I think Shapeways must "batch" orders together since Mark & I are close to "mirrored". in our ladder count. I don't know what their "post printing" procedures are but they would seem to need a little work. "Sprues" add to our cost/their revenue. JMHO I should also add, however, that your solution of putting the ladders on a "key chain" is brilliant!
After watching several of the Shapeways videos about there factories etc, I found out that they do batch as many models into one print as possible, I think we had about 7 water tenders go through together so I bet they got a bit confused. The key chain idea came to me yesterday while walking by the sea, as these things do! I was trying to do something that was as cheep as possible, and it came to me. Plus 3D printing is the only way closed loop things can be made interlocked like that, I love it! -James
Got my second set in the mail today - wow, what a difference. Nothing is warped, everything fits together perfectly, the shells don't have those blotchy lines on the side, and I got the correct assortment of ladders (4 and 4). In retrospect, I should have just sent that first set back. Oh well. Anyway, on with the Bestine. Cheers, -Mark
Sweet, Sorry it took two attempts. Hopefully the parts will be usfull. And the MT wheels should now fit, yes? -James
A Ha! Written proof, so I do know what I'm doing! Your excursion train is going to look fantastic! Thanks Mark, -James
So far so good... Now I'm thinking I may need to bite the bullet and add handgrabs along the top ala the prototype. Anybody else doing that? Cheers, -Mark
Mark, What UP Harbor Mist grey did you use? I utilized the Scalecoat on mine but I want something a little lighter on my next 2. Also, what wheels? I tried MT's but they fall out. I have not tried the FVM's yet. Also, I thought you ordered a different set of trucks, got them replaced, or somehting like that. Thanks for the info. Jeff
I used Model Master "engine gray", which right out of the bottle is pretty much a dead-on match for the gray on my Kato passenger cars. MT pizzacutters are a perfect fit in the trucks, however I have the latest/revised version where James shortened the axle length requirements a smidge (I ordered a whole new two-car kit since my first kit was such a mess). Cheers, -Mark
Jeff, Yep Mark is right, he has the new version with he fixed trucks. The spare trucks on my site are also fixed but Bob "Xmtrman" said... Hope that helps, -James
Thanks, James. Dummy that I am, I completely forgot about the end decals. Now I get to take those danged ladders off and then relive all of the excitement of putting them back on again :-( Cheers, -Mark
Nicely done, Mark! Did you apply the flag directly to the side? Looks nice! Work and the family's holiday festivities have left me little modeling time but I do have my trucks painted.
Thanks, guys. The flag placards went all warpy on me when I put decals on them (I guess from the water?), so I decided to just stick the decals right on the sides. Less accurate, but I think it looks better this way. Cheers, -Mark