These pulpwood racks are from Shapeways. In this particular application, the WSF material is not objectionable, but for anything you'd like a smooth finish to decal ... fugedaboutit. The material looks like it has a terminal case of leprosy and you can't eliminate it with any reasonable level of effort. The WSF Polished is OK, but the FUD (Frosted Ultra Detail) is the material to order, if it's available. It's also a lot more expensive. Now someone needs to come up with a good looking easily removable lightweight load for these cars. I had a few resin loads from HO broadgauge days that I was able to whittle down, and they look really good, but they weigh a ton, and the little 0-4-0 won't pull them and anything else. You'll probably recognize the 0-4-0 as a Mintrains product, with the Shapeways short eight-wheel tender. There is a Bachmann chassis from the new-style N scale slopeback tender under it, with the trucks hard wired to the motor so every wheel on the rails picks up power. I finally found my low-cost, readily available version of Bridgton and Harrison "box car red" ....... Ace Hardware Red Oxide Primer. It matches the color photos in Gary Kohler's book Maine Two-Footers in Color almost perfectly. It also seems pretty close to what our old house in New England (and most barns) was painted in the 1950's. Respectfully, Bob S
Bobs, I've been working with Shapeways and working with the materials I fine that the FUD (frosted Ultra Detailed material) has been the best in flat surface and fine detailed work! http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/attachment.php?attachmentid=70208&d=1426545730 this is a grain trailer I did in Z scale you can see the surface is great for decals and doesn't look like leprosy.
I have also used that color. For my eyes, I am happy with the results. I'm happy to read that someone else agrees. Those cars look good. With that tender, the loco is much better. Wish they'd sell it without a tender. I believe a lot more folks would buy it. With a different headlight, it would fit my era nicely. I wonder if Shapeways will upgrade equipment in the next year or so. Then product finish would be a lot better.
