3D printed J68

[RayS]

Having nothing to do while waiting for various rtr items on order, I let myself be tempted by good comments on CDC's resin bodies and bought a J68. It arrive Thursday, 2 days early, and I fitted glazing - Micro Krystal Klear and a couple of BR emblems. Today did the numbering - tight fit on that tiny bunker, and borrowed the chassis from my Terrier. There was a problem with the base of the body fouling the flanges of the front drivers. Took a bit of filing and two thin brass shims to get clear. One of the mouldings for the fixing screws split, also one buffer was chipped but repaired.

The overall quality was excellent IMHO - smooth finish with no striation, and the few mm short in the Terrier wheelbase does not detract very much from the overall appearance and is far cheaper than a brass chassis etc, especially as this was just a trial toe in the 3D water. I've fitted a new front coupling but might replace it with a wire one. The rear one I've left as the Terrier will need its wheels back. Interesting experiment, and something I will be keeping an eye on.

[Atlantic 3279]

Do keep us posted please. Any pictures?

[NZRedBaron]

Gonna guess this is from Thanet Loco Works, right?

[RayS]

Unfortunately KESR wanted Sutton's wheels back after test running. Have bought a chassis on EBay for a stupid price as cannot in all conscience now slip grandson £20 for his old Stepney even if he could find it. Once back on wheels will try a photo. Meantime replaced the buffer heads with steel ones from the bits box. Looks better. Now needs a crew.

[RayS]

Tried to attach a 688kB pic well inside 2mB limit but it says too large. Sorry

[RayS]

Managed by using coarsest setting on camera and cropping down to get it to accept a pic of the J68.

[RayS]

Sadly will not accept a pic of her sister J69/1 arrived yesterday. I do not understand, why if your limit is 2mB it won't accept 892kB????

Nevertheless, i think these little models fill a gap while the big r-t-r boys ignore this attractive family of small locos. Ok they may not be as accurate as a brass J65 or a whitemetal J67/69, but they are a damn sight cheaper!

[65447]

Sadly will not accept a pic of her sister J69/1 arrived yesterday. I do not understand, why if your limit is 2mB it won't accept 892kB????

Maybe because you are still exceeding one or both of the pixel size limits?

[RayS]

What pixel size limits? I can't see any mention only the 2MiB overall limit, which I presume means 2 megabytes?

[Atlantic 3279]

Useful to see one image anyway. It reveals useful things, including the 3D print quality. I'm yet to see affordable examples of 3D prints for 4mm scale loco or carriage bodies that do not require mechanical de-ridging of the surfaces prior to painting in order to produce a finish that I'd be happy with on a lasting basis.

[RayS]

Certainly no need for any rubbing down on the two I have. The CDC bodies come complete with fittings so really not much to do. If there is a weak point it is the less than perfect running of the Hornby chassis. The second one I bought seems to be new still showing that awful Chinese hard "lubricant" to be removed from the gearing.

[Atlantic 3279]

It appears to me in the photograph that there is longitudinal ridging of the boiler surface, rather than a smooth curve, and diagonal print texture evident through the paint on the tank / cab / bunker sides.

[NZRedBaron]

My J68 arrived in the post today, and it's a banger, though you do need to be careful moving the wires around the chassis.

[Hatfield Shed]

... these little models fill a gap while the big r-t-r boys ignore this attractive family of small locos...

And possibly most attractive, a J69 fills one of the larger gaps in the list of LNER group 0-6-0T's without a RTR model; also the asset of plastic construction above the leading wheelset, and thus no risk of short circuits, a real problem with metal kits of this family of loco designs.

It appears to me in the photograph that there is longitudinal ridging of the boiler surface, rather than a smooth curve, and diagonal print texture evident through the paint on the tank / cab / bunker sides.

Coming a little late to this, it should be kept in mind that interference between the 'pixelations' inherent to the 3D printing and the digital photographic processes may well act to exaggerate the texture in the on screen image.