06-11-2013, 03:39 PM
3D printing would be the way to produce the pattern used for vacuum forming, but vacuum forming is a less precise science...and far more of an art...than 3D printing. I'd avoid it like the plague and work on your design skills for 3D printing.
Shapeways handles the orders and fills them. You handle the design and spreading the word. It is free to upload a design, and they print only what is ordered/paid for. No pre-orders of stock unless you want to do that.
If you are making the items less trucks, you are missing out on a key element of 3D printing: I can print the item 98%+ assembled...they are essentially semi-kits...less wheelsets, paint, decals, and maybe couplers. The color of the material is irrelevant, because all models need to be painted regardless as to the plastic color. Keep working on your designs and don't get discouraged! Study prototype photos/dimensions and try drawing a pair of trucks. You can do it!
Many modelers do build not just kits but serious craftsman kits. I have a couple friends currently working on replacing all of their Athearn/MDC/etc rolling stock with resin kits...a daunting task for a basement-filling railroad...so that they can more accurately model their prototype. For those of us in narrow gauge (On30 partially excluded) are accustomed to most of our fleets being built from craftsman kits with 60-200+ detail parts. The result is a roster which looks good like Doctor Wayne's, but through a different path.
Shapeways handles the orders and fills them. You handle the design and spreading the word. It is free to upload a design, and they print only what is ordered/paid for. No pre-orders of stock unless you want to do that.
If you are making the items less trucks, you are missing out on a key element of 3D printing: I can print the item 98%+ assembled...they are essentially semi-kits...less wheelsets, paint, decals, and maybe couplers. The color of the material is irrelevant, because all models need to be painted regardless as to the plastic color. Keep working on your designs and don't get discouraged! Study prototype photos/dimensions and try drawing a pair of trucks. You can do it!
Many modelers do build not just kits but serious craftsman kits. I have a couple friends currently working on replacing all of their Athearn/MDC/etc rolling stock with resin kits...a daunting task for a basement-filling railroad...so that they can more accurately model their prototype. For those of us in narrow gauge (On30 partially excluded) are accustomed to most of our fleets being built from craftsman kits with 60-200+ detail parts. The result is a roster which looks good like Doctor Wayne's, but through a different path.
Michael
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->