Hi all! I have been looking into producing things on my own for quite a while but never knew how I would get it going until I discovered Shapeways and now I can start uploading all my 3d models and start having them made! I have a few models up already, but only one in N scale. I plan on making a bunch and am looking for suggestions on what to make next!! Please take a look and if you have any suggestions, comments, or ideas please let me know! I look forward to hearing from all of you! http://www.shapeways.com/model/268450/n_scale_yard_ofice.html
Brian- Please be sure to use our Model Railroad Product News forum for new future items announcements. Good luck! Boxcab E50
I mean no disrespect nor do I mean to discourage, but you may have a tough time selling such a common item at that price point. After all, BLMA has one that's based on an actual prototype, doesn't require paint, and is only slightly more $ than your own. It's not your fault though, as Shapeways can be expensive for such a large item, so I would focus attention to things not readily available or uncommon but desired pieces, such as diesel cabs and shells, steam locomotive boilers and parts, and perhaps freight car conversion kits. They would need to be spot-on dead accurate, however, and would probably need to be created using Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD), but this will drive up the price again. It's great to see another looking into Shapeways for N Scale. You're off to a great start and way ahead of many. Good luck! :thumbs_up:
How about single-wide mobile homes in a couple of different lengths? That is something that is common but Imex is the only producer I have seen and they are impossible to find.
I agree ! Mobile homes...all shapes and sizes ! I have been wanting to make a 'trailerhood' for years !! TIA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvyTY_oYR_c :tb-wink::tb-biggrin::tb-cool:
Guess I'll have to make it unanamis , we need more 50's style mobile homes in N scale. Imex ones are getting very hard to find.....Mike
I get 20'x24' --> 3.8 x 4.6 cm. Close, but not equal to your 4.0 x 4.8 cm dimensions. But I think the height, width, and depth descriptors are scrambled too. I tend to agree that this particular product is not likely to be in high demand given that BLMA and Deluxe have similar items, but the concept of a Shapeways store is very good. Personally, I'd like to see GPS domes for diesels. These are small (=cheap), simple items that might not even need painting with frosted detail (just weathering), e.g.: http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=73058 Sadly, Kato omitted this conspicuous detail from their last run of BNSF Dash-9s and the correctly-sized item is not available as a separate part. The other suggestions here are good too. I think the current niche for this technology is smallish parts that don't have too much very fine detail: e.g., stacks & domes for steam modellers, exhaust stacks & light packages for diesel modellers, and all those loading dock details like barrels & crates that no one can ever sustain a business on. Good luck with it, Gary
Thank you all. There is more negativity here than I would have liked, but some good ideas and suggestions as well. Let me address the footprint measurements first. They are a touch off because they measure the outermost extremes and I do have overhang on my roof. This could be what was throwing them off but I will re-evaluate. Next, I realize that Shapeways does have their measurements a little goofy in that they list height for length, but they are also dealing in 3-d measurements and I believe they did this so that they could use depth for height. Not sure if this is true or not, I just uploaded my first design a few days ago and this is a SW issue that I have no control over. I also thinned the walls a bit for the N scale model and I believe that once I upload the updated model it should drop the price by a dollar or two. I did not know that others made such buildings, but I can guarantee that my designs are truly unique as I DO model from prototypes and other than some small differences to accommodate SW manufacturing limitations, my designs are as closely accurate as I can possibly make them. In the future I will start including the pictures I take along with my models. Next, I was definitely planning on making some mobile homes and other things like that as well as detail parts like crates and barrels. I will post more ideas a little later when I cool off a bit.
How about the three light nose light packages seen on southern pacific diesels. We are in dire need of those. I know I would buy many.
Thank you for the constructive and helpful suggestion. I would be more than happy to research making these. Can you by chance provide a pic? I would like to make sure that I get it just right.
Hey Brian, At the outset, I would like to applaud your entrepreneurial spirit as you launch your first product. I know the work and effort that you have gone to in order to reach this point and I think you deserve to be excited. You have hit on something very cool and you should be commended for finding a way to get your ideas off the ground. There is a huge need for N scale industrial structures that I believe you are interested in. In my opinion, your first building is worth what you are asking and you will sell them. It is a sharp, clean structure that would fit nicely, “up-front” on many layouts. With regard to the dimensional error, it is probably easy to correct on the web site, so not a big deal in the long run. If structures are your personal interest, then I would stick with that until you get established. Detail parts are lower ticket items that are nice if needed, but the market is pretty well covered and the demand for what is not already made may be too low for a return on your investment. In addition, given the current economic challenges that face the MR marketplace, you will do better with a focused product line to start, either buildings or detail parts, but not both. My best advice to you is to follow your passion, live your dreams and watch your business grow. I wish you the best of luck. Best regards, Roger
Thank you Roger. I thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Buildings are where I would like to concentrate, but I will also be producing military vehicles and some detail parts kits as well. I have spoken with a few of the other guys who use Shapeways, and after some deliberation and them looking at my file we have com to the conclusion that there was no error in my math. The dimensions are correct and that the extra 0.2cm comes from the overhang from the roof. I have the roof set to overhang approximately 4" on each side and that these overhangs are why the dimensions are a little bigger. Plus Shapeways rounds up a touch over what it truly measures out to be. This is kind of annoying but it is also a little comforting to know that they allow for a touch of error. I will be receiving my first order from them in approximately 10 days and I will know then if my calculations are correct.
Actually your office is different from BLMA and Delux buildings. I like it but,I find small buildings like yours can be used for small MOW offices in smaller cities and towns that has assigned maintenance crews and small office/ crew breakroom for the assigned local crew(s) working out of these smaller cities and towns. A personal opinion.Your office looks more railroady then the "office" made by Delux which is better suilted for industries such as large pulpwood yards,small scrap yards and other like industries to include a office for small gas or propane distributors. There are mobile homes already available. A modern concrete team track loading dock would be nice.
Thank you for the kind words Brakie! Those were my thoughts exactly when I started designing it! I wanted a simple, modern building that has more uses than a trackside structure, yet still looked railroad. I have an order for some of these in Z scale and will get my first look at them hopefully in about 10 days and if the Z scale version turns out well I will definitely be putting in an order for a few of these in N! I will post pictures when I get them and they have been painted. Thank you again! P.S. Your request is fully noted and added to the list. Since I believe it will be a simple task I will most likely have it done and added to my page this weekend. If you have a specific look in mind please feel free to post a pic and I will do my best to capture it!
How about DRGW nose lights as well? Have a bunch of GP30/35/40 that need nose lights! I think Sunrise made them. I'm not sure if anyone else makes them, or anything close. Maybe a DRGW snowplow as well? Road specific though. But, a couple of thoughts.
Cool stuff... I do business on the net. Trust me, you are never going to make everybody happy. Go with your gut and stick to your guns. Some people will like stuff, others won't. But no opinion is set in stone. The key is... Promote promote promote.
Brian, what I like about the building is that it does not look like the other ones that are on the market. I am sure, that like others, I need small buildings of this size, but do not want them all to look the same. This gives an other option. And the price is fine for me. As I would want to paint it any way, it is fine as an unpainted structure.
