Severn posted:I was able to import all of the EMD-SW1500 engine's models into shapeways -- and work my way through each one -- re-scaling them to O scale (originals are in 1:32). I also ran their "thickness" analyzes tool for each and made some adjustments there.
This all took time, possibly 8 hrs in total people time -- mainly because it's all done on their servers so the dependency is based on how fast these various functions will run -- the thickness analysis is particularly slow.
With that -- prices per part. So as best as I can tell - printing all the parts which includes the trucks for example and wheels (so 8 of those) and things like the railing "pins" to hold the railing wire...
... total would be $350 in their default lowest end plastic...
I could of course throw out the trucks and wheels and this would lower the cost somewhat. I could throw the base plate too... But I'm tempted to start at least with the whole thing.
So that price, to me isn't too bad from an experimental pt of view...
I would however like to make at least one change before trying even a sample part -- that is turning the now solid fuel tank into a hollow one...
(this is a handy place to put a speaker or some weights for example & so I'd rather it be hollow)
My guess though is the print will come out in some ways imperfect and so I in theory I'd cycle through some iterations to get out a good print...
Given that, I can see this is really rather pricey ... and yet it's very likely to only get better... it's a fascinating thing really if that occurs.
Maybe you could slowly have it printed as you go, part by part.
I recommend finding a frame from a different model and fitting the engine to the frame.
This engine is set on a postwar ALCO frame with U36C trucks.
