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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 19, 2019 16:37:25 GMT -8
My small order for five (5) Shapeways 3D printed parts has arrived. I am very pleased with the quality and thought others may be interested in a review. Website: Excellent, modern shopping cart system that allows easy payment via credit card. Site is searchable and there are many creators who have uploaded some really good designs. Pricing: Compared to what we are used to in the detail parts market, the prices are high. I see Shapeways has now added a "Processing" fee in addition to the product and shipping costs. Shipping: As a Canadian buyer, this issue is usually problematic but Shapeways uses a hybrid UPS/Canada Post shipping system that charges no brokerage fees. UPS (a shipper I normally avoid) does most of the shipping with the exception of the "final mile" which seamlessly comes to my PO Box here in town. This is an excellent solution to the problem caused by sellers who use UPS or other couriers to ship to customers who are not at home during the day. Taking time off work and driving 2 hours to the airport pickup terminal during business hours is not appealing to those of us living far from the city. I really appreciate being able to pick up my parcel at the post office where I get the rest of my mail. Shipping time: Order placed on website Feb 6, shipped Feb 12, arrived Feb 19. Packing: All parts were carefully packed in small Ziploc bags which were each sealed in small bubble wrap bags. All were surrounded by air pillows inside a nice small shipping box. No damage in shipping. Product quality: Top notch for 3D printing, no warpage or defects. All parts in my order were very well designed, kudos to their creators. I followed Ryan's instructions to clean with Simple Green household cleaner. Worked well. I was able to easily file off the un-needed light castings from both ends, no cracking or other surprises. This bodes well for the drilling that will be necessary to mount the antenna, smoke jack and toilet vent in the new roof. Customer service: No issues, no complaints, responsive anytime I've needed them to be in the past. Not needed this time. Other: These small parts were very hard to photograph nicely. There is more detail in these well-designed parts than my poor photography can convey, so keep that in mind when considering your own parts purchases. NW caboose propane tank by he6agon (smoothest fine detail plastic) www.shapeways.com/product/SEGCLNKEH/ho-nw-propane-tank?optionId=60324941&li=marketplace Extended Vision Cupola SOO/BN Predecessors caboose by he6agon (smooth fine detail plastic) www.shapeways.com/product/EVBRPYY62/ev-cupola-soo-bn-predecessors?optionId=57862965 Caboose MP Smokejack by he6agon (smoothest fine detail plastic) www.shapeways.com/product/48GBVYMA2/caboose-mp-smokejack?optionId=58116082&li=marketplace HO Retainer Valve Bulk Packs by K. Kadwell Mfg. Co.(smoothest fine detail plastic, large pack of 40 valves) www.shapeways.com/product/2B564S6JM/ho-retainer-valve-bulk-packs?optionId=70071477&li=marketplace CSX Bay Window caboose/shoving platform roof by BoneValley. (smooth fine detail plastic) www.shapeways.com/product/ZQS2Q4DE4/ho-bluford-caboose-roof  |
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Post by nsfantodd on Feb 19, 2019 18:10:07 GMT -8
Thanks for your review and photos of the parts you received. I also appreciate your recap of the ordering and shipping process. There are some Shapeways items that I am interested in. This will help motivate me to order!
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Post by markfj on Feb 19, 2019 18:28:43 GMT -8
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Post by bnsf971 on Feb 19, 2019 18:39:45 GMT -8
Great review! Shapeways also prints in resin. Check out the replacement tank treads this guy made in N scale to upgrade the M1 tanks from Micro-Trains. Initially, I think he used FUD, but found that resin yielded finer details and was easier to work with. Thanks, Mark Mark, what is "FUD"? Where I work, it is an acronym for "Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt". |
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 19, 2019 18:56:22 GMT -8
If you prime the parts they tend to photograph a little better, but it can mean an added layer of paint you don't want. And depending on the finish, sometimes it's a layer of paint you do want.
I'm glad to see all the parts turned out good. That's not always the case with Shapeways. When it's not, their customer service team has been helpful in getting me replacement parts.
Shapeways' shipping has gone through a few changes over the years. It's not as quick as it used to be, but the packaging of the parts has certainly improved.
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Post by 12bridge on Feb 19, 2019 20:38:42 GMT -8
Interesting to see your take on the experience. I feel the new store/website since they updated it a few months back has really changed it for the worse. I know I saw a significant downturn in my sales since they did that. The search engine has gotten slightly better, but I think could still use some improvement.
Shapeways has recently also increased prices, quite a bit on some things, especially smaller items. Unfortunate is is out of our (store owners) hands for the most part, short of cutting out our costs completely. Consider prices for detail parts now, and the prices really are not THAT bad, espeically since a good portion of the parts your getting are in some sort of bulk format in alot of cases.
The shipping times dont bother me so much as the turnaround. I put an order in 2.5 weeks ago, that is not expected to ship for another 2 weeks. Its usually less then a week.
Always be sure you properly clean them as well before any sort of paint application.
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Post by bdhicks on Feb 19, 2019 21:50:58 GMT -8
Mark, what is "FUD"? Where I work, it is an acronym for "Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt". As I recall, it's Frosted Ultra Detail, which they're now calling Fine Detail Plastic. |
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Post by roadkill on Feb 20, 2019 12:57:24 GMT -8
How modifiable are parts made in FUD? I'd like to get a set of triple clasp GSC sideframes to build a Penn Central U23C but I would need to modify the engineer's side sideframes to have explosed roller bearings.
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Post by 12bridge on Feb 20, 2019 13:38:00 GMT -8
How modifiable are parts made in FUD? I'd like to get a set of triple clasp GSC sideframes to build a Penn Central U23C but I would need to modify the engineer's side sideframes to have explosed roller bearings. Its do-able, as long as you are cautious and go SLOW. FUD/FXD (or whatever its called this month) is more on the brittle side. But as long as you have good sharp tools its not too bad. |
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Post by sp8299 on Feb 20, 2019 17:42:09 GMT -8
How modifiable are parts made in FUD? I'd like to get a set of triple clasp GSC sideframes to build a Penn Central U23C but I would need to modify the engineer's side sideframes to have explosed roller bearings. Its do-able, as long as you are cautious and go SLOW. FUD/FXD (or whatever its called this month) is more on the brittle side. But as long as you have good sharp tools its not too bad. Seconded. The stuff is workable, but very brittle; think of trying to cut into sugar rock candy. I discovered this while kitbashing an EMD GP60 Demo cab and nose using Shapeways 3D parts melded with Cannon. As long as your knives and bits are fresh and sharp, it can cut, but it can be slow going. |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 20, 2019 17:57:51 GMT -8
I filed the light castings off the ends of the roof pictured above, plus I did some drilling in through the top and the process was drama-free, just like working with styrene.
To remove bearings, I should think it would work just as well as long as you work carefully as mentioned above. It's easy to remove too much material when filing.
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gnfan
Full Member
Posts: 111
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Post by gnfan on Feb 20, 2019 21:29:51 GMT -8
I ordered one of the he6agon caboose sets with ends, sides, roof and cupola for the NP/SP&S caboose.
The prints are very good and along with using the Plano Products detail sets for the Atlas Cabooses look to build up to a fine looking SP&S caboose
DavidB
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 20, 2019 22:58:42 GMT -8
David,
I hope you'll post photos of the built up caboose! That's one I'd like to build someday.
I was just looking over my cabooses earlier asking myself how many can one guy have? I've got a Walthers bay window in the mail and another CCS bay window pre-ordered, not to mention the ones I have under construction already.
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Post by GP40P-2 on Feb 21, 2019 8:57:51 GMT -8
I was just looking over my cabooses earlier asking myself how many can one guy have? . Not to worry, you can't have too many. You may want to move them to and from the layout, but it adds variety, kind of like having various sets of motive power that can come and go from the layout. If the stuff on either end of the train changes occasionally, then what is in between will "look different." However you already have that layout thing (moving your stuff to and from the layout) resolved, with Freemo! Jim |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 21, 2019 9:13:14 GMT -8
Hi Ryan, how many cabooses do you have completed? Feel free to share workbench photos of your currently under-construction models. What are your plans for the Walthers bay window?
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 21, 2019 11:53:08 GMT -8
Hi Ryan, how many cabooses do you have completed? Feel free to share workbench photos of your currently under-construction models. What are your plans for the Walthers bay window?
Completed? Well, not many sadly. I typically find a stopping point with my projects then come back to them when inspiration hits. I'd call ten of them complete and another five are RTR models that only need weathering. Five more are still in the build stage and two are unbuilt kits. I tried taking a photo of the cabooses on my dining table, but it didn't turn out great. Apparently the clouds here are never going away. I have all the progress photos I've taken of each project here, including the overall photo I just took: pbase.com/mecrharris/cabooseThe Walthers caboose will get stripped and have its windows, underframe and rooftop details reworked. It will become one of the last ten bay window cabooses Rock Island received. I printed some Rockwell high speed trucks a couple years ago with this project in mind. I'm on the fence whether it will get blue and white or red and yellow paint. Either way, it will be patched for Union Pacific. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 21, 2019 15:05:39 GMT -8
I've eyed a Rio Grande caboose at shapeways - I wonder how good it is? There are several of the 14000 series type there including the shop built welded and the modernized riveted.
Mark, have you checked them out?
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Post by autocoach on Feb 21, 2019 15:22:59 GMT -8
I have bought the freight car AB system from Kadwell on Shapeways and find the parts very well made. With current problems with Shapeways I hope he finds another platform soon or Shapeways shapes up. This is current offering www.shapeways.com/shops/k-kadwell-mfg-co |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 21, 2019 16:29:48 GMT -8
Thanks for the photos, incredible modelling as usual Ryan!
Is that UP caboose a Centralia model? I am surprised they did not include the basic underbody, end and roof details.
Your 3D prints look very good as always and I love the Frisco and Santa Fe cabooses. Looks like you've done a few of those roof panel fill-ins.
I also really like your group shot. Those are some beautiful models on display there. Maybe I'll share an updated photo of my collection if you or anyone else is interested.
AFA the Walthers bay window, I thought that was fodder for your UP CA-11M project.
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Post by roadkill on Feb 21, 2019 16:55:14 GMT -8
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 21, 2019 20:16:03 GMT -8
Thanks for the photos, incredible modelling as usual Ryan! Is that UP caboose a Centralia model? I am surprised they did not include the basic underbody, end and roof details. Your 3D prints look very good as always and I love the Frisco and Santa Fe cabooses. Looks like you've done a few of those roof panel fill-ins. I also really like your group shot. Those are some beautiful models on display there. Maybe I'll share an updated photo of my collection if you or anyone else is interested. AFA the Walthers bay window, I thought that was fodder for your UP CA-11M project. Thank you! I'd love to see any of your caboose photos. Yes, the UP caboose is a Centralia model. I need to weather that one and get some better photos. I'm going to try to use the underframe of my destroyed Rail Yard caboose for the UP CA-11M (so glad the puppy is finally growing out of the chewing stage). The bay from a Walthers kit might be a starting point for that one. I'll need to print a new roof for it though. |
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 21, 2019 20:19:05 GMT -8
Let me know how these work out for you. I used the N&W sideframes as the base CAD file for these, so although I haven't printed this particular design, the N&W parts have been printed successfully. |
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Post by es80ac on Feb 21, 2019 20:29:09 GMT -8
can it print HO human figures? I am hoping to create some figures that are as fine as the Preiser figures
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 23, 2019 7:52:18 GMT -8
Thank you! I'd love to see any of your caboose photos. Yes, the UP caboose is a Centralia model. I need to weather that one and get some better photos. I'm going to try to use the underframe of my destroyed Rail Yard caboose for the UP CA-11M (so glad the puppy is finally growing out of the chewing stage). The bay from a Walthers kit might be a starting point for that one. I'll need to print a new roof for it though. Here are two photos, one caboose shelf and one display case showing a few of my CP and all of my non-CP cabooses. All have had some work done to them. 8-17-19 since the time of my original post, I inadvertently broke the two photo links that used to be here. I apologize for any inconvenience but I cannot remember which photos were here originally. |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 23, 2019 8:00:16 GMT -8
If you prime the parts they tend to photograph a little better, but it can mean an added layer of paint you don't want. And depending on the finish, sometimes it's a layer of paint you do want. Good idea, Ryan. Here are two photos of the roof; one with primer as you recommended and the other installed and finished. IMO it looks as good as any other part.  In regards to the other question about modifying 3D parts, this roof had its light castings carefully filed off the ends. The process was as expected with no cracking or other unexpected drama.  |
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