As you may have read over the last two weeks my primary 3D printing supplier, Shapeways, have updated their pricing structure for the Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) and Frosted Extreme Detail (FXD) plastics.

I’m still in the process of going through all of my models, checking they’re all up-to-date, but so far things are looking good.  I’ll have lots more to share with you over the next few weeks but for now here’s an example of one of the positive changes.

You may remember my Yosemite Valley Railroad Log Cars.

These have always been available individually, as a pair, a set of three and a set of five. They are also available in both FUD and FXD materials.  This is how the new pricing structure has affected them:

• Single Log Car in FUD = reduced by $3.29
• Single Log Car in FXD = reduced by $5.34
• Pair of Log Cars in FUD = reduced by $4.27
• Pair of Log Cars in FXD = reduced by $8.19
• Three Log Cars in FUD = reduced by $4.99
• Three Log Cars in FXD = reduced by $10.80
• Five Log Cars in FUD = reduced by $6.61
• Five Log Cars in FXD = reduced by $16.25

As you can see the FXD has had a dramatic drop on the cost to you.

Some of my other products have had a slight increase in price but I’m working on solutions to help bring it back down and, if possible, make even lower.

I’ll have more for you next week but for now if there’s a specific model you wish to purchase and are unsure if the price will change, please send me a message at jamestrainparts@yahoo.co.uk or use the contact page.

In last week’s post I told you about Shapeways’ plan to change their pricing structure for the Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) and Frosted Extreme Detail (FXD) plastics. You can find the post here.  This process is now in full swing so while I’m sorting through my models my posts will be brief.

One thing I do want to share with you this week is that I made it into the Shapeways Magazine and you can find the article here.

Next week I’ll have some updates on which models have changed ready for the new system.

This week I’d planned on continuing with my OO Gauge Fixed Link Couplings and showing you where to get them.  However, it was announced last week that as of 22nd May 2017 Shapeways are restructuring their pricing system for Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) and Frosted Extreme Detail (FXD) plastics.  As my OO Gauge Fixed Link Couplings will be printed in these materials I’m going to look into this before I release the product.

The main changes Shapeways will be making are lowering the material cost and halving the initial base cost. This, on the whole, is good news as it should reduce the cost of several of my products, but I’ll need to do some re-designing.  This will be necessary as they’re also adding a charge for support material and a small charge per part.  And as many of my products have multiple parts this may push the price up.  But don’t panic; the solution will be to have these parts sprued together or 3D printed inside an enclosure so they are treated as one part.

I have already done this with some of my products.  For example the EMD DD35, DT6-6-2000 and RT-624 all have their handrails 3D printed inside their shells as you can see with the DT6-6-2000 below.

So over the next few weeks I’m going to be revisiting all my products and ensuring they are all easy to order and cost-effective; plus a spring clean isn’t a bad idea!  This may mean my next few posts are a bit random but I will share with you what has changed as the products are updated.

Again I only have a short post for you this week as having recently got back from the Bristol Model Railway Exhibition and we are now preparing for another show.

This time it’s the Victory Model Railway Club’s annual exhibition in Portsmouth (the UK one!)  The exhibition is Saturday 13th May 2017 from 10:00 am till 4:30 pm and is held at the Admiral Lord Nelson School, Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, PO3 5XT.

We will be attending with several modules from our ‘Solent Summit’ layout and I look forward to seeing you if you can make it.

Next week I’ll have a longer post to share with you and will continue with my OO Gauge Fixed Link Couplings.