I was just reflecting on how 3D printing has changed my approach to the acquisition of new locos for my garden railway, I used to buy ready to run or kit locos and convert them to radio control and sound; an expensive pastime. It also limited my choices because the local prototypes which interest me were just not available. Then came 3D printing.....
The photo below shows the achievements so far. The Brill railcar at the back is basically a polycarbonate box with styrene sheet and 3D printed accessories glued on. The power bogie is Aristocraft with 3D printed sides. The van behind it is entirely 3D printed except for the styrene roof and the step.
My current project is the South Australian Railways Class 500 diesel in the foreground. This has two Aristocraft power bogies, each with 3D printed sides. The floor is polycarbonate sheet with 3D printed steps. The bonnet was drawn and printed in six sections. The radio control is RCS with a MyLocoSound soundcard. Test runs showed it went too fast for a shunter so I am actually now using only one of the two 7.2v batteries shown.
I have no metalworking skills and no machine shop so spending evenings at my desk drawing up the 3D prints suits me fine. And it means that I can build a radio controlled model, with sound, of whatever prototype interests me, for under three hundred pounds. Going out and photographing and measuring the prototype just adds to the pleasure.
Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound
The photo below shows the achievements so far. The Brill railcar at the back is basically a polycarbonate box with styrene sheet and 3D printed accessories glued on. The power bogie is Aristocraft with 3D printed sides. The van behind it is entirely 3D printed except for the styrene roof and the step.
My current project is the South Australian Railways Class 500 diesel in the foreground. This has two Aristocraft power bogies, each with 3D printed sides. The floor is polycarbonate sheet with 3D printed steps. The bonnet was drawn and printed in six sections. The radio control is RCS with a MyLocoSound soundcard. Test runs showed it went too fast for a shunter so I am actually now using only one of the two 7.2v batteries shown.
I have no metalworking skills and no machine shop so spending evenings at my desk drawing up the 3D prints suits me fine. And it means that I can build a radio controlled model, with sound, of whatever prototype interests me, for under three hundred pounds. Going out and photographing and measuring the prototype just adds to the pleasure.
Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound