The New 3D Printing Thread

[chrisjo]

Can the tomy or Lego figure fit inside the cabs?

I can test that!

[leylandvictory2]

Doesn't matter really. I think it will be more realistic I'd the Tomy figure or Lego figure can stand inside the cab.

[Nigels]

Ok, final version of the tweaked Ffestiniog loco mounted on a standard Tomy Thomas chassis.  This is now available if you're interested, I may add a 'face' later, for now it is just in its standard loco style - oh and yes Super I have added 'rivets' to the coal bunker

[Super]

 Ahhhh, Rivets

[Trainboy90 Productions]

The shells are pretty huge, shouldn't there be a hole for the switch?

[leylandvictory2]

If you look at the last photo, there is a rectangular block sticking out in the coal bunker.  That's where the switch is located.

It seems this prototype is taller than a regular trackmaster toy, will this shell clears the tunnels?  Toy R US power trains can't clear tomy tunnels.  

[Nigels]

The shells are pretty huge, shouldn't there be a hole for the switch?

There is under the coal insert, it is marked for where a slot is needed to allow the switch to feed through

If you look at the last photo, there is a rectangular block sticking out in the coal bunker. That's where the switch is located.

It seems this prototype is taller than a regular trackmaster toy, will this shell clears the tunnels? Toy R US power trains can't clear tomy tunnels.

This is something Super mentioned. With the Manning its a problem with a combination of the shell type and the chassis type. I may re-design it to fit on a different chassis so I can shrink/lower the shell somewhat. Similarly with the latest one that fits on a Thomas chassis there is a little scope to drop the height a bit, but doing so will compromise the look of the loco a bit - I know if it was Fisher Price they wouldn't give a hoot, but I was trying to bring some realism to the world of PlaRail lol!

[Super]

[Trainboy90 Productions]

I think it's best to shrink the shell to the the size of a Trackmaster model.

[leylandvictory2]

worse come to worse just use Toy R Us Powerrail tunnels, they are taller than tomy/plarail/trackmaster.

[Nigels]

Or... I could print some taller and/or wider risers

Seriously, I will look to modify them for plural and add some optional faces when I get some spare time ;-)

[Nigels]

Ok, well following the couple of PlaRail bundles I bought recently I found myself with a couple of loco/tenders with the battery cover (coal) missing.  So I decided to duplicate one so I could print my own replacements as and when required.

Here's the prototype, the final versions will of course be printed in BLACK, this was just to test the size/shape/fit.  Seems I pretty much got it right, I just need to fiddle around with some bracing to make its a bit stronger and support the 'clips' a bit better.

[ripley802]

Very nice Nigel..

[Super]

Now thats an awesome idea Nigels and one that is much needed for the older Plarail Battery tender engines as those covers keep getting lost or broken in kids toy boxes. Now all you need is to make programs for a Henry, Gordon and Edward tender coal cover as I think they are all different.
Excellent idea and work Nigels. I would imagine there would be a market for them if you sold them in a set with one of each for the Thomas lovers. There are also tender covers that are missing for the western type Japanese steamers like the Yoshitsune and Benkai. You see many of those engines listed on the Japan auctions with no covers mostly due the the covers not snapping into place and they easily pop off.

[Nigels]

That was my thought as well, I know in many job lots I've bought I've often got a Gordon, James or similar without his battery cover, understandable if they've been through little (or not so little) hands

If you have a relevant section I can run a listing in I would be happy to provide them to members at a reasonable cost (i.e. shipping + filament cost) rather than list them on commercial printer sites which charge an arm and a leg.

I'll have to look (or get a friend like Sun or Muddy) to check which covers are interchangable - I know the one I have just produced fits both PlaRail Gordon and James, I need to dig out a Henry and Edward to check those.  Similarly I'll have to look at the covers for the 'real world' steamers to see what would be needed for those, but anything is possible given time

I'd also be happy to supply couplings, both the new ones we developed and normal eye and hook ones if people want them and in any colour needed - PINK for Hello Kitty trains maybe?!?