I have access to Autocad so thought id have a play with 3d modelling. So far ive done a basic cab shell for Class 76. its fairly rough and has little detail (don't know how well rivets will 3d print anyway). i dont currently have a 3d so may get shapeways to print for me. Any advise will be welcome. its currently modelled at 7mm scale with 1mm wall thickness.
Is this your first project Paul? A loco may be a little adventurous.. that said, we all have to start somewhere... mine was a signal box. Took me well over 100 hours and despite working from scale drawings wa a still 6 inch out! I still know where I went wrong. have a look at something a little smaller to start with then come back to this. Shapeways will want a minimum of .7mm so your ok at 1, unless you want the fine detail but that would be expensive in 7mm scale. (But you cane do as thin as .3mm). however, that’s not a bad start and your capturing the look and curves. One of my projects is currently on version 8! Andy
No Pete ... I have it on good authority these items will be produced to wear at shows as social distancing protective headgear.
Thanks for the advice and your signal box looks great. Whilst this is my 1st attempt at creating a 3d model to be printed I have used autocad professionally for close on 20 years so thought i'd jump straight in. If I get it printed plan on doing it in stages to see how it comes out.
As you can see I got rather carried away. Im not totally convinced by the profile of the raised centre roof section so may have another go at that.
That’s looking very impressive... I personally hold back from locos (despite one or two requests) as if I don’t have the correct chassis, I have no idea what clearance I need internally or even how it will secure to the body. don’t forget to give that some thought. but that’s looking ace!
Thank you. I have left the underside of the main body hollow with just some cross pieces over the bogie centres. PRMRP sell the chassis etches from their range of O gauge diesel kits as seperate items. I plan on using one of those as they are very simple and reliable. It also means performance will be similar to my O gauge diesel locos.
