer Invero model that appeared briefly on page 12 of this thread. Some key dimensions were off and it just didn't look right.

One of my buddies works in the transit training department and we got a bus out to measure and photograph from key angles. This is my 'orthographic' photo; I couldn't find blueprints for the bus, so the next best thing is to take a series of straight-on photographs and stitch them together to eliminate the distortion caused by...well....normal perspective.

The prints are looking good so far. The primer on this one went on a little thick, but the files are fine.

Lots of little details on this one.

And here's a new tool I've added to the inventory, a vacuum former. I tried it today for the first time. It works really well, but like every tool, will take some time to get used to. This will be used for making windshields. I've been holding out on buying one, but it was necessary for the above bus.

The tortured modelers department.

lshearer Daylight Posts: 2,373	3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 15:25:01 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by lshearer on Jul 12, 2023 15:25:01 GMT -5 Do you 3D print a form for the windshield to vacuum form over?

dastumer California Zephyr Hi Posts: 3,796	3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 15:26:34 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dastumer on Jul 12, 2023 15:26:34 GMT -5 That looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing how you use the vacuum former. Seems like a useful tool to have.
	-Peter. 3D printing enthusiast, Korail modeler.

methuener California Zephyr Posts: 3,624	3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 15:39:21 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by methuener on Jul 12, 2023 15:39:21 GMT -5 I’d assume a “buck” would be used to form the vaccuformed parts.

stretch
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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 19:18:04 GMT -5 lshearer likes this

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Post by stretch on Jul 12, 2023 19:18:04 GMT -5

Is 'buck' the correct term? Whatever it's called, the negative over which the styrene forms is indeed being 3D printed, and is visible on the table behind the machine (that little white thing). The first test I did used a piece of hobby store styrene and absorbed an insane amount of detail. After forming, the layer lines on the 3D printed mold were visible in the styrene windshield. I'll use the resin printer for the next mold and heat the plastic a little less. The first windshield was paper thin, and I expect less heat will produce a thicker result without picking up layer lines.

The tortured modelers department.

rbturner Abraham Lincoln Acts 2:38 Posts: 20,707	3D Printed HO Cars Jul 12, 2023 19:39:12 GMT -5 stretch likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rbturner on Jul 12, 2023 19:39:12 GMT -5 Hey, I understood most of that post.
	Randy; operating the Vicksburg & Eastern Railroad.

methuener California Zephyr Posts: 3,624	3D Printed HO Cars Jul 13, 2023 6:49:04 GMT -5 via mobile stretch likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by methuener on Jul 13, 2023 6:49:04 GMT -5 The windshield buck has to be smooth or the vaccuformed part will conform to whatever it’s molding from. If there are lines or bumps on the buck, they will be in the clear vaccuformed part.

newbieho
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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 13, 2023 7:19:43 GMT -5

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Post by newbieho on Jul 13, 2023 7:19:43 GMT -5

Jul 13, 2023 6:49:04 GMT -5 methuener said:

The windshield buck has to be smooth or the vaccuformed part will conform to whatever it’s molding from. If there are lines or bumps on the buck, they will be in the clear vaccuformed part.

Can the lines of the 3D printed part be sanded to be smooth for this function or would it be easier to print the form off the resin printer?

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31

stretch
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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 13, 2023 10:23:12 GMT -5 newbieho likes this

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Post by stretch on Jul 13, 2023 10:23:12 GMT -5

The buck I printed in filament could be sanded smooth, but it's probably better to re-print in resin. The resin will be a little more dimensionally accurate, smoother, and I need to print more anyway. There should be room to make six windshields at once. No sense in wasting plastic!

The tortured modelers department.

JNXT 7707
Abraham Lincoln

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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 13, 2023 18:50:50 GMT -5 newbieho likes this

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Post by JNXT 7707 on Jul 13, 2023 18:50:50 GMT -5

Thought I would post this here, even though it's not a car. I've noticed a big growth in 3D printed buildings on ebay. A lot of them are modeled off actual prototypes.

They look great, and I like the proto background on them. A little out of my budget, plus I really don't need any more buildings - but if I was starting over I might...

www.ebay.com/itm/234983674315

Montani Semper Liberi

You Tube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC7uGFkcI1MRNCd2Pz7sszbw/featured

Jerry

methuener
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3D Printed HO Cars Jul 13, 2023 19:06:01 GMT -5 via mobile

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Post by methuener on Jul 13, 2023 19:06:01 GMT -5

3D printing gives one the chance to have unique models without having to scratchbuild. If someone was modeling a specific area, like Baltimore’s inner harbor, a very credible replica of each structure could be made fairly quickly and easily.

newbieho: Just saw that you guys were experiencing hot weather. I was in Singapore from July 15th through the 29th and had beautiful weather there. Between 80 and 90....at night, and 90 and 99 in the day....and about 100% humidity. Hot... Aug 7, 2024 5:42:15 GMT -5

newbieho: Jerry, now you tell me! You could have saved me a bundle which I could have used for trains instead of airfare! Aug 13, 2024 20:49:27 GMT -5