For Christmas I received a Davinici Mini 3D Printer and I've been having a blast. Up until this point I've been printing things made by other people or things I've just tinkered with. I needed to change that.
I really like the looks of MTH tunnel portals but the internal dimensions were just too small for my layout. My layout design has the portals near curves which caused a problem. I'm also needing a double track portal that will work with mix matched track types. I made the MTH ones work by taking a dremel to them but it is really ugly and I've never been very happy with it.
Last weekend I was looking for a new project so decided to really learn how to use the 3D software. For model making I've tried many different software packages but the easiest to use at my skill level comes built into Windows 10.Microsoft 3D Builder
I knew right away the portal needed to be modular. The maximum size it can print is 6 inches by 6 inches. Luckily, since the mth portals have been working and are just ugly to me, I was able to take the external and my modified internal measurements and create the basic shape of the portal within about 30 minutes. Then I did a really fast print to verify things printed as I expected them.
I have made both designs I talk about below available on the thingiverse. You can find them here:
O Scale Modular Tunnel Portal for Lionel or MTH Trains
Single Track Stone Tunnel Portal for O Scale Model Trains
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It became clear that I would have to hide these seams somehow and this is where most of the time went. The side ones were pretty easy to hide but the center one went through lots of design changes. Lots of people helped out in my layout build thread with ideas and I finally settled on this design which can be expanded to double track
![Arch Architecture Triumphal arch Design Arcade]()
![Arch Architecture Design Room Furniture]()
![Arch Architecture Table Design Furniture]()
I printed the first prototype that came out very well. So well that my son commandeered it for his own play things. I just finished printing my second one and it too came out great.
![Red Product Font]()
![Red Arch Architecture Window Material property]()
![Tree Architecture Building Historic site Arch]()
I've also been working on a modification of it. I call this one the "Plaster" portal as it's nice and clean. I also wanted a stone version and I quickly found out the only way to make it look good is to actually place each and every stone. A lot of work but it came out looking amazing I think
![Arch Architecture Wall Brick Black-and-white]()
I've only printed part of this one so far but it really came out great. It is a much more complicated print though. It's been a really fun project and I'm looking forward to what else I can build as my modeling skills get better.
I really like the looks of MTH tunnel portals but the internal dimensions were just too small for my layout. My layout design has the portals near curves which caused a problem. I'm also needing a double track portal that will work with mix matched track types. I made the MTH ones work by taking a dremel to them but it is really ugly and I've never been very happy with it.
Last weekend I was looking for a new project so decided to really learn how to use the 3D software. For model making I've tried many different software packages but the easiest to use at my skill level comes built into Windows 10.Microsoft 3D Builder
I knew right away the portal needed to be modular. The maximum size it can print is 6 inches by 6 inches. Luckily, since the mth portals have been working and are just ugly to me, I was able to take the external and my modified internal measurements and create the basic shape of the portal within about 30 minutes. Then I did a really fast print to verify things printed as I expected them.
I have made both designs I talk about below available on the thingiverse. You can find them here:
O Scale Modular Tunnel Portal for Lionel or MTH Trains
Single Track Stone Tunnel Portal for O Scale Model Trains
It became clear that I would have to hide these seams somehow and this is where most of the time went. The side ones were pretty easy to hide but the center one went through lots of design changes. Lots of people helped out in my layout build thread with ideas and I finally settled on this design which can be expanded to double track
I printed the first prototype that came out very well. So well that my son commandeered it for his own play things. I just finished printing my second one and it too came out great.
I've also been working on a modification of it. I call this one the "Plaster" portal as it's nice and clean. I also wanted a stone version and I quickly found out the only way to make it look good is to actually place each and every stone. A lot of work but it came out looking amazing I think
I've only printed part of this one so far but it really came out great. It is a much more complicated print though. It's been a really fun project and I'm looking forward to what else I can build as my modeling skills get better.
I'm working on making the kline gas station more interesting. We'll see how that comes out. In the mean time I've finished the second portal. One mountain down. Now to figure out the double track portal so those seams are not visible.
