How Four Makers Mastered Their Medium

(Backyard Pick Up by Conway Hambone)

I've been working with model train,

specifically in the Z scale, for now about three years.

I visited a train show here in 2007

and saw the Z scale trains for the first time,

and I was just really fascinated with them,

and how detailed they are, how small they are,

it's almost jewelry quality.

To really begin the process of making anyone model,

either I know inherently what something is supposed to be

and what shape it is, or I need to go out and get

reference photos, measurements, and other things

for the different models.

One thing that is really helpful is, is if I can find

what are called three views of a model,

which is front, side, and top, and from there I can

extrude it and then start getting the measurements right,

and then turn it into a 3D model that Shapeways

can then print.

I do have some unique skills; I'm part engineer,

but as far as the process that I use,

there's really nothing unique.

I have actually taken other people, showed them the tools

that I'm doing, and they're building things for themselves.

I'm just trying to get some things that I want

for my layout, and I think that makes it a little bit unique

in that I'm not trying to make it a business,

I'm just making models.