3D-Printed Sn3½ Flexible Track

As an experiment, I recently tried 3D printing some sleepers for correct-scale Sn3½ track, using a similar principle to commercial flexible track.  I used the Makerbot Replicator printer which we currently have at home on loan, using a chocolate brown filament so the basic colour is about right.

It seems to work fairly well, although it would be a bit time-consuming printing sleepers for a basement-size layout.  For a modest layout, though, it appears to be a feasible proposition.  

The photos show the track with Code 70 rail (weathered, from MicroEngineering) but code 83 would fit too as the dimensions of the base of the rail are the same.  The tops of the sleepers have a textured finished from the printing process rather than the fake woodgrain on commercial track.

3D printed track with handlaid track in the background.
Note: I don't recommend use of unsupported MDF as trackbed
as it will inevitably sag - this is just a temporary arrangement.

The longest length which will fit in the printer is 18 sleepers @ 12 mm spacing which equates to 216 mm of track, so about 4 lengths would be required for a yard of track.  Printing each length takes just under one hour.  It may well be possible to print several lengths at one time side-by-side which wouldn't save much time but would save on trips back and forth to the printer.

Computer rendering of the sleepers.

As for cost, the cost of the plastic material works out to about $6 per yard, plus the cost of the rail of course (not including any costs for the 3D printer itself).  As a comparison, the NorthEastern scale lumber which I have used in the past for handlaid track costs about the same.

I also 3D-printed a jig to make it easier to insert the rail by keeping the sleepers parallel to each other so the rail slides in relatively easily.  So far, I have made about 1.5 metres of track.  

The 3D design could be changed to print straight track or fixed curves of any desired radius rather than having "flexible" track.  For example, if laying parallel tracks in a yard it could be easier to lay lengths of straight track to avoid the inevitable "wobbles" with flexible track.

Two Products of interest to WA Sn Modellers

Two products I have used recently which may be of interest to members of our S scale group are locomotive number plates from Narrow Planet and hand-rail posts for hooded diesel locomotives from A-Line in the USA.

Narrow Planet is a company in England that makes kits and bits for the narrow gauge enthusiast.
I recently ordered and received some number plates for two of my steam locos and for three Y class diesel locos. Steve at Narrow Planet is very helpful. You can order up to two sets of 3 number plates for 4 pounds sterling delivered to an address in Australia which is a very good deal. These are etched brass oval number plates, as appeared on all WAGR steam locomotives and on the B, M, MA, Y and Z class diesels.

Steve at Narrow Planet makes them to order for you. They are exquisite and very reasonably priced. They come in a standard envelope through the post once your order is finalised to your satisfaction. Payment is by B-Pay. They are listed on the Narrow Planet Website with the other 4mm scale number plates under the heading Western Australian railways. Steve originally did the artwork for an order from Andrew May who recomended them on this very blog. They are however made to S scale, not 4mm scale. You just need to remember to order 3 plates for steam locomotives (two for the loco and one for the rear of the tender) and two for the diesels which had oval number plates. This needs to be done with the order in the section where you can write in your special request which goes as an email. Steve answers all emails and orders fairly promptly. the plates arrived in about 3 weeks. The three sets of Y class loco number plates can be seen below. They cost 9 Pounds or about A$25 delivered.

Y class number plates. Artwork is sent to the customer prior to final order being made up.

The second product, metal handrail posts, were first brought to our attention by Richard at the December 2014 meeting of the S scale group. These are made by A-line but are best ordered from Walthers on-line store. A-line do not deliver overseas. I recently ordered 2 packets of the medium handrail posts for my two A class locos, my C class DE loco and my MA DH loco. Richard was the first to use them on his D class loco. You get 35 posts in each packet so I calculated that I needed two packets. I ordered the medium or 5/8" ones which worked out well. I used 0.5mm brass rod for the actual handrails which thread through the eye of the posts quite easily. the smallest dab of super-glue keeps them rigid once you have fitted them.  These are also delivered in a small padded envelope by normal overseas mail. They say to allow up to 6 weeks but I think they arrived in half that time.

Happy Modelling.

D/DA Diesel Loco - 3D Printed

The first test prints have arrived for both the D and DA class diesels.  Both models have now been assembled and are running, including DCC and sound (Tsunami EMD645 non-turbo).

The model is designed to use a Hollywood Foundry mechanism, which can be supplied with the correct axle spacing.  Hollywood Foundry don't offer the correct size (15.7 mm) wheels in their normal range, so the wheels are from Northyard but Hollywood Foundry can fit them to their bogies during the normal assembly process at no extra cost, other than the cost of buying the wheels.  

The cosmetic bogie sideframes will be 3D printed as well.  

There is more info on the Marbelup Models blog.

Test print of D class fuel tank, with 7 layers of lead sheet added.
Weight: 166 grams.  Top 2 layers have central gap to clear motor.

Butlers Swamp Models for 3D printed fine detailed scale model train kits

Hi Everyone,

Its about time I let people know I have started a little kit manufacturing empire of my own, Butlers Swamp Models.

The former name of Lake Claremont near where I currently live, and the name to the original siding nearby before Claremont Railway Station was built on the Eastern Railway (Western Australia).

First model to be released under this brand is my 3D printed A Class bogie for the Railwest kit, which I am absolutely sure will be a cracker.

Why release an extra piece for this already awesome kit, well the resin side frames while they look acceptable I think will look a little out of place. And since I had been working on my own scratch built A Class for some time and have been converted to 3D printing along the way, I was not happy with the appearance nor having to chop up the resin side frames for mine, I was going to create these anyway so I am excited to offer them to you as well.

Please see my new page here to get more details and to order.

http://butlersswampmodels.blogspot.com.au/

Peter

The Midlander Decal Set

The latest release from Westland Models is the name board decals for The Midlander train.

The Midlander Name Board Fitted to a AZ Carriage

The Midlander was the name given by the WAGR for the new service that ran between Perth and Geraldton over the former Midland Railway between 1964 and 1975.

Initially the train set was painted in Red and Cream and fitted with the gold name boards, later in the 60's the train set was painted Larch Green and the white name boards were fitted. 

Decal Artwork

The decals are supplied in a set of three (one spare in case of a mishap) and both styles are available.

Note: The name board is not included and the decal will not include the red or green backgrounds.  

RA Class Diesel - 3D Printed

This week, I received the first test prints for an RA class diesel from i.Materialise.  Converting the 3D drawings from the R class turned out to be easier than I thought, taking about 1.5 weeks of "spare" time, compared to several months to draw the R class originally.

Although the bulk of the long hood is the same as the R, the RA is about 16 mm longer overall, with the extra length being noticeable in the "front porch", short hood, the louvre panels behind the cab and the fuel tank.  The RA doesn't have dynamic brakes, so the vents at the rear of the long hood on the R had to be "blanked" over.  The headlights are different too, with two lights side-by-side rather than one above the other.

Note that the RA is presently sitting on temporary dummy inner bogies (3D-printed in blue) fitted with 12 mm diameter wheels rather than the intended 14 mm diameter, while awaiting delivery of drive bogies from Hollywood Foundry.

Starting Construction of my Pemberton Layout

After getting back into modeling several years ago after a rather long break, I have spent several years contemplating a plan for a model railway to capture the atmosphere of the Pemberton railway yard, the mill and some of the bridges of the Pemberton line. Struggling to work out how i would fit these aspects into a room of the house i have been renting in that time and deciding which room would be best has led to a slow start, but after much research into the layout of the yard, the mill and the surrounds, I have finally made a start. My initial plans seemed good on paper until i realised the curves i had drawn where too tight to achieve and whilst the revised plan is still developing I finally began construction of the first sections of the layout earlier this year.

My starting point has been the Pemberton yard itself, with an aim that the centre section of the layout would be as close to scale as possible and would include the station, goods shed and loading dock, whilst the rest would be a compromise in order to meet the limitations of the room.

The following blog will follow the construction of the layout as it progresses: http://pembertonrailway.blogspot.com.au/