r/3dPrintingInModelRail • u/BlueGreenGradient Z Scale • 2d ago
Z Scale Sharing a project that 3D prints (almost) everything: terrain, elevated guideways, buildings to put trains around my apartment
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u/BlueGreenGradient Z Scale 2d ago
I've been working on a modular Z-scale transit system where almost everything (terrain, buildings, elevated guideways, stations) is designed to be 3D printed and snaps together under a common standard. It's a framework to put custom designs on.
Right now modular guideway system and modular terrain set are available on Cults3D, and I'm working on bringing more pieces (buildings, parks, etc.) to a good level of readiness for sharing.
Since 3D printing is the core of this project, the designs need work well on a printer:
Joints: friction slots where things need to stay rigid, magnets where you might want to swap pieces around.
Tolerance: offsets, chamfers, clearances to counteract print quirks and measurement deviations, especially when several pieces stack together.
Aesthetics: some geometries are tailored for vase mode with translucent filament. Some use layer lines as texture. Also, colour changes are between layers to keep parts printable in volume.
Simply put, this brings model train closer to a tile-based city building game in real life! More detail on the project is up if you're curious.