This question has come up before. Check out this thread https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...getting-carried-away. Take your time and read this end to end.
If you want a finish like plastic then you need to look at a resin printer. All are pretty much the same (that's MSLA) in capabilities and cost. The price goes up with size and resolution. I have both FDM and MSLA printers. Mostly I print on the FDM but for a high quality finely detail print I go to the resin printer. The issues with resin have already been mentioned.
Customer support can be critical for a newbie. I've found Elegoo's to be outstanding. I'll send an email, go to bed, and there will be an answer bright and early the next morning (and they apologize for taking so long).
I'm not a spokesperson for Elegoo but that make a quality printer at reasonable prices. If you want an FDM printer look at the Neptune 3 Pro. I recommend this over the earlier versions because of it newbie friendly features that will let you start printing right out of the box. I also have a 2S and a 3. The PRR F32 flatcar in the referenced thread was printed on a first generation Elegoo Saturn.
If you don't go after the top of the line printer you can find good prices as most manufactures are have closeout sales as they retire earlier models. Compare specs and don't forget to search youtube for reviews.
Several forum members have been using 3D printers in their modeling. Trainman2001 I feel pioneered the use on the forum. Norm charbonneau recently start 3d printing part for upgrading;locomotives using both FDM and resin printers.
Jan
