Q: I’m excited by all the new 3D-printed figures and details that have become available. Lately, however, I’ve received some figures that are still attached to the support structure. I work in HO scale, and I’m not sure how to safely remove all this material without damaging the details or figures. Do you have any tips? — (Albert) Chris Santy
A: That’s a really good question, Chris. I’ve dabbled a bit in the world of 3D-printed parts. In the September 2021 Model Railroader, I shared how I added a 3D-printed air conditioner and ditch lights to an Atlas Trainman HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP38-2. In Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2023 I wrote about adding 3D- printed antenna arrays and an exhaust stack cover from MAC Rail Products to an Athearn HO scale General Electric Dash 9-44CW. However, these parts were all cut from the support structure when I received them.
To help answer your question, I reached out to FineScale Modeler Editor Tim Kidwell. Here’s what he had to say on the topic: “The first thing to remember is that 3D-printer resin can be extremely brittle. If you’re printing the parts yourself, you can knock off the supports before putting the parts in the light to cure. At this point, they’re still soft and remove more easily.
“When removing supports from cured pieces, you can use nippers, but make sure to do it well away from the part itself because you can cause fracturing. Then remove the rest of the support with a file or sanding stick. A better alternative, if there is space for you to use one, is a fine-toothed razor saw. That way you’re removing material, not crimping it, meaning there’s less chance of damaging brittle resin. Then clean up the part in the usual way.
“This process can be tedious with 3D-printed parts, especially complex ones that have a lot of supports. The temptation is to just get in there and snip away. Resist it. If you find yourself getting antsy, put the part down and work on something else, go outside, drink tea, whatever you need to restock your patience before heading back in.”
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