First GRS TR-2 3D Printed Signal Head assembled...

So today I’ve successfully assembled my first 3D - Printed GRS TR-2 Triangular Colour Light.

It has four separate pieces that are resin 3D printed, the light box, the front background disc, the rear cover/door & mast bracket.

The LED’s are all colour correct to AAR standards, and are 0603 LED’s with magnet wire, the lenses are acrylic light pipes, these are HO scale.

 

The printer has even managed at 0.03mm to print out the US&S logo on the back door.

These will be replacing the older IHC plastic kit heads I had.

Successful Prints…

Well I finally got my first full print build, eight pieces all successful…

Now to see if I can continually replicate it.

3D Printing - First Prints...

So more fine tuning today, have had some really successful prints and a few that haven’t printed properly.

Unfortunately there is no manual for how to get a successful print, first time, every time.  Well apart from the test rook, that comes with the printer.

There are a few settings that can make a print work or not, a lot of the things I’m printing are under 1mm, most around 0.05mm and some down to 0.03mm so settings come into play getting this to work.

At the end of all this trial period this is what I’m trying to achieve, a GRS - TR-2 Triangular Colour Light, with its mast bracket, at least I have one…!

Resin 3D Printing...

Well I decided to delve right down the rabbit hole yesterday into the world of 3D Resin Printing.

I've purchased myself a 4K Resin Printer so that I can start producing my own signal heads, signal parts, and whatever I feel like creating for the layout in the future...

It's going to be a steep learning curve as I have to learn Fusion 360 so that I can design & build parts in 3D, and then I need to get my head around Chitubox for the printing side of things...

This screenshot of a US&S - TR-2 TriLight Head has taken me a full day to get to this point, countless "how too" videos on YouTube, and lots of coffee...

Should have the unit tomorrow, so hopefully an update, and maybe a print by the weekend, stay tuned...

Jason...

Pulp & Paper Mill - Structure Painting...

Airbrushing day today, the first of the structures for the Pulp & Paper Mill are getting primed and first coats of colour.

The bleach plant has had its primer done, and first two coats of SMS - Tan color, the roof will be SMS Light Gull Grey.

The Woodchip Unloading building has been primed, I tried Rust-Oleum - Flat Grey Primer for this, and it goes on great, quick & even coverage, just have to wait overnight for it to fully cure on the plastic.

Jason...

GType/Tri-Light - Signal Mast finished...

Finished up the GType/Tri-Light triple head mast that is using the Showcase Miniatures heads.

Showcase Miniatures - Tri Light Signal Head

The three heads have been added to Tomar brass mast, the LED’s are color correct 0603’s with magnet wire.

These have been an enjoyable build, to the point I’m considering changing over the existing IHC - Searchlight plastic heads for these.  They have more detail and I’ve got the process down to a point I can complete a head in about 30 minutes.

Jason...

Finished the Concrete Areas for the Pulp & Paper Mill...

Finished off the concrete area for the Pulp & Paper Mill this afternoon.  Went really quickly, even having to reprint three A4 sheets because I printed them on the wrong side…

Checked all the track clearances with the SW1500 Switcher and some rolling stock.

I’ll add line marking, expansion joints, and more detailed later on in a second round.

Pulp & Paper Mill - Concrete Standing Areas...

Finished up the major portion of concrete standing areas for the Pulp & Paper Mill today.

Have one more section to go in the truck loading area on the west side of the complex.

Once the concrete areas are finished I’ll give the structures their first coat of paint.

Jason...