A possible $$$ making idea/proposition for those with a 3-D printer and design ability?

3D printers are slow and expensive making them ideal for small quantity production and prototyping. You would have to make hundreds, or thousands of these to make it worth the hassle. That’s where real tooling and injection molding comes in. 

If I remember correctly, the roof and transluscent windows of these cars are one piece. That creates a challenge. 

I think Lionel already makes this product. Didn’t their Canadian Pacific small Madison cars have interiors?

GregR posted:

3D printers are slow and expensive making them ideal for small quantity production and prototyping. You would have to make hundreds, or thousands of these to make it worth the hassle. That’s where real tooling and injection molding comes in. 

If I remember correctly, the roof and transluscent windows of these cars are one piece. That creates a challenge.

True, but in retrofitting, that roof/window section could be trimmed at the top of the window frame thus removing the transluscent window lower portion.

I think Lionel already makes this product. Didn’t their Canadian Pacific small Madison cars have interiors?

I don't know if they did but if those interiors were inserts rather than molded into the carframe, such interior inserts aren't available from Lionel or any other manufacturer.

A full interior at a good resolution would take hours (a day) to print and due to size unable to print on most home printers.  I know when I bought my laser cutter years ago the break even cost of cutting was $5 a minute.....lower now...but what is break even on 3D printing??

I agree with GREGR

ogaugeguy posted:

...................

True, but in retrofitting, that roof/window section could be trimmed at the top of the window frame thus removing the transluscent window lower portion.

 

Aren't the windows the only thing that holds the roof to the car?  Something like 4 of them have "lips" that when engaged to the window frame of the car hold the roof down in position.

Or am I mixing up 2 different designs?

-Dave