Model Railroad Hobbyist | October 2015 | #68 GETTING REAL column Jack burgess An introduction to SketchUp and 3D printing THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK DURING the last few years about “3D printing.” That excitement is valid as this relatively new technology has enormous potential for model railroaders. What is 3D printing? Basically, it is a technology allowing a machine to produce a scale model of a physical part using “addi- tive layer manufacturing” technology. That techno-description simply means that a 3D printing machine lays down successive layers of material to build up the physical model as a series of cross sections. Depending on the process, each layer is fused by a UV light, laser, or other energy source. These layers, which correspond to virtual cross-sections from the computer model, create the final shape. XX MODELING REAL RAILROADS AND WHAT THEY DO MRHMAG.COM • TABLE OF CONTENTS • INDEX