larchiefeng

That 3D CAD software is a game changer for rendering the parts that, I need. If you don't mind what 3D CAD program are you using? Thanks.

I like what you are doing here! How did you get the dimensions for the alternator and other stuff that you are rendering? I would also be interested in buying some of those upgraded parts to add to some of the weak spots that the transkit doesn’t address very well. The transkit gives you the PE to add more detail but the Pocher part is lacking to begin with so it really doesn’t look as convincing as it should.

I’m probably a little late to the party as regards the display but, after looking at your proposed case set up, I have an observation. I like the car above and the roof below because as you say the car is the star of the show. The only thing that, I would do is, slightly tilt the roof section forward so that everything on top is also visible and then put a mirror on the wall behind the roof and one below it. This way it should reveal everything inside reflecting from two different angles. The top is fully visible as is the car. So, I think with some creative tilt and mirrors you should be able to show everything underneath. I know how much work decals on seats and interiors can be having done a fair bit of carbon fiber on model cars and these look great. I was looking at your reference pictures of the actual Pegasus and it struck me at just how accurate your build is, great work Alan!!

You have really captured the realism of the subject with each and every small detail! In some of those pictures, if it wasn’t sitting on your workbench, I could swear that it’s the real thing. Every small part just adds to the overall feel of a real rail carriage! I really like the addition of the roof framework and I agree with all the others, the red oxide is the right choice. If you think about it, it’s just another level of realism because that’s what you would see if the interior ceiling panels were removed. No need for anything other than a rustproof protective layer of paint up there and, with the added benefit of it being unobtrusive when viewed from above. I’m going to have to get out my thesaurus and find some new superlative words for what we are enjoying taking shape here! But, for now, outstanding work Alan!

I would use the Tamiya etching primer on the bare metal first and then use the regular primer and then the red. The other thing to keep in mind is that “red” is a bit of a translucent color and the color of the primer underneath it will affect the color of the red. Gray primer will make the red darker in color. White primer will give a brighter red color. For future reference this also applies to orange and yellow. I always use a white primer underneath these colors. My experience with the Tamiya clear is that it is really dependent on the number of coats. I would probably just do a few light coats and keep building up the coats until you get the look you want. The good thing about Tamiya paint is that it dries fast but, the temperature and humidity will also affect the clear. Spraying too far away and when it’s too hot will possibly cause the paint to atomize as it comes out of the nozzle and be almost dry when it hits the surface. Rich’s idea is probably the best to get the best paint job!

The only advice that I can give you on the spray booth is make sure that you have a lazy Susan/rotating platform to have your parts on. As you know these are large heavy parts and you want to be sure that you don’t have to handle it during the paint process. I built my own booth years ago and it’s big enough to be able to get all the way around it. If it were me, knowing what I know now, I would probably just use a box fan and make the surround out of cardboard. This way you can always make it bigger or smaller as needed. I think that the ones you mentioned for sale might be too small. My spray booth is 32” wide x 23 1/“ tall x 23 1/2”deep. These are the inside dimensions so, you can probably tell that I used 1/2” plywood using 24” pieces. The other thing is, I see that you are using the Tamiya spray which is good. I used Model Masters spray which is enamel, big mistake!! I painted it 3-4 years ago and I still don’t think that it’s completely hard and cured. I still get marks and the paint is just not suited for a large metal body. At some point I might have to repaint. Since you stripped all the paint, you should use the Tamiya etching primer on the bare metal before you prime and paint the body. It will help with paint chipping off. I still regret stripping all the paint off. If I had to do it all over again, I would just sand the baked on finish down and just primed where I cut open the louvres and used the old paint as the undercoat. As far as the other transkit goes, I think that I have decided to pass on it. I already have a fully detailed metal engine in it and I think that I can use what Pascal has done with his F40 as a sort of template to fabricate the Testarossa suspension etc. I don’t need any engine upgrades and $650-$700 is a little too much right now.

The Pocher F40 kit is running anywhere from $700 - $2,000 depending AND, this Autograph transkit is between $1,700 - $2,000 IF you can find one. So, not for the faint of heart! Tommaso Iuele is making a transkit for the Testarossa that he is finally selling at between $650 and $700 now. I just got an email from him asking if I wanted mine shipped. I’m kinda toilet paper poor right now and I’m thinking about it, lol 😂 Cleaning up the workbench now to attack my F40 again.

Looks great! It gives me something to really think about and more to the point, it gives me the motivation to get back to work on my build. Are those turbo ID plates on the decal sheet? For some reason I don’t remember seeing them or some of the other small ID plates like on the starter as an example. Great work and nobody knows as well as I how much work this represents! I probably should probably have read your text a little closer and I would have seen that you made the ID plate decals. So, what did you use for the template for the decals? Thanks!

Good to hear from you and I’m glad that you’re making progress. I’ll be interested in seeing your progress and post! I have been doing a few things and I have made some progress. I got my mini lathe out and moved it to the garage and tried to use it to make a few parts for fun. I’m working on a new waste gate for a start. As I tried to use it, I discovered a few problems that I had to address if I was seriously going to use it to make new parts. Here’s where the problem came in. With the quarantine, shipping has been extremely slow and I have been waiting on the upgrade parts and new cutters to get here for weeks. Also, with all the things going on, my motivation has ebbed and flowed so, even though I do have pictures and progress, I don’t want to post it yet. Codger has been after me to post something, anything, even if it’s a picture of the cat’s litter box! I probably have enough for 3 posts but, I don’t want to post it and then go dark again for a while. I’d rather post when I know that I’m going to continue on for a while. I do expect to post something in the fairly near future. In the meantime I’ll look forward to seeing your progress and update!

This is one of those builds that has been so interesting to watch and I’m always excited to see the latest progress. I’m going to miss seeing it when it’s done. It’s kinda like a long running TV series that you get so invested in and when it ends; it kinda leaves a void. I know that you are probably pretty well over it and really are looking forward to seeing it completed but, I think that a lot of us are going to miss seeing the weekly installments. Fabulous work and I think that with the 3D printer it really has made a big difference in being able to bring certain parts to life in a way that would have been extremely difficult otherwise. I have seen you do great tiny things just scratch building but, this is just one more tool that has elevated your already prodigious talent!

Thanks for posting a pictures of your Goldenrod it looks great! Without a lot of extra detail I can see what a stunning kit it can be built into. The paint and decals really bring it alive! Can't wait to see what you do with this one!

This reminds me that I have a 1/24 resin version of the Goldenrod LSR car sitting in an obscure corner on my bench. It's a bit of a chunk of resin! Maybe one day I will just start it as a diversion in the middle of the current build. I've always liked the LSR cars from the early ones to the later versions. I'll be watching yours for inspiration!

You’re right about the table lamp, now that, you scaled down the chairs, it does seem a wee bit tall. Speaking of rabbit holes I found a great source for pico and nano sizes of SMD LEDS when I was lighting up my Pocher Mercedes. Just in case you want to add some ambiance to the dining car section for dinner and drinks 🍷 lol . Looking good, when can we start booking?

The curtains look great, I would probably just go ahead and print them all. I don’t think that you would be able to achieve the correct scale with real material. The chairs look much better and definitely more in scale between the seat bottom and back. The other seat backs look way too tall when compared with your recent prints. There is nothing wrong with using the new tools at hand to enhance and improve your scratch building. After all, isn’t producing the most realistic representation of your subject the goal here? Being able to learn how to draw a 3D CAD drawing and get to the printer and a slicer program is not exactly an easy thing to do! Using a 3D printer is just an evolution of scratch building.

It's good to know that I was looking the kitchen instead of the bathroom! I'm guessing that the barman accesses behind the bar through the kitchen? The detail on the glasses is pretty amazing as well as all the little bits here and there. It all makes it look like the 1:1 real deal.

Wow! When I look at this overhead picture including a glimpse into the bathroom, I can't help but marvel at all of the pieces and know that every one of them is hand made by one means or another. Nothing is from any other kit that, I can recall and that is a extremely impressive feat! And, we're only talking about what we see there; that doesn't include the whole rest of the build including all the artwork inside and outside! Well done!

Small victories like this make all the repetitive things like doing the same windows over 40 times, worth while. When you get bored with all the windows just look at the whole bar area with the cabinets, bar top, bar itself and the cool map on the wall! That ought to keep you going for a while! Great work!

Here’s a little trick with the rattle can paint to get the paint to flow better before shaking the can. I put the cans in warm water about half way and let them sit for a couple minutes before shaking the cans. It gets the so it mixes better and then hopefully eliminate the sputtering when it is spraying. It also helps to have a clean nozzle. I’m probably not telling you anything that you don’t already know. I’m also guilty of being in a hurry and not always doing it but, if it’s something important I always do it.

Cigarettes and Monte Cristos? Then you’re going to need ashtrays, matches and lighters to go with the scotch bottles and glasses etc.! It never ends out here in “Hendie Nation”! We just can’t get enough of your creativity!

I like the last option! I was just reading an old article about Dan Jayne and his remarkable cut away aircraft models and that’s what put the idea in my head. It’s just that you have put so much time and effort into creating this piece that it would be a shame to not be able to show it off. Especially with all the cajoling err browbeating err helpful suggestions we all have been providing. I’m sure that whatever you decide will great!

Good to see you back on this! Great workshop and lots of work space! I like the addition of the work table in the middle and I expect that, you will too as the build progresses. I have quite a bit of counter space but, I find that things rapidly pile up around where I'm actually working. With all the big sub assemblies and wanting them close by to fit and mocking up you really do need lots of square footage to lay it all out and still have ready access to it. The only other comment here is, it's too clean!

Martini glasses should also be on the 3D printing list! When you mentioned that certain things wouldn't be seen when it's all closed up, I started thinking that, it would be a shame to hide everything under the roof. A couple of thoughts on that, first, would be to make the whole roof removable or failing that, make certain sections removable to show off the more interesting or intricate areas of the interior. Two other options would be to use clear plastic on various sections over the aforementioned areas. And lastly, and probably the least probable would be to cut out sections like aircraft models opened up to show framing and everything under the skin. I know, after five plus years, you're probably anxious to finish this one but, we all enjoy watching you work your scratch building magic and keep prodding you to keep the build alive! LOL

Thanks for the great review. I didn’t expect you to go into so much detail but, having said that, I trust your experience with the printer and we’ve all seen the results to be comfortable with buying it. You never know what you’re reading is true or accurate unless it’s coming from a trusted source. Thanks again!

I did some research on the Mars printer and I found a few comments regarding the print bed cracking being “unavoidable”. I found that comment on more than one review which kinda makes me a little nervous about buying one. The other thing that I see is that the Mars printer requires the VAT liner be replaced every liter of resin. I’m wondering if you have had any problems or have come to the point where you have to do any type of maintenance on it yet?

Hendie, just out of curiosity, which resin 3D printer do you have? And, Schwartz, did you order the same one or something different? I have an old Robo 3D extrusion printer that, I got 5-6 years ago and have had a lot of problems with it and I just quit trying to use it. I also have another delta style 3D printer that is still new in the box which, I obviously never used. At the time I was getting the Robo printer I was about to get a SLA resin printer for around $1000. I finally decided to not get it after seeing how much the resin was going to cost and the maintenance with certain parts having to be replaced on a fairly regular basis. I can tell you that the print quality of the resin SLA printer is far superior to the extruded type using the rolls of ABS or PLA. After seeing Schwartz’s post, I took a look on Amazon and I was amazed at how low the prices are for the resin printers and, that’s why I’m curious to see which ones that you guys have. It’s looking like the resin printers are becoming very affordable. Thanks in advance for the information! BTW, the side panels look amazing!! I’m starting to get a little excited to see how this all comes together!