When ya'll get a chance, go back to page 185, and see where we came from. Very interesting how much was scratchbuilt back then!! Seems like nowadays AZL, Micro-Trains, and the other Z manufacturers have blessed us with a lot of stuff that wasn't available awhile back. I feel blessed that I have what I have in Milwaukee Road items. SD40-2's, SD45, GP38's, F-units, boxcars, caboose's, etc. Good time to be in Z right now!!
That's very true Mr Moose. I used to repaint and scratch build, but no more. With all the releases from azl, there's less need to do it.
Really it's a matter of how model railroading and Z scale in particular have changed. I would point you to the earliest Z discussions in the N&Z section of the Trainnet community on CompuServe, but alas both the service and community are long gone. If you look at the Model Railroader archives, Z scale goes back to the 2nd half of the 1980s with construction projects in a suitcase, and of Z scale structures and signals, and even an electronics project for a throttle. But their last Z story was about Robert Albritton's layout a decade ago. We still "scratch build" but styrene and white metal casting has been replaced with 3D printing. Custom designed electronics have been replaced with DCC & LCC. There is a great selection of products being produced, but in too many cases are still as rare as the hand-cast shells of 25 years ago. People like to talk about us being in a "Maker Generation" but I wonder if that wasn't a decade or so ago when people knew and executed in styrene and brass? Mark
I don't know about you but the items I want in Z are still not available, or deals cut with certain people prevent me from getting what a want now (ex., R.K. & z-panzer) thereby making me wait 2 years. Yes, 3D seems to be replacing the old way of getting what you want but nothing beats a good sturdy craftsman made model compared to a brittle "handle with care" 3D model. When 3D models are smooth & not line grainy and the materials are as strong or stronger than styrene molded professional models, then I will be their greatest advocate and promoter! Machines are improving and materials more diverse but the right combo just doesn't seem to be there just yet. I invite anyone to prove me wrong. Show me a 3D model and a injected molded model of the same item in Z scale (AZL SD70ACe shell for example). Enlighten me! HoboTim
I think that the power of 3D printing for Z scale can be found in the combining 3d printing and other materials. With 3D printing we can do what can't be dons with casting. For my drop-bottom I was able to have the 0.3 mm holes for the phosphor bronze wire 3D printed. It would not be possible to drill these holes. The etched details are stronger than 3d printed details, but still a 'super' detailed model needs always be handled with care. I see 3D printing just as an other technique to be used for modeling.
About the only thing I can't buy off the shelves right now is the Milwaukee Road's signature "Ribside" boxcars in both 40' and 50' foot sizes, but I do have in my possession a beautiful one-off 40' Ribside painted, custom built, that I'd love to have a lot more of!! For the most part, I'm happy with all the offerings so far, but yeah, there's more prototype stuff we could all use.
Here is one but not just a shell and as you know these are not a toy there 3D printed. Not trying to prove you wrong but times are getting better. https://www.shapeways.com/product/F3RDSVQ5S/emd-sd70-ace
Kits of everything are still fun, but so limited in variety. While laser cutting many of our own, the ability to do 3D angles lacks, of course. Yet with 3D printing, the variety and detail have been impressive, some *amazingly* outstanding, especially for the theoretical printing resolution. My biggest issue is while making 80-90% of the 3D object there is always one side or surface that is berzerk and usually always in the wrong place are too small of size to get into smooth. Still missing metal printed steam and also all the time I need to work on work on this. A couple of years . . . .
Doing kits like you said are fun. but at this time not many being designed! Just like Model Railroading doesn't really see us Z scale people as a train scale very little said in the magizine about 1:220 scale. 3D printing is slowly getting better but still lots to learn in the print world. Z scale seems to be the hardest due to the support wire size being larger and making it hard to design to proto-type on some pieces. I have been at it since 2013 and still having a hard time understanding why a piece can print at one time but then at another time gets rejected. Seems kinda of funny. As you said one side might have print lines and not be smooth. 3D printed pieces in Z are also harder to clean. being so small. But I have been happy with most of the pieces I have done! I have been able to make moving parts for cranes and some train car. buildings are also a good item but one piece harder to paint. But today things have been changing with electronic are getting small and big enough to fit inside Z scale trainz so they day is getting closer! I just did this building in Z scale was a friend on one of the sites that did a scratch built in On3 scale a switch tower. which was interesting due to the shape. so I did it with siding board details ladder, barrel, and some spare cement block on the ground. Photo show different angles! The shay was also 3D printed along with the figures and the poling car. these were all nice piece one painted up will add alot to a good train layout. and these pieces seem to not have printing lines and were cleaned well before I got them. these were all my own design in 3D even the 1934 ford pickup! the time is close!
