Coach Printed Parts
As part of the development Mousa Models’ coach kits it was realised that it was possible to use modern 3D printing techniques to simplify building bogie carriages. What is offered is a system which extends the concept of utilising etched sides and ends on a plastic body for those prototypes which don’t have suitable RTR donor coaches available.
The system comprises of three main parts:-
- An Underframe
- Complete and in one piece. They include most of the visible detail, truss rods, queen posts, battery boxes, gas tanks, brake cylinders etc. It is hoped to offer bogie frames in the same package as most of the underframes.
- A Body Frame
- Just a basic frame to which etched sides and ends can glued. This system allows the etched components to be painted, lined and even glazed before the body is assembled. This part is still underdevelopment.
- A Roof
- Coming soon. They will be offered as either a generic profile or a roof for specific prototype, depending on demand and available information.
The material used for these parts is 3D printed (SLS) Nylon. This offers some advantages over existing materials.
- It is light.
- In thin section it is flexible.
- It is porous, so can take paint and glue, e.g. cyano-acrylates, well. If painted, filler undercoats are recomended.
- It can be dyed using nylon fabric dyes.
However there are a few disadvantages.
- It is light, and because it is also flexible any ballasting needs some forethought.
- It has a slightly grainy texture, though this can be counteracted with the use of a filler primer.
- The method of production has a minimum size limit of 0.7 mm.
At the moment only underframes and bogies are available. Roofs and body frames will follow shortly.