Since the last update in May modelling slowed down. I was able to put together and paint up a couple of coal stages for two locations on the layout. However my main activity was printing out on the 3D printer a UK water tower from files from the Net, as well as CAD designing and 3D printing a number of enhancements to the original to suit my layout. I still haven't found or perfected brick walls on the 3D printer so in this instance I used Wills/Ratio red brick styrene for he walls. The windows and door lintels and posts were also made from white styrene just because it was easier to do this than design and print out appropriate ones. For the water I came across a product that is a MS Polymer on a wargaming site. I was looking for a non-resin and non-silicone based product I wanted to make sure that the tank sides where not heat damaged by any resin that generated heat when curing as the 3D plastic is a thermoplastic and could melt or deform. I am not a great fan of silicone hence why I didn't use it. I then painted and weathered the model.
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| The MS Polymer product I used. I designed and printed the two paddles to assist in smoothing the compound in the tank. |
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| I won the Intermediate Category. |
My mate Mr Mackie put a challenge on me to design and print a NSWGR Staff Machine. Challenge accepted and I came up with this little model which is actually four smaller components glued together. I subsequently made it into a kit for sale at the Club buy and sells, and through the grapevine. $5 for two machines. You have to paint it though ;-)
The Club's G scale outside layout was commissioned this year and I was interested in operating on it but couldn't afford the model locos at present so once again 3D printing came to the rescue. I didn't want anything big at this point in time, just something small enough to 'give it a go'. I came across a design for a 1:32 scale LNER J70 tram loco (similar to Toby from Thomas the Tank Engine) as it is basically a box on wheels. I intend to operate it via its own wifi control chip, along with some accessories like sound and a smoke generator (I have always wanted to give one of these a go). Printing is basically done now and assembly has started, I am waiting on some electronics to come in the mail. I am also designing my own Android app with the help of an online design tool MIT App Inventor 2. More updates to follow how this goes!
On a sadder note, I asked my son Matthew if he still wanted to persist with his layout but he advised me that he wasn't really interested in train modelling at the moment as he has other interests. I thought this was going to be the case as he always looked bored when we did work on his layout. He may come back to it later in life like most of us! So I have started reclaiming models and scenery from his layout for safe keeping and will dismantle the layout.
