Stabliofarmer Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 This is my biggest project to date, hopefully some will find it an interesting insight into 'mass producing' a model kit. A four deck livestock trailer has been my ultimate aim since I began this hobby. I think I'm finally there! So to start with, as always, I put pen to paper and draw up some scale 2D technical drawings. I then turn this into a series of dxf files. I use inkscape to draw up the 2D files. This project began before I had bought my own laser cutter, so I used cutlasercut as I did with the baileys. They recommended 0.5mm and 1.5mm HIPS as the suitable material. The model is designed as a kit so there's alot of slotting and layering involved. The total order for parts for 30 models came in at just over £1800. It then went missing in the post for two months! You can imagine my panic. However eventually a big box arrived on the doorstep containing this... An initial dry fit of the model showed one or two misfitting parts, frustrating as I had paid for the fitment to be checked before production cutting. Thankfully cutlasercut hounered their word and recut the incorrect parts with no extra cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 The laser cut parts constructed, very happy with how they look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 The following photos are of some master patterns I had been making, I've since reconsidered some and will be 3D printing them instead. Some of the new wheel designs ready for printing. The mudguards are also now going to be laser cut rather than cast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catkom3 Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Excellent work as ever James, On the subject of 3D printers, You may have seen this already, not available yet but coming out on Kickstarter soon The Naomi Wu / Creality 3D Printmill continuous belt printed, An excellent machine for mas producing 3D parts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tYU0Gfekb4 Regards Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 Hmmm, not sold on that at all I'm afraid Joe, has to resin casting or injection moulding for me for any mass produced part where surface finish is important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEP Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Great work as always James, and another detailed and fascinating insight into the work that goes into your projects. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 An update on this project, I've spent the last month working on the master patterns for the resin components of the kit. For the most part these have been traditionally scratch built from plasticard and channel. The wheels as mentioned before are a 3D print (shapeways fine detail). The only new thing was the front bulk head. This was too complex a curve to scratch build and look right (I tried and failed). Instead this has been printed by a friend in his FDM printer, I've then filled and sanded it smooth and added a few details. I would have printed the whole thing with all its details but the cost for the part in fine detail would be £80 which was too dear. These parts are then surrounded in some RTV silicone resulting in this pile of moulds. A few different methods on the go including two part and squash moulds. I decided to make a full set of wheel moulds, so 6 rim moulds and 12 tyre moulds. This made making wheels far quicker. To make the 90 wheels and 180 tyres I've got so far would have been painstaking, and I've got the same to make again yet. Slap some polyurethane resin and alittle bit of rubber in them and this is what comes out of the other end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 And then I glued them on to the laser cut body, very happy with the fit and look. For a few parts I've now elected to laser cut the components, originally the rear door surround, hinges and mudflaps would be resin components. Now that I have my own cutter and changing material thicknesses isn't as costly I have laser cut them in 2mm and 3mm acrylic. They are the pure white parts, the resin parts are in cream. This gives me the last bits needed to crack on with full production. The one last stage is to produce the instructions, which I will do while building up another model. Thanks for reading, I know it's quite heavy going but I hope it's of interest to some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Dan Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Awesome work, I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Thank you Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Just working on the instructions and have laid all the parts out, comes to 124 pieces I get the feeling the instructions will take some doing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 could you not have made it to a round 150 james , i hate it when theres no comitment to a proper target seriously i can see that doing well for you, any plans to do your bulk tippers in a kit form in the future ? that could be the catylist for a marge volvo or scanny buy for me then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catkom3 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Stabliofarmer said: Just working on the instructions and have laid all the parts out, comes to 124 pieces I get the feeling the instructions will take some doing! I have no knowledge of this James, But could the instruction sheet not be produced as a pdf file, Then everyone could easily view the same sheet on line via the internet,?? Adobe reader is free for everyone on line, https://acrobat.adobe.com/uk/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html?mv=search&sdid=3SH1B5HX&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAlZH_BRCgARIsAAZHSBk96Rs1LOHfG0px-8xWwtI7neXKXLEB-7tfZPY1_GTb28sDOPuX2KAaAmtuEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3085!3!477170945952!e!!g!!adobe reader!11549482700!118102972768 Regards Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Yes I hadn't thought to share the process but will take some photos as I go along. The instructions are written up on Microsoft Publisher (like Word but handles images better). Then saved as a pdf and distributed. Normally I print them and put them in with the kit. This is going to be too big to print so will just be available digitally as a pdf/photo collection. I think I'm going to move to doing that for all kits as the printing is always a faff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share Posted December 26, 2020 A splash of primer and I'm really getting quite excited about this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share Posted December 26, 2020 On 12/24/2020 at 11:20 AM, Tractorman810 said: could you not have made it to a round 150 james , i hate it when theres no comitment to a proper target seriously i can see that doing well for you, any plans to do your bulk tippers in a kit form in the future ? that could be the catylist for a marge volvo or scanny buy for me then Completely missed your comment Sean! Yes bulk tippers are next in the pipe line for a kit. I'm trying to avoid full builds these days as when I'm on the move with Uni there's no painting facilities, and the profit margins are far better in kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 sounds like a plan, especially if marge are doing walking floors and missing bulkers out,well so far, i recon that they will do well for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted January 6, 2021 Author Share Posted January 6, 2021 Built up and painted, very pleased with the final outcome, although the painting on this one is a little poor, wintery weather and trying to finish so much in a small shed means I have had to rush a little. These are now available for those interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted January 6, 2021 Author Share Posted January 6, 2021 And paired up with a resprayed Welly Scania kitted out with my new design truck wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
844john Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 That is very, very nice James! I like the wheels on the Scania too, they really alter the look of the Welly model....think I could do with some of those to finish off my T Cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEP Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 That looks brilliant James! Absolute credit to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Brilliant james ,like John says the wheels look well, much better than the welly ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Axe Man Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Tidy work James, your really getting into the truck market with your builds, kits and extras, can only echo the comments above about those wheels, they gone a long way in improving a welly unit, See a few of Mactaggarts up and down the A59 headed to of from the Dunbia Slaughter house at Sawley, looking forward to seeing you do one of Alan Knowles's Volvo's, or one of WM Ellisons Scanias Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabliofarmer Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Thank you folks, very pleased with the final outcome. A nice conclusion to a 7 year ambition! The wheels will be available from next week hopefully. Knowles Volvo is definitely one I'd like to do if I find time Paul! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret90 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Blimey James, Fantastic work, the quality of scratchbuilds on here at the moment is outstanding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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