Author Topic: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?  (Read 337 times)

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drgw0579

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"Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« on: January 30, 2026, 10:25:06 AM »
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Has anyone tried some of the new AI tools to generate 3D files from photographic images?  I've seen advertisements for 3DAISTUDIO.Com, and I know that there's another project called hitempro.

I'm mainly interested in building a station that would be fairly difficult to reproduce in more traditional methods.  But if the AI stuff worked, that makes a whole lot of other things interesting.

The cost for these doesn't appear to be a problem, but if you have to still invest a lot of time and get mediocre results, then it isn't worth my time to go down that path.

Bill Kepner

Jesse6669

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Re: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2026, 11:39:22 AM »
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I haven't used anything except Meshy (the free version) and it seemed like it does better with organic things-- cats, people, etc.  But I only briefly used it, and not the full paid version.  So--I'm not the most experienced but this is my $.02.

What I think you'll get is a complete 3D model generated that you can't really "de construct" or modify easily.  Except maybe by cutting it up or something like that.  And so far, I see very few AI generated images or models that are perfect.  They usually need fixing of some kind. 

Moreover--when I design something in 3D, it has assemblies--for example a freight car will have trucks, frame, roof, etc. are all assemblies that can be easily pulled out and modified, and themselves are made of components that can be pulled out and changed.  With a solid STL file, you'll have a rough time doing that.  I can see using AI to generate the individual parts-- if I can give it a drawing of (lets say) a wheel--then it can generate the wheel component.  Then I'll assemble it into the wheelset, then into the trucks, etc. 

I suppose at some point you'll be able to ask an AI tool to create a 3D model of a subject--say a station-- and ask it to create individual 3D files for each element-- window, door, roof, etc.  I don't think we're quite there yet.  Or if we are, it'll be expensive.
 

Scottl

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Re: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2026, 12:13:33 PM »
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Meshy from streetview image to model in a few hours.  Not perfect, but better than what I can do by hand.  I did a whole street of unique, often complex buildings with a few hours of computer time.


Cory Rothlisberger

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Re: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2026, 01:12:43 PM »
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I think it's like most AI stuff right now, it's hit or miss. I tried it once for the hell of it for a casting quote. Didn't work out so hot. Probably user error though...  :ashat:







samusi01

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Re: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2026, 05:21:40 PM »
+1
Tried a tree with Meshy, was substantially unimpressed with the results.

reinhardtjh

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Re: "Turn 2D Image into 3D" ? Is it really that easy?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2026, 05:37:10 PM »
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There's a guy on the PRR IO group that has made a GE E44 shell using this technique and is working on a modified P5a (the GG1 looking modification).  I cant say how accurate the E44 is but the P5a was looking good in the 3D renderings.  I do get the impression form his posts that it is not an easy workflow.
John H. Reinhardt
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