Freerails > Model Railroad Forums > General Talk - Off Topic > Vendor Questions ... Supplies & Materials ? |
Freerails > Model Railroad Forums > General Talk - Off Topic > Vendor Questions ... Supplies & Materials ? |
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Almostretired Registered
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I tried to search for any answers to my question, but came up empty. Is there a section for experiences with online vendors ? I have to get nearly everything online, as the nearest local stores aren't so local, and the one that is in my hometown told me 3 years ago, he doesn't carry any scratchbuilding supplies, because "Nobody does that anymore" Specifically I am looking for anyone with recent experiences with ... https://www.sanjuancarco.com aka https://sanjuandetails.com/. Both sites have same physical address and phone numbers at the bottom, but different product lists. An email to the first site with a product question has gone unanswered, but the "contact us" form had a phrase to the effect: "Don't expect us to get back to you soon, be patient" Their telephone recording says, you can talk to them live 3 days a week for 4 hours each day, but they might have stepped out, so leave a message... I read a ways back that the company has a history of new owners, etc, but I thought they were finally reopened for business. However, I am not sure I want to deal with a concern, that isn't easy to communicate with. I see some of their products I am interested in for sale by eBay sellers, but the shipping eBay sellers are asking is outrageous for tiny parts like this. For reference to how online can be done: I have ordered several times from Tichy Train Group, each time my orders came quickly, at extremely reasonable rates, US Mail. Several emails were answered within 24 hours, a phone call during business hours was picked up by a living, breathing, human. |
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Don Drew Registered
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I have the same problem. I live in a very rural area, on the eastern Shore of Virginia (USA), I finally gave up and bought a 3D-printer for my HO railroad project. It has been an amazing trip. After learning to use the 3D-printer, I have created thousands of dollars worth, of buildings, fences, cars, trucks, people, sinage, telephone poles etc. for pennies. And it has been a great deal of fun. If I at 77 years old can learn 3D-printing, anyone can. Don |
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Almostretired Registered
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Thanks for the feedback. Great to hear of your success with the printer. I have SolidWorks each year for free thru the EAA, (EAA dues are only $40). Haven't used it much lately, used it for other off topic projects, never for modeling, so maybe I'll give 3D-printing a go, as I have some appropriate software. One of my nephews 3D-scans stuff regularly, with a phone app. but he has an expensive phone, too. The public library in my daughter's town, supposedly has 3D-printers for patrons to use, you just pay a little for the plastic. Last year I was looking into 3D-printing classes at my local community college, that's where I learned SW several years ago. In my state, tuition and fees were halved for me, after I broke through the 3 score birthday barrier. However, having survived this nasty bug once already (I got it after my 2 jabs !), it has me cooled a bit on another class, at least until things settle. The figures are what especially appeals to me, I am trying to model in On30. It seems available O scale figures are all too pricey for my wallet, nice ones start at $5 a pop and all the really nice ones are $9-10. Cheap ones look like blobs. I tried some 1:50 figures that seemed reasonable, but they are too small. What I don't understand is, that going to other scales, real nice figures are much more reasonable, especially the 1:35 military figures. Do you want to post some pictures of your work ? |
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Don Drew Registered
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Hi Almostretired. My 3D-printer cost $179.00 US Dollars. The PLA filament is about $24.00 US Dollars. I just printed a HO water tower for about $0.50 Cents US. The same water tower sells for $119.00 plus shipping $12.00 I just finished a very accurate O Church for less than $1.00 US, it cost 59.00 plus shipping. I have printed over $1000.00 worth, of accurate, to scale, people, cars, fences, houses of every size. The cost, less than $40.00 I used free youTube courses, to help with my learning. Best Wishes Don |
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Almostretired Registered
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Thanks again, Don. Care to share your printer make ? Evidently, you are very pleased with it so far. I started looking around, and the gaming miniature fans have loads of nfo on their sites regarding 3D-printing. |
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Don Drew Registered
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Hi Almostretired. I did a lot of research. I did not know what I was doing, I did not know if I could even operate one. I have an engineering degree and computer science degree, so I figured if it was just computer stuff I may be smart enough (maybe). So I purchased from AMAZON. I felt like I could trust them (also maybe). I bought an ANYCUBIC MEGA S for around $200.00 bucks, and ordered 2 Kilo spools of PLA filament. All of this seemed to be low end reasonably priced and easy to use. So as usual I have never had so much fun, been so satisfied. The 3D-printer is a computer, as with all computers, they will only do WHAT YOU TELL THEM TO DO. A lot of people do not realize that. They only understand 1-2 3-4-5 etc. They do not understand 1-3-6-8-4. As I said, I looked at a lot of tutorials on youTube before I purchased, so many youTubers just like to hear themselves talk and don't say much. So I looked at quite a few. They were very helpful. Don P.S. Are you in the USA ? |
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Don Drew Registered
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Hi Almostretired. I see you are in the USA. Feel free to call me as our cell phones are free USA. Also I am an Artist Metal Sculptor for the past 30 years, check me out at coppercreations.biz I am director of a ART Show this weekend in Ocean City Marylanddelmarvaartexpo.com |
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Michael M Registered 
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Mark Take a look at military figures in 1:48 scale. Tamiya makes many of them. You can modify the figures for civilian use. I use a lot of altered 1:35 scale military figures on my 1:35n2 layout. I've even used some of the green plastic army men. |
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Almostretired Registered
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No email reply from San Juan about my product questions. I guess I'll give them a second phone call to see if they pick up, and if not, put them to the side for now. I was primarily interested in their On30 archbar truck kits, they are highly detailed, but I do have some questions before I purchase, one was simply the diameter of the wheels, for instance. They also carry a lot of old Grandt Line detail parts I am interested in. In the meantime, my purchase of Kadee 24" On30 wheel sets arrived, and I put them into Tichy HO 100 ton heavy archbar truck kits, and now I have a reasonable looking truck. The Tichy HO truck scales to about a 3' O gauge wheelbase, but the enclosed HO wheels scaled at 17.5" in O. Two years ago, I tried the largest Kadee HO wheel sets I could find at HO 36", they scaled to O scale 19.5", better than what came with the Tichy trucks, but still shorter than what I was looking for. Either they are new, or I didn't dig deep into Kadee's catalog 2 years ago, but now Kadee markets On30 24" Griffin ribbed back metal wheel sets. I realize prototype diameters varied a lot, but with the 3' wheelbase trucks and the small 19" wheels, the trucks seemed to disappear, even under a narrow 6 1/2' wide car. I have numerous plans from the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazettes, and even though I'm not a stickler for accuracy, the 18' car I am working on has 22" wheels, as do many of the shorter car plans. In 1:1 railroading, I get stuck too often at a double rail crossing, just a mile down the road I live on, so I spend a lot of time looking at freight cars, and the wheels and trucks seem to be prominent features, so when model trucks seem to disappear under what I am building, it bothers me. The best news about this combination of parts, is that I am in well under $8 for a pair of trucks. Here's a shot with my new 24" wheels in place under an in-construction frame:  This shot has one HO 36" wheelset in place for comparison:  So, no great loss if San Juan Models keeps silent, as Kadee and Tichy shipped recent orders fast, well-packaged, at minimal shipping rates. Both answered email questions about their products within 48 hours, usually less. Some close up shots in case any rivet counters wish to crawl under the car:   |
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