Market for 3D models?

[niels]

For real old people it is not possible to build a 5 inch gauge Evening Star without  ending  up as a lot of scrap and unfinished parts.

My dream is to prove that a 4-8-0 three-cylinder compound version of parts from Jarvis 9F could have run very well indeed.

If done 3D it harms nobody and I would only model(even in metal if the force supports me) two different cylinder groups and compare them stationary.

A lot of the very detailed models seen here must surely have a full 3D model behind.

Is it a realistic idea that 3D models can be sold for money or given as gifts?

[kipford]

Niels
Nice idea, there are number of Issues I can think of the killer will be cost. It take hundreds of hours to produce a full 3D model. My own Aspinall 3D model, see below, was around the 400 hour mark working from Don Youngs drawings and making a few changes. A new design you can at least double or treble that to do it properly. A competent 3D CAD draughtsman, this is not an engineer but his pencil, is not going to get out bed for less £30/hour if you are lucky. So that is around £11000 to get the model completed, so you need to sell a lot of them to recoup the investment! I know of a couple of model maker friends who would do it for around £20/hour, but you are still looking at around £7000.

Dave

Full Assembly by Dave Smith, on Flickr

[Roger]

I'm afraid in Model Engineering, people don't value your time. I'd suggest that this is probably because ME is mostly done by people with a lot of time on their hands, and it's a hobby. I generally don't do any commercial jobs for Model Engineering customers because people simply aren't prepared to pay a commercial rate. I occasionally help people out, but I don't think it's feasible to make a living that way.

So unless someone wants to do this sort of 'commercial' thing for altruistic reasons, I don't think there is much hope of it happening. At best it's going to be a bit of pocket money. I can easily fill my time with unprofitable work, but I have to make a living.

[niels]

Hello Dave and Roger.

Your points of view are clear but not really understood by a well cared for ,old scandinawian widower.

I have a couple of times helped other old toads with parts that had served me well but I did not need anymore.

For payment , people have been pleased to give a self-sized  amount to a local,nearby dogs home or like.

Could that  be a model for tranfer of a homemade 3D copy of a more than 100 years old,useless and polluting technology?

Kind regards

Niels

[Roger]

Hi Niels,
There's certainly room for people to barter, donate or charge a small sum for such things. You'll find this going on in clubs and here too. I'm only too happy to share any of the 3D models or drawings of the things I've made. However, it's not a business model for someone who needs to sell their time profitably.

[andyhigham]

It's not just model engineers that have short arms and deep pockets
I have had complaints when I have put an invoice in for a job "You were there less than an hour". Yes but I had to drive 5 hours each way and used a tank full of fuel

[jem]

And how long did it take you to learn how to do the job in the first place, that has to be taken into account too Andy

best wishes

Jem

[andyhigham]

Mar 30, 2020 16:54:35 GMT jem said:

And how long did it take you to learn how to do the job in the first place, that has to be taken into account too Andy

best wishes

Jem

A mill owner said to the baker "my waterwheel is jamming and I can't mill the flour for you" the baker replied  "speak to the blacksmith, he may be able to help". So the mill owner asked the blacksmith to look at the water wheel. He studied it for a minute or two and stated "it's buckled", went over to his cart and selected a large sledge hammer. He turned the wheel slightly and swung his hammer, the wheel then rotated freely and true. 
The blacksmith told the mill owner "That will be £5 1/-"
"How much! you only hit it with a hammer"
"1/- for hitting it with the hammer, £5 for knowing where to hit it and how hard"