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2 Rail O Scale Intimidation Factors #prusa3d

As is often the case, it is human nature to put off or make excuses to avoid trying something new. In particular this is the case with some of the new technology in our hobby. But over time, I have always found a way around the reasons which might include: "It is to hard I can't do it!" "I don't have that skill." "It will take me to long to learn." The list goes on of course.

So do not let perception or other peoples perceptions dissuade you from trying. It is easy to get the wrong sentiments in your head by listening to others such as the hobby is to expensive, or I do not have the space, and once again the list goes on.

The perfect example is a hesitation to utilize the 3D printing technologies with the idea that the learning curve is way to steep. Even though there is little doubt 3D and Computer Aided Design (CAD) would be extremely useful as a means to an end toward building better models in O Scale. The trick of course is to take the baby or small steps in the learning process before hitting your stride to be successful with the new techniques. There is every opportunity today to reduce the time to learn and remediate the intimidation or procrastination component with the on-line help and YouTube tutorials. Avoid the immediate satisfaction desire as I am sure a model or stl file another modeler generated will be a "ready to run" model as we say in the hobby and can satisfy the immediacy need. So know that most things you want to model may not be ready open sourced which will result in some of your time to invest in creating an object.

What I found as a jump start was to take some simple objects to model in FreeCAD using primitive shapes that did not take me long to render and go to the PrusaSlicer for learning within that process. Years ago my Grandfather collected all the cereal box tin railroad logos or emblems (aka Heralds) that came in Post Sugar Crisp in the 1950's. Their were 28 different emblems slightly stamped and printed in color.

Set #1 NYC, Lackawanna, PRR, Nickel Plate, B&O, Reading, and Erie Set #2 C&EI, CGW, Wabash, GTW, CNW, Rock Island, Burlington Set #3 SP, Western Pacific, Santa Fe, Milwaukee, NP, UP, Great Northern Set #4 ACL, Seaboard, IC, C&O, MKT, Missouri Pacific, Southern

So I decided to reproduce these and with the vivid colors of Prusa PLA the 3D visual was absolutely stunning. Immediate gratification for me of course and when I gave a few away at the convention there was definitely a WOW factor. This small stepping stone greatly increased my proficiency using the software allowing me to create more complex and detailed objects for my 2 Rail O Scale model railroad.

The moral of the story is don't be easily intimidated.

For model builders, handy quick references follow in these links:

http://bobmay.astronomy.net/misc/dril...

http://www.finescale.com/~/media/impo...

Favorite O Scale Forum: http://oscalemag.com/wordpress/ost-fo...

Brass Kit Embellishing - VIRGINIAN

http://oscalemag.com/wordpress/ost-fo...

embellishing-virginian-thread1139/

Other Online Resources:

http://www.oscaleresources.com

http://www.oscalekings.org

Membership In:

The Elizabeth Historical Society http://www.elizabethhistoricalsociety...

The Hub City Heritage Corporation Railway Museum http://www.cgwoelwein.org

Chicago & North Western Historical Society https://www.cnwhs.org

Illinois Railway Museum https://www.irm.org

East Penn Traction Club http://www.eastpenn.org

National Model Railroad Association http://nmra.org