Kabuto Models; Details for your layout!

[Kiha66]

Kabutoni, how can we encourage you to create some more of your excellent little Japanese-centric detail bits?  I have very much enjoyed the ones you have out there now on Shapeways. Here are a few photos of them - hopefully as encouragement.  I would like to see more n-scale layouts detailed at the level you see in HO layouts and your detail bits are a gold mine for those of us working on Japanese scenes.

That beautiful torii gate and signboard convinced me, I'l be putting in an order for some of these as well.  What paints did you use on the prints?

[Kabutoni]

Thank you so much for your support and the excellent pictures of your finished models! This is indeed very motivating. I've had my modelling on halt for a bit to concentrate on other stuff, as I felt the limits were a bit reached. I do intend to make more organic objects, as these previous ones are all very static and mechanical. For this, I need to dig a bit deeper into 3D modelling.

 

I have however developed enough experience with materials to know their practical limits. The mirrors are probably the maximum I can get out of the FUD/FXD material. I haven't tried the new BHDA from Shapeways though, but I'm extremely curious how it looks, feels and acts like. When they have another free sending offer (to Japan it's over $20, which counts for the costs of a test print), I'm going to try it out.

[Martijn Meerts]

I don't quite need any yet, but I'll definitely order some things once I start working on some scenery :D

[gavino200]

Anyone know if there are 3D printed seated figures available? I want to put people in all my passenger cars. I recently experimented by putting some Preiser figures in a dome observation car. I like it, and would like to populate all my trains, but the Preiser figures are expensive and I'll need a lot of them.

[cteno4]

Gavin,

 

Simplest and cheapest solution

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-pcs-Painted-N-scale-ALL-Seated-People-Sitting-Figures-1-150-/172169034164?hash=item281612f9b4:g:iugAAOSwiYFXEZIw

 

They may need a little cleanup here and there.

 

Many find that for them to sit at the right height you need to clip them off at the waist as the floors and seats are usually raised a bit in most model cars.

 

Ketario had a thread where he seated a lot of these in cars. Works well past 2" viewing!

 

Some threads

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/3378-adding-figures/

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/3575-my-project-begins/page-11?do=findComment&comment=59191

 

Jeff

Edited January 9, 2017 by cteno4

[gavino200]

Gavin,

 

Simplest and cheapest solution

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-pcs-Painted-N-scale-ALL-Seated-People-Sitting-Figures-1-150-/172169034164?hash=item281612f9b4:g:iugAAOSwiYFXEZIw

 

They may need a little cleanup here and there.

 

Many find that for them to sit at the right height you need to clip them off at the waist as the floors and seats are usually raised a bit in most model cars.

 

Jr500 had a thread where he seated a lot of these in cars. Works well past 2" viewing!

 

Jeff

 

Wow! Thanks :)

[maihama eki]

That beautiful torii gate and signboard convinced me, I'l be putting in an order for some of these as well.  What paints did you use on the prints?

 

I use mostly Tamiya spray paint and Tamiya bottled liquid acrylics.

 

It is important to thoroughly clean the parts first.  I use liquid detergent (Dawn) in warm water.  Let the parts dry at least over night.

 

For example on the torii:

     Primer: Tamiya Fine Surface Primer in Gray (this is also the concrete color on the base).

     Orange: Tamiya TS12 Orange spray

     Black on the Legs: Tamiya TS6 Matt Black spray

     Black on the Top: Tamiya XF69 Nato Black liquid acrylic - applied with brush

 

I often finish with a dark gray/black wash to weather and bring out details, and sometimes a flat clear like Tamiya TS80 Flat Clear.

[Kabutoni]

Just released an older model that has been in the pipelines for about a year: http://shpws.me/NLAs It's another cute little tramway locomotive, but instead of Henschel as the producer, it's Hohenzollern. A less known manufacturer, but these machines could be seen around the world nonetheless!

 

 

 

I hope to get to work soon again on some new things, as well as a revision of the Utrecht Sneltram, next to a few other new rolling stock. With the recent Tomytec tram power units, a whole new world has opened up! :)

[medusa]

Sooo cute....

 

... which reminds me to another cute loco. A honest question, Toni: do you take inspiration & ideas from forum members? ;)

[Kabutoni]

Sure, I can do requests, but it's not a guarantee I can finish it quickly, if at all. This newest model took about a year to release with almost no progress in between... As a professional illustrator, I do commissions on a regular basis, so I guess I could do the same with 3D models.

Edited January 28, 2017 by Kabutoni

[gavino200]

Sure, I can do requests, but it's not a guarantee I can finish it quickly, if at all soon. This newest model took about year to release with almost no progress in between... As a professional illustrator, I do commissions on a regular basis, so I guess I could do the same with 3D models.

 

I'd be interested in militarized police vehicles. Lenco BearCat, LRAD G-20, MRAP, APCs, and maybe a phalanx of riot police with locked shields.

 

No rush at all.

[medusa]

Toni-san,

 

I read about the one year, no rush. It's just when I saw the lot of detail on the Hohenzollern boiler, it reminded me to a project idea I had some time ago when I saw this tiny steam loco chassis:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10288931

Two of them will be a fine base for one of the early 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt locos. Best it works probably if doing one of the "industrial" Garratts of this type sold until the 1930s:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:6841_William_Francis_Garratt_100_exhibition_%281%29.jpg

 

But with some compromise it would also be possible to model the Tasmanian Government Railroad class K1 (the first Garratt at all):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Government_Railways_K_class

Or, the Darjeeling Himalaya Railways class D (may be of interest for certain forum members modeling Asia scenery, too):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHR_D_Class

 

Maybe you like one of these? Anyway, if you could help about the characteristic Beyer-Peacock style boiler of these locos, it will ease much of the remaining shell work.

 

But - as said above, no rush at all.

Edited January 28, 2017 by medusa

[velotrain]

medusa -  I can understand the temptation of using the ready built TGW chassis, and long ago I was equally tempted by the ~1970 early version of the Bachmann 0-4-0, which actually had detailed valve gear.  This site suggests there might be some of these in Japan.

 

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bach040.html

 

Since the motor was only 3-pole, you'd want to replace it with something better - perhaps Faulhaber.  One possibility I considered was reversing the direction of the motor, to shorten the length of the chassis to a more typical Garratt length.  I suspect that you'd find the TGW chassis disappointing - size isn't everything.

 

If you're willing to go to a somewhat larger scale (but same gauge), Backwoods Miniatures produces a high quality kit for a 009 / HOn30 / HOe class D.  It would be more money, but an equal amount of work as building a Garratt from scratch - look at that valve gear ;-)

 

http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/Xgaldhrd2.jpg

 

from:  http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/009kits.htm

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkCF5VksYN0

Edited January 28, 2017 by velotrain

[Kabutoni]

I'd be interested in militarized police vehicles. Lenco BearCat, LRAD G-20, MRAP, APCs, and maybe a phalanx of riot police with locked shields.

 

I have yet to do fully modelled vehicles, when I have the blueprints (or at least outside dimensions and some technical drawings) I guess this could be done.

 

Maybe you like one of these? Anyway, if you could help about the characteristic Beyer-Peacock style boiler of these locos, it will ease much of the remaining shell work.

 

The usual problem with steam locomotives is the power unit(s). Even though when you find one that will fit, the next problem is of how others can obtain the same power unit. That's why I've chosen the SeaRails PowerMAX as a solution for the Henschel and Hohenzollern locomotives. Power units are available everywhere, but to find one with rods or connection points for rods is another problem.

 

However, for the side rod problem, recently Shapeways have released a new material that seems to be more befit for this kind of job. Whenever Shapeways is doing a sending for free deal again, I'll make sure to have a model ready to order with working side rods (I expect somewhere late spring 2017). I hope this will work (the fragility of small 3D printed objects is a big problem), as it will open up a new world of possibilities!

[medusa]

@Toni

Yes I know about the power unit problem, steam loco kitbashing is something I didn't try yet for exactly that reason. It's ok for me if you don't want to open that can of worms. ;)

 

@velo

If gauge change were ever an option, looong time ago I'd bought one of these kits:

http://www.djhmodelloco.co.uk/prodpage.asp?productid=3069

However, there was never a South African GMA/M (my favourite from early childhood days) in N, a crowfunding of the similar looking NSW AD60 in N did fail...

 

--

 

Doesn't matter. One cannot have it all. :D

[enodenlover]

Toni, here's an item that I can really use but isn't currently available in N gauge, the older style Japanese telephone booth. You're probably familiar with it; cream colored with a red roof and a solitary window that's located in the door.  It'd be nice to add one to the micro-layout that I just completed ( rural Japan in the late 1950s ) but I'm just starting on another, slightly larger layout that will be a town and factory complex set around 1970 and I'll probably need at least three or four of those booths for that. At the rate I work, completion of the new layout is at least a year or two away so it's not like I'll need them any time soon. Any chance that this is something you could add to your list of future projects? 

 

Bob

 

 

A correction: Don't know where I got the idea that these booths only had one window but the photo I found online shows otherwise, there were also windows on both sides. 

Edited March 24, 2017 by enodenlover

[Kabutoni]

Hello Bob,

 

I think I can do that. I'm planning to make a few small structures for details in the future anyway, so your idea can be a great addition! Japan has had a series of telephone box designs, but apart from the 50s telephone box (Tanchō Denwa Bokkusu (丹頂電話ボックス)) with the red roof, they're all full glass boxes. The glass itself is very hard to reproduce in 3D print, so I'll have to think of a solution for that if I want to make these glass boxes as well, although Sankei has made an older version in laser cut paper.

 

Other ideas I have boiling in the back of my head are a small roadside shrine to go with existing shrine details, jizō statues, bicycles and perhaps stacked car parks, though I have some doubts about the rigidity strength there.

[cteno4]

The stacked car parks are perfect for etched metal. Wasn't hard to mock on up 2 high with some strip stryene though. I'll go try dig it.out. It is tough one for 3d printing with small vertical columns and the the suspended horizontals. Probably have to be separate flat pieces then assembled. How well do thin struts and posts come off the print bed? The print area would get big shoes this up the charge?

 

Jeff

[velotrain]

The glass itself is very hard to reproduce in 3D print, so I'll have to think of a solution for that if I want to make these glass boxes as well

How about something like laser cut clear heavy duty plastic film, similar to the stuff that many HO train models are packed in these days? The ones that slide out of a clear rectangular tube, and then open with four folds. You'd need both cutting and scoring - and a method for adhesion. Maybe a 5th side that wedges in, held in place by a wedged-in base and roof. Or - would something like this work for HO but not N?

 

Hold on - looks like someone has made their own already -

 

http://tnkhdak.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2007-09-13

 

 

The hexagon is probably untouched ground -

 

http://www.naonao.jp/html/museum/moji/moji09.jpg

Edited March 24, 2017 by velotrain

[railsquid]

Toni, here's an item that I can really use but isn't currently available in N gauge, the older style Japanese telephone booth. You're probably familiar with it; cream colored with a red roof and a solitary window that's located in the door.  It'd be nice to add one to the micro-layout that I just completed ( rural Japan in the late 1950s ) but I'm just starting on another, slightly larger layout that will be a town and factory complex set around 1970 and I'll probably need at least three or four of those booths for that.

 

FWIW there's one like you describe in this Diocolle set: http://www.tomytec.co.jp/diocolle/lineup/tatemono/tatemono_47.html

[velotrain]

AKA http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10283967 - but it is currently unavailable

[nah00]

 

 

Other ideas I have boiling in the back of my head are a small roadside shrine to go with existing shrine details, jizō statues, bicycles and perhaps stacked car parks, though I have some doubts about the rigidity strength there.

 

Maybe Kitsune statues for an Inari shrine? They seem to be fairly common.

[enodenlover]

FWIW there's one like you describe in this Diocolle set: http://www.tomytec.co.jp/diocolle/lineup/tatemono/tatemono_47.html

 

I knew about the phone booth in that set but even if it was still available there's no way I could justify spending that much money just to get one small item. Did an online search regarding oldtime Japanese phone booths and learned that these steel booths first appeared in 1954 and by 1969 had been pretty much replaced by the modern glass ones. I guess I'll change the 1970 setting on my new project to 1968 so I can properly use the older style.

[Kabutoni]

Slowly, my general activities come in quieter waters, so I might pick up 3D modelling again after the Golden Week. I want to explore organic forms a bit, so I can make the Inari-shrine kitsune, as these are also in my whish list. I'll also try to visit a few shrines and temples in the Golden Week as well with measuring equipment so I can prepare myself a bit with source material. Maybe I'll commit myself into making a complete temple/shrine set, sans the main buildings (or do mini shrines/memorials). It's something I miss a bit on the general market.

Edited April 2, 2017 by Kabutoni

[nah00]

The smaller shrines are something I've notice are lacking as well, the only ones I've seen are the Sankei kits which are nice but don't provide much in the way of variety. There's such a variety of style between shrines with them too that you have a lot to chose from for which works best for 3D printing. 

 

The mini-shrine/ memorial is great too for the gaps that inevitably appear when city planning in n-scale - just from 'wandering the streets' in google maps' I've come across shrines in the most unexpected places in dense city, suburban, and rural areas.