The 3D story thus far

Discussion in '3D Modeling Projects' started by Tombee3D, May 14, 2018.

  1. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Part 1

    OK. As I have said, I am making a start in modelling the railways of Colombia using 3d printed parts.
    Well there isn't much information around about the railways of Colombia (also locally known as Loco-mbia), certainly no drawings or anything so sophisticted. Photos and videos are available on-line, which are useful, along with some outline drawings (http://www.thedieselshop.us/) unfortunatley with some obvious errors.
    Anyway, although some of the old steamers would be nice (some have been preserved and in steam occasionally, most motive power was and still is (where the railways have been commercuially re-opened) diesel. Track gauge is mostly 914mm/3 feet so originally was made to model to a scale of 4mm/ft. - 12mm track. I could have chosen American HOn3 (3.5mm/ft on 10.5mm gauge).

    Anyway, the General Electric class UB10 looked like a good starting point. Apparently the UB10 was very numerous in Colombia, and some decent photos available. Some are still running under new ownership

    A start was made in designing the model. I found Autocad Fusion 360 to be an excellent 3d modelling programme. And it is available as a freebie if solely for non-commercial personnal use.
    The illustration above is a grab from Fusion 360. The yellow parts are for etched brass parts (more on that another time).

    Fusion will allow you to chop the model up into various parts suitable for 3d printing (see the en beam on right of illustration below

    Fusion 360 will also allow you to design using prototype dimensions and scale down later, even mixing imperial and metric if so desired.

    Anyway, having disassembled the model into its various components, the parts are converted to a format suitable for 3D printing (STL format), again done within Fusion 360.

    The parts are sent through the 3D printer, not all at once otherwise you'll be there forevermore. I use HIPS filament (HIPS = High Impact Polystyrene). I've tried other other filaments ( PLA and ABS) but found HIPS to suit me better because of its ability to be joined together with standard polystyrene adhesives. It is slower to print with though.

    Here's a "kit" of parts:

    (to be continued)

    Hope you enjoy,

    Tom
     
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  2. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Part 2

    So far so good. Now comes the interesting part - assembling everything to see how it looks.




    Just in grey primer and no handrails or finer details yet.

    Then whoops! a new photgraph surfaced of the protype GE UB10.


    A redesign was called for to show correct left side (left, because all diesels travel cab first in Colombia so the cab is the front).

    New build with correction:

    The fuel tanks were also amended.

    I then designed a chassis, using Bachman 12mm diam. disc wheels (prototype wheel diameter = 914mm) and thought of various ways of mororising it, bearing in mind the restrictions within the hood and location of the bogies relative to the body, and without obstructions within the cab. The first attempt was to mount one of Nigel Lawson's mini motors on the rear bogie driving through pulleys as per Nigel's methods. Along with a LaisDCC decoder, this worked absolutely fine. But I worried about power and haulage capacity with such a small motor. The second iteration of the chassis incorporated a larger 12V can motor (provenance unknown) driving the rear bogie through a set of spur gears via a cardan shaft. Again worked fine with the possibility of driving the other bogie (motor has a double shaft).

    A recent liquid birthday celebration (I live in the land of uisge beatha/water of life/whisky) made me realise that I have a lack of space so a rethink was needed. All my designs have now been scaled down to 3mm/ft (gauge 9mm) and printing of a new smaller kit is nowin progress.

    I have decided that the bogie frames would be etched brass - a DIY job to learnt - along with the cab parts.

    Progress to be posted later as and when available.

    Cheers

    Tom

     
    Last edited: May 14, 2018
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  3. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    WOW a very interesting project.:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
    Will watch for more instalments
     
  4. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    There you go :tophat:
     
  5. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Well that’s has come together nicely
    Nice variation with the thin foot plate without valance fitted :tophat:
    I’m guessing the locos were modified during their lives.
    Now you just have to get that unique livery on :avatar: looks like it’s been Graffiti bombed with stars and a characture
     
  6. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm liking this! Keep them updates coming. :tophat::tophat:

    Pete.
     
  7. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Thanks Chris. Most modifications came in the form of various builds, and the workshops' attempts at keeping them running over the years - plenty of real-life kit-bashing. The original footplate was taken from a photo of an early UB10 currently running on a heritage line in Colombia.
    The livery is already in hand have already prepared the yellow/blue/red stripes and FNC logos, small ones at the ends and big ones on the sides where the "graffiti" appear. Inkjet decal paper is the medium which I've used in the past with success but that will be a some way off yet. The "graffiti bombing" is actually a design of many butterflies and a portrait of the late great Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Márquez in commemoration of his death 4 years ago. Here's a better view:
    Cheers
    Tom
     
  8. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Your definitely further down the road than I've got - yet :worship:

    Great model.

    I've not tried HIPS, what settings do you use ?

    Paul
     
  9. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    A very good attempt. Very impressive. The detail is terrific :thumbs:
     
  10. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Thanks

    HIPS - Extruder at 235°C, Bed 100°C. Speed: as slow as is practicable, generally about 20mm/sec but I tend to slow it down to 5mm/sec for first layer to make sure the srtuff sticks down. Best tip I had for HIPS is to make sure the bed is prepared properly i.e. glass bed (I use a piece of 3mm picture glass same size as bed) covered with Kapton tape (200mm wide which coincidentaly is the width of the bed). Rub the Kapton all over with the finest abrasive paper and wipe down with acetone. Good to go. A clean nozzle also helps.
    Tom
     
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  11. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Thank you kind sir.:tophat:
     
  12. redpiperbob

    redpiperbob Full Member

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    Hi I don't seem to be able to see any of the pictures.
    Bob
     
  13. Paul-H

    Paul-H Full Member

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    Me neither
    Paul
     
  14. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Apologies Red. Slight hiccup this end re. privacy settings in media. Try it now.
    Tom
     
  15. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Apologies Paul. Slight hiccup this end re. privacy settings in media. Try it now.
    Tom
     
  16. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Sorry Paul, meant to mention in my use of HIPS that I also tend to leave the cooling fan switched off.
    Tom
     
  17. redpiperbob

    redpiperbob Full Member

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    Hi Tom
    Excellent work I haven't tried hips ether i might get some. Although I have just received a Anycubic Photon resin printer.
    I believe the quality is unbelievable on this printer . I will find out in 1 hour when it has finished printing my first model.
    Be seeing you
    Bob
     
  18. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Thanks Red. Mayber one day I'll have a wee win on the lottery, but then that means that I'll have to play the lottery
    Good luck with the Photon, which I note is no longer available at the South American rainforest selling site. Did you buy the last one?:lol:
    Tom
     
  19. redpiperbob

    redpiperbob Full Member

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    Hi Tom
    I thought you might like to see the result of the photon I have a lot to learn yet but the quality is AMAZING http://www.click


    These photos are of a Scammel with nothing done to them except breaking off the supports and a quick primer coat.
    by the way this is a 4mm scale model
    once again I cannot believe the quality.

    be seeing you
    Bob
     
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  20. Tombee3D

    Tombee3D Full Member

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    Hi Bob,
    That Scammel looks AMA-as you say-ZING. Well done. Looks like I'll have buy a lottery ticket now :thumbup:

    Slainte

    Tom
     

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