The Irish Railways 3d printing thread

[Mol_PMB]

Much better now with a floor and some internal braces. This will help support the roof too. 

The first ‘modelling’ I’ve done in ages…

[Killian Keane]

MGWR E/GSR J26 cab interior coming along

[Rob R]

9 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Not much time recently, or modelling mojo. But I have started a tidy-up to make some space (and ensure that I can’t find anything when I next need it!)

Anyway, a few months ago Rob kindly printed some containers for me, and as a freebie did an MGWR van body too. 
The containers were 5-sided boxes with internal bracing, and have remained true to shape. 
I’ve just found the van body, which I had painted with primer when it arrived, then stored it in a box. Perfectly square when it arrived, it now looks like this: 

An interesting example of how prints can distort over time. 
It’s flexible enough that I think I can square it up with some internal bracing - I should probably have done that when it first arrived! 

Hmmmm.

I have 2 more here, in the same resin, that have just been sat around on the shelf (ok, dumped on top of the printer) for a few weeks and they haven't moved at all.

If you still have trouble with it, I'll send you another. 

[Mol_PMB]

7 hours ago, Rob R said:

Hmmmm.

I have 2 more here, in the same resin, that have just been sat around on the shelf (ok, dumped on top of the printer) for a few weeks and they haven't moved at all.

If you still have trouble with it, I'll send you another. 

That’s interesting - I thought that painting it and keeping it out of direct sunlight was the right thing to do. 
if anything it seems to have softened a bit (i.e. become less rigid) during storage. 
it’s squared up nicely now so hopefully will be fine with the extra bracing. Perhaps I’ll get it finished off in the near future. 
 

A while back I was digging out photos of these old MGWR vans and it’s apparent that there were lots of variations in ribs, doors, vents etc. drawings or diagrams exist for several, others can be seen in photos. A common theme is that most have what look like drains in the lower sides, presumably for sluicing out after being used for cattle. Those aren’t on the original drawing.

I’ll try and pull some info together. 

I was wondering about hacking mine about to represent a later type. 
 

[AnUnknownConsciousness]

1 hour ago, Mol_PMB said:

That’s interesting - I thought that painting it and keeping it out of direct sunlight was the right thing to do. 
if anything it seems to have softened a bit (i.e. become less rigid) during storage. 
it’s squared up nicely now so hopefully will be fine with the extra bracing. Perhaps I’ll get it finished off in the near future. 
 

A while back I was digging out photos of these old MGWR vans and it’s apparent that there were lots of variations in ribs, doors, vents etc. drawings or diagrams exist for several, others can be seen in photos. A common theme is that most have what look like drains in the lower sides, presumably for sluicing out after being used for cattle. Those aren’t on the original drawing.

I’ll try and pull some info together. 

I was wondering about hacking mine about to represent a later type. 
 

Has it been stored in a warm place, or somewhere it may have gotten warm or hot? That would be enough to cause that irrespective of any UV impacts.

[Mol_PMB]

5 minutes ago, AnUnknownConsciousness said:

Has it been stored in a warm place, or somewhere it may have gotten warm or hot? That would be enough to cause that irrespective of any UV impacts.

Nowhere especially warm - but we had a few days in the summer where the room temperature was over 25C. 

[Mol_PMB]

A few photo links showing some of the variants of these MGWR vans, in the late 1930s. I'll put together a separate and more comprehensive thread in due course:

Holdings: Before alterations, Liffey Junction, Co. Dublin. :: Library Catalog

Holdings: View of the junction from Broom Bridge, Liffey Junction, Co. Dublin. :: Library Catalog

Holdings: After alterations, Liffey Junction, Co. Dublin. :: Library Catalog

Note: these aren't all MGWR vehicles, but there are a variety of MGWR types amongst them.

[Galteemore]

Cheers Paul. Especially useful for the not-often-seen roof views showing the battens etc  

 

[Mol_PMB]

8 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Cheers Paul. Especially useful for the not-often-seen roof views showing the battens etc  

 

Some more info and photo links/refs here...

 

[GSR 800]

On 11/10/2026 at 6:46 PM, Killian Keane said:

MGWR E/GSR J26 cab interior coming along

Fabulous detail Killian!

23 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Some more info and photo links/refs here...

 

Might have to get some of these sometime, but I need to get around to a layout first!

[Brack]

On 9/10/2026 at 2:05 PM, Colonel said:

Presumably, a loco chassis could also be printed - semi solid, maybe, with a cut out for the motor gearbox and holes to take brass bearings? Keeping the body and chassis separate (to be bolted together later), might be better than trying to source a doner chassis which, like as not is almost always going to be a compromise.

 Would the axle holes be accurate enough to take preprepared coupling rods though and thinking of Tullygrainy's work could a printed chassis be done to accommodate compensation or springing?

Did that in 2012.

 

Etched rods intended for a LBSCR terrier (which is 6'+6', whereas the Y7 is just 6').

Body and chassis were sprued together for shapeways. Designed for brass bearing inserts and gibson wheels. Motor bracket is printed in to mesh accurately with a bevel gear on the axle.

Sandpipes and brake rigging etc. Were added from brass rod.

Obviously i chose an inside framed 040t as it's simpler, but it worked as proof of concept.

No reason why something bigger wouldn't work, obviously you're adding complexity and potential shrinkage troubles, but once you get settings dialled in it should be ok.

 

[leslie10646]

if my memory serves me right, Richard Ellis-Hobbs, producer of a load of 3D printed vans for me, printed the chassis for his GNR Class JT.

@Richard EH - speak up!