At the start of July 2024 Shapeways announced they were filing for banksupsy.  

Like many this worried me but I feel it has just speeds up my plans to make my designs available for download. 

Finding a suitable platform to host my designs is the main issue. The model railway hobby is pretty good at looking itself and promoting itself. This is why I want either someone, a group or a company in the hobby taking over my collection for the right price. Unfortunately no-one came forward with acceptable offer.

Shapeways have now restarted under new/old management but the old marketplace website has gone and I felt that downloads were the future. 

I eventually decided that Cults3d offered me what I needed to offer downloads so have started uploading my print files to their website. 

To encourage people to buy downloads I have set price at 0.99 Euros plus tax if applied(Cults3d system is priced in euros) per download. 

Downloads are for personal use only. 

I have left most of this website unchanged and am updated with new links to Cults3d when I have uploaded relevant print files. 

My webpages will stay as long as they are needed, the Shapeways links have disappeared.

 I have downloaded  the Shapeways info for my designs as it is easier than recreating some from CAD files. The files are zipped so require less storage space. 

There are over 11000 stl files in my collection. Many are in effect resizes with modifications (eg minimum wall thickness), but still a least 1500 designs for locos, carriages, wagons and some structures. Within my inset/tram track collection there are hundreds of unique designs. 

Background information about 3d printing

There is still a lot of misinformation and hype relating to 3d printing. 

Here is a quick breakdown of how 3d print printing works. 

Either
Select a suitable CAD application software.
Create and complete the design.
Save and export the design into 3D printing STL file format.
or
Download the design in stl format from internet
Pick a suitable slicer program.
Allow the slicer to convert the STL file into a printable G-code.

I found this online which might help

Slicing means converting the 3D model file into a machine language that can be recognized by the printer, and the printer can only print successfully after recognizing this machine language. This machine language is called the G-Code file.
Support structures are an integral part of the FDM 3D printing process. In short, they help 3D printers overcome certain design limitations, like geometries with steep angles and overhangs. Today, most slicer programs automatically generate supports, making it easy for makers to use them.

3D Printed Designs

As there are now so many designs on my database, this front end should make it easier to find items

3D printed trackwork	Complete Buildings including new terraced houses and shops Nissen Huts Provender/ Trader Goods Sheds Art Deco Station Buildings
	3D printed accessories Bridge building parts Across Board join Track Panels Working Level Crossing kits OO Barrow Crossing parts Building Parts and Furniture
Narrow Gauge 3D printed narrow gauge locomotives  3D printed narrow gauge rolling stock 3D printed French Metre Gauge  3D printed Irish Narrow Gauge  3D printed British 3ft and over narrow gauge
	3D printed house and shop modules (Roof) 3D printed house and shop modules(Middle floor) 3D printed house and shop modules(Ground  floor) 3D printed warehouse modules
Standard Gauge  3D printed standard gauge locomotives  3D printed standard gauge coaches and railcars 3D printed standard gauge  wagons
Other counties and gauges   3D printed broad gauge locomotives  3D printed Irish 5ft 3in Broad Gauge 3D printed Finnish Railways  3D printed Swedish Railways  3D printed Portugal Railways  3D printed Non British Standard Gauge	3D printed road vehicles

All files now on  Cults3d 

Designs by Rue d'Étropal