IP Engineering Open Cattle Wagon

[LNR]

What a great team effort. Well done to both of you, that the end result of a series of photo's is this remarkable solid end product is amazing. Peter's right 3D printing has certainly changed the face of modelling.
Grant.

[FWLR]

For anyone interested, Rik sent me 50 pictures of the one group of sheep, taken from all angles, and I then used some free photogrammetry software to create a 3D virtual model in the computer. This was then transferred into Blender to do a file format conversion, then into Sketchup to tidy it up, then into the Slicer program, and then in to the printer!

I need a drink!!!!!

And me...

Just wish I was the same though Peter. I just get lost with all the tech involved with 3D printing. Brilliant job done from both Rik and Phillipy.

[Andrew]

Very nice indeed - I'm very impressed! Well done both of you!

Andrew.

[ge_rik]

For anyone interested, Rik sent me 50 pictures of the one group of sheep, taken from all angles, and I then used some free photogrammetry software to create a 3D virtual model in the computer. This was then transferred into Blender to do a file format conversion, then into Sketchup to tidy it up, then into the Slicer program, and then in to the printer!

I need a drink!!!!!

And a lie down in a darkened room........

Rik

[Lonsdaler]

They don't look too bad in the wagon, Rik, I'm looking forward to seeing the painted versions.

For anyone interested, Rik sent me 50 pictures of the one group of sheep, taken from all angles, and I then used some free photogrammetry software to create a 3D virtual model in the computer. This was then transferred into Blender to do a file format conversion, then into Sketchup to tidy it up, then into the Slicer program, and then in to the printer!

Say what now???
Tis magic Baldrick - let's not worry our pretty little heads over it.

[ge_rik]

I've now painted the 3D printed sheep which Philip kindly did for me. I think they look pretty convincing....

IMG_0038.JPG (83.22 KiB) Viewed 5138 times

.

IMG_0037.JPG (102.05 KiB) Viewed 5138 times

.
I also decided to see if I could improve on my plaster casting - I bought a kilo of plaster and I'd hate to see it go to waste.

IMG_0033.JPG (100.51 KiB) Viewed 5138 times

.

IMG_0035.JPG (104.62 KiB) Viewed 5138 times

.

IMG_0040.JPG (113.55 KiB) Viewed 5138 times

.
I bunched these more closely together and I think it's an improvement. But I don't think I can match the 3D printed ones.

Rik

[philipy]

I like the paint jobs, all very realistic to my non-agricultural mind.

Your plaster ones look Ok but a bit too regular in arrangement, I think.

The next batch are in the works!

[Peter Butler]

The printed ones are better but when running on your railway they are likely to go unnoticed, especially from a distance. A huge improvement over running empty wagons which might show no obvious purpose.

[BorisSpencer]

I know nothing about transporting sheep, but would you expect them to stand distinctly, because they're soft and fluffy would they not merge into one big white mass with multiple heads?

[Puddlejumper]

Sheep would have been almost totally wedged in to stop them moving around too much while being transported, they do tend to look like a woolly mass with a load of heads (my best mate is a sheep farmer)

[LNR]

I agree they are a great improvement, I'm also surprised at how much texture you were able to achieve on your cast ones seeing them up close. As Peter has said running around the layout they will look very believable I think.
Grant.

[ge_rik]

Now here's something to ponder. I posted something about the sheep on the 16mm NGM Assoc Facebook Group and someone has responded that what I've done is unethical and possibly illegal. Because I have cloned a commercial product, I have deprived the originator of income even though I am not intending to sell them.

Any thoughts?

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Plead insanity ?

[tom_tom_go]

Rik, tell them to 'do one'.

[ge_rik]

My rationale (for what it's worth) is this. Say I bought a commercially produced loco and thought, "Hey, that's good, I wonder if I can make one exactly like it?" and then proceeded to copy it. I might be accused of plagiarism, but is it unethical? Not really, surely.

I suppose, using a commercial product as a master in a mould is a bit different, so how about if I compare the six sheep I bought to the songs on a cd? I pay for the cd which is my contribution to the artiste's talent. I then rip the tracks off the cd and put them on my MP3 player. I've cloned them, not for commercial gain, but for my own use. That seems to be regarded as ok these days. In effect, I have paid the originator of the sheep for his skill and talent and then 'ripped' them for my own convenience. I haven't denied the originator what he has decided to charge people for his skills. I've paid him his due. In fact, more than his due as I bought three sets before cloning them.

Surely, as long as I don't then sell them on, or I haven't borrowed someone else's to make casts from them, I am both legally and ethically ok.

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

You are not planning to sell them so I don't see an issue.

[ge_rik]

You are not planning to sell them so I don't see an issue.

My thinking as well. When I was running RC Trains, if someone had cloned my transmitters or wiring looms for their own use, I'd have said, "Good luck to you!" It would have been different if they'd then sold them, especially if they'd undercut my prices.

Rik

[ge_rik]

As a Post Scriptum

We've just decided to circulate a list of the 300+ DVDs we own amongst our friends and neighbours with a view to loaning them out when they are confined to their homes in the current 'situation' ......

Presumably, this is completely unethical and could constitute a crime under copyright legislation.....

Rik

[philipy]

As long as you retain ownership of the CD's I don't see a problem with lending them to anyone you wish, as long as there is no payment involved.

As for the sheep, I doubt that anyone would or could confuse my(our) sheep blocks, nor dare I say it, your plaster versions, with the individual originals.

I'd be tempted to invite the jobsworth who commented, to get a life!

[FWLR]

It's not even worthy of a comment I'am afraid. Facebook....PAH...

I don't go on that much nowadays, since someone swore at me and the admin did nothing about it.
There are good people on there, but unfortunately there are a lot of idiots....