Hey You shapeways guys- Skytop- make one!

[u18b]

Hey all you shapeways experts, I would think a Skytop car for the Milw Road would be a great car.

Too hard to make one on your own. 
Castings were made in the past, but are no longer available.

Would be a very popular car- I would think.  I model CSX, but I would buy one.

A search of Shapeways only reveals someone made trucks for the skytop.  That's it.

I know Shapeways resolution could be better, but this looks like a car that could be sanded smooth pretty easily.

Who will step up to the plate?

Come on- you know you want to!

http://rrx.chadkluck.net/wp-content/uploads/MILW_TC-Hiawatha-Cedar-Rapids-Skytop-Lounge-Observation-Car_blt-1948_2008-09-04_MN-St-Paul_N-Transfer-Rd_730_Amtrak-Yard_04.jpg

[ryan_wilkerson]

I'd love that car too. I got to see it on an a special passenger special in CA.

[Catt]

Hw about a Z scale version too while we are dreaming ?

[nscaleSPF2]

So this is how it works:

1.  You will need to find a drawing with accurate dimensions.  Otherwise the end result will wind up looking like Lionel.

2.  Hire a 3D designer.  There are no shortage of these.  Check this link:

http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=98&

3.  To oversimplify, the 3D model gets uploaded to the Shapeways server, and you order parts.

There you go.

[Puddington]

Jim Stillman made the shells; I have a few in storage.... I've done a CN car with one...



The late Norm Wright scratchbuilt one - I own it as well; it's about 70% done and is beautiful..... I'll post a picture later.

I would think someone could cast these again and do well selling them; don't know why Jim stopped.

[spookshow]

I think the guy who did the Nystrom trucks on shapeways is also working on a skytop shell. There's a thread over on Trainboard that's been tracking his progress ("MILW special passenger cars" or something like that).

-Mark

[nwline]

I think Bill Denton makes them , I know he's posted here before

[nwline]

Bill is skytop35 , go under members and there's a link to his website . Skytop models

[u18b]

I have not contacted him... but I went to his website.

The car is nowhere mentioned.

[spookshow]

Nothing about skytops on Bill Denton's website.

There used to be a guy that sold resin shells under the name "N Scale Skytops", but his website has been gone for a while. I think that's the guy that Puddington was referring to (Jim Stillman).

-Mark

[Sokramiketes]

Skytop35 is Bill Denton who sells resin shells under Skytop Models but not of a Skytop.

N Scale Skytops is Jim Stillman who did sell resin Skytop shells but they are pretty low on detail. 

[delamaize]

I'd be down for one, just because how unique it is.

[skytop35]

Despite the name of my web site, I do not offer a skytop shell.  I get questions all the time, even though I put up a disclaimer on my main page and contacts page. (maybe I need to make it bolder and larger!)

Jim Stillman use to have them as Mike pointed out. He did make improvements over time and his last shells had more detail than his earlier shells. He took down his web site because it cost too much versus what he was getting back from the castings. Ater the initial release, the orders slow way down as I'm finding out and become only a trickle. Molds wear out and after time, it's not worth making a new mold for a couple of castings.

[u18b]

Or maybe you should make one!   

[spookshow]

Ron, did you try contacting the NLA Empires guy? As I said, he was working on a skytop shell for shapeways. Not sure where he's at with it, but he did finish the Nystrom trucks.

-Mark