Well, that is as long as there is a mech can be made to work and the engine is made in another scale! And ...Yes in near future through 3d printing we will have any boiler we want but for now.... Here is the first test using Hydro span 400 to shrink a N scale boiler to Z scale. Yes there are flaws and it was a a quick test. Primer was painted on the boiler to show the detail and the body was handled with the primer still wet. The shrinkage rate depends on the ratio of water to polymer mixed Uploaded with ImageShack.us Now on to shrinking an BLI HO TTT down to N scale..
That is so impressive. And its such a new concept, that it will take a while to even think of the many possibilities. Thanks for posting.
I've been watching 3d Printing closely. So far their resolutions are to low for our small scale. Well the affordable printers anyway.
Long since gave up on Athearn... My own, Ive build 8 so far Early prototype shot And Ive built 5 ASTF Northerns
I agree, but 3d printing is in the near future!! We can stop beggine the mfg's to make to prototype we want.. Its please just make this wheel arrangement!
I'd have to say 3d printing for MRR is already here. It's just going to take a few more years to perfect. Here's my 3D printed N Scale Telehandler. Face detail down to .01mm, stand alone detail down to .03mm! Jason, I still owe you a favor for that Aux Water Tender from almost a year ago! (X2 because of my ridiculous delay in returning the favor! ) If you want to experiment in 3D printing, let me know. Design + print is on me.
"Some day... and that day may never come, I am going to need a favor....." Do you have a 3d printer or access to one? That would be awesome!! So just need to get a 3d scan of every boiler made. HA!
I don't have a printer, but I designed the telescoping boom lift and had it printed by Shapeways in Norway. The result proved excellent (and I've commissioned a bulk order of the telehandler for distribution!), so pretty much whatever we can design, they can print (at a very reasonable cost too!).
They still look amazing! What I wanna know is how the progress is going on the project that you and I disscussed.
I see one problem with your method. Getting past the cost of the larger locomotive/train. How do I get N scale Electroliner without the $400 plus dollars for either the ConCor HO version or the brass O scale one?
Well if we get past the legal issues of reproducing to distribute it, the 400 dollar brass model ends up being almost your total tooling cost. Spread that over X models and your tooling cost is (400/X) bucks per unit. The only question left is how many units you can sell. Obviously, the more the better.
So In order to produce the complete fleet of two trains I must first spend a ton of money. Then spend a bunch on materials. And then mold a bunch of bodies that may or may not be usable. Add the cost of motive power plus details per locomotive. Then in order to negate my initial investment I must spend thousands of dollars to lessen the charges of copyright infringement. I believe there are some problems with this situation, unless you need 50 to 100 of locomotive for your layout.