Westlake Publishing Forums

Thanks Barney, good to be back!
I'll try to keep it interesting. 🧐
MJinTN

Very cool!
What type of milling machine is that?
Looks like way too many hand-wheels for my brain.
MJinTN

Quote from: Hauk on November 17, 2025, 11:38:22 PMFantastic work. A great example of what can happen when great technology meets great talent.

But to spoil the good mood: What do we really know about the longevity of resin 3D prints? This is the kind of work that belongs in a museum to be enjoyed by generations of miniature enthusiasts (I have no doubt that the fascination for miniatures will remain). It will be a pity if the resin prints start to disintegrate within a couple of decades. 

In the museum community there is a great deal of work on this front as printed parts are used in natural history collections to replace lost bones, artists are using printed parts etc etc.

Searching the conservation literature gave me a list of 60+ articles on 3D printed parts. All this is to say museums/art galleries are looking into it seriously. Here is one article that came out this year:

Title: Considerations in acquisition of 3D-printed art
Author/Creator: Hamilton, Emily, Oleksik, Peter.
Journal Title: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, pp. 138-152,  v. 64, n. 2 (2025)

Abstract
3-D printing (also known as rapid prototyping or additive manufacture) is increasingly common and technically sophisticated, and is used in art and design, industry, and consumer applications. Museums and collectors are now acquiring works made using this technology, though their preservation needs are not fully understood. This article provides an overview of the technology and related terminology, review of related conservation literature, and introduction to current efforts for the care of these works. Discussion includes the formulation of collaborative working practices, documentation during acquisition, and consideration of periodic reprinting. Case studies include a pre-accession checklist developed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the reprinting of select components from Altar/Engine (2015) by Tauba Auerbach (b. 1981), which is made of 3-D-printed nylon and plastic on a table of aluminum, wood, and paint, at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. Though 3-D-printed works may be found in science, history, and other collections, this study will focus on works of contemporary art and design.

Here are some progress shots on the track masters. Machined the base from plexiglass and glued on the styrene bumps. The glue melts the styrene so that is looks hand cast. The rail is steel strip that fits into slots milled in the plastic.
Marty J

Hi All,
It has been awhile since I have posted anything. Thought that I should contribute and not just lurk. In the past year I have published a three part series of articles on C W Hunt's industrial railways in the Narrow Gauge and Industrial Modeling Review (Issues 140, 141 and 142). Built up some 1/4 scale models for the articles and continue making models in 1/4, 1/8th, and 1:13.714 scales. Here are attempts at capturing Hunt's small crane in 1/4 scale. The model functions, the hand hoist works and the car remains balanced as the load increases. The platform car is sitting on track that was made using repurposed Buddy-L steel rail from toys made in 1920's. I was lucky and found some damaged track that was for sale at a reasonable price. Currently working on track masters for casting up in 1:13.714 to build a small display layout.
Marty J (the other Marty who happens to work in a lab...) 

Nice to see you back looking forward to new projects or just to have a recap on some of your remarkable older stuff
Have a nice day
 Barney
    in hibernation for a bit   

Looks great Marty - one Marty to another.
regards
Marty J

Yes, Timber Times was a great mag. I have issue 1 through 59 in my library and enjoy rereading them and looking for ideas.
I was lucky enough to have them use a few of my submissions.

Thanks Sir Nick.
It's a functional saw blade but I doubt the (paper) belts would work.
Mj

"Beauty"?
Thanks
I've been working on ita few weeks.
Pictures were taken November 15th

Working on a stub switch currently...ugh..

Mj