Designing a shadowbox diorama

[Hauk]

Exceptional. -- Russ

Thanks, Russ!
I think what's really exceptional here is the possibilities that 3D-printing offers. When I started this diorama I spent an awful lot of time searching for machinery that was useful for the diorama. I found some of the CHB white metal kits wich are in themselves fantastic, the white metal parts are probably the best ever produced. But for my shop the scale is slightly off, the type of machines not quite right, and the wheel lathe long out of production and impossible to locate.


Affordable 3D printing made it possible to use the time spent searching for kits and commercial parts on modeling the exact right machinery and detail parts. And while the 3D printed parts is not quite as good as Charlie's parts, they are so good that even Sierra West that owns all the CHB masters have changed to 3D printing their product range.

You all know this of course. But what a time to be a modeller!

[Peter_T1958]

Exactly my thoughts! In the field of plastic modelling it's too bad, the art of scratch building is disapperaring more and more. And I don't exclude myself from that. I am/was a scratch builder too, but the benefits of 3d modelling are obvious. I can adjust the parts on the screen again and again before printing them, saving a lot of time. And I am able to undertake projects which had been impossible a few years ago (at least to me).
But on the other way it loses its soul ! This can best be seen in figure modelling. A lot of interesting figures around but without personal touch...

[finescalerr]

I consider computer design an integral part of scratchbuilding and digital tools, such as 3-D printing and laser cutting simply a step up from glue and razor saws. Design is to modeling what composition is to music. -- Russ

[Bill Gill]

My take on this is indirect rather than imperical. I don't have a laser or 3D printer, or even an airbrush. I have a Dremel that gets used rarely, razor saws, razorblades and similar tools.I buy some detail parts that I need, but I enjoy creating others out of various materials and odds and ends even if sometimes "better" parts are available commercially.

I use some photo editing and graphic software regularly for tweaking photos for magazine articles and for creating images for decals and signs. I don't think that is a lesser accomplishment compared to developing film and hand coloring photos with oil paints.

To me me designing items to be 3D printed or laser cut is an advanced approach for creating the models and details I envision even if someone else does the printing or cutting.

That said, I am in awe of the in depth scratchbuilding by a number of modelers on this forum.

[1-32]

And my 2 shillings worth.
Printing is amazing, and the range of resins is expanding.
L like using bits when suitable, but I am just too lazy and stingy to get fully involved with printing,
Saying that, it really gets on my nerves when printers get really arrogant, for pet's sake, it is software that is designed to make humans look stupid.
Cheers

[finescalerr]

For the record (and as you might guess), I have the utmost respect for completely handmade models and truly admire top notch models people build that way. I lack their skill, though, so I make use of CAD and digital tools because they enable me to design my own models and build above my skill level. I've never tried 3-D printing because getting good results seems a hobby in itself and, besides, resins can be icky. Also, as Kim points out, 3-D CAD software can be rather oblique. -- Russ

[Hauk]

I haven't got my own printer as I share Russ' view that getting good, consistent results with 3D-printers is a hobby in itself.

I'm lucky enough to have found an eager hobbyist that take care of my printing needs. He charges me quite reasonably, the wheel lathe will probably cost me about the same as the 3D printed engine lathe Sierra West offer in O scale.

The Sierra West lathe is probably better detailed than my home cocked machine, but they do not (yet) offer a wheel lathe, and if they ever offer a 3D printed version of the CHB wheel lathe (the engine lathe is based on a CHB white metal kit as well) it is not of the same prototype as the lathe in «my» workshop. The scale is also 1/48, and I model in 1/45.

I have the same attitude with photoetching and metal casting. There are people specializing in these fields, and my own results would be at best at par with the specialists, but most likely of lesser quality.

I want to focus my efforts on designing parts that no one else is interested in making. My progress is slow enough, and if I should learn my self to master the craft of 3D printing and photoetching I would not get anything finished.

[Lawrence@NZFinescale]

I have the same attitude with photoetching and metal casting.

I've always felt that too.

I got into 3D printing when there really weren't people offering it as a service - at least not at a price and in a form that worked for me.

That remains somewhat true.  I could get much of the stuff that I do done elsewhere, but quite a bit of it is somewhat unique.  It's also true that having developed expertise it is hard to let it go. There's nothing quite like having a machine that can spit out models either.

[lab-dad]

I looked back at a couple pages.
Those trusses are stunning.
I'm going to start at page one so I don't miss anything.
Hopefully I will have some time soon.
Marty