.
A quirky and intriguing video at  the Gauge O Guild online exhibition was this one, showing a small layout  entirely 3D-printed, both FDM and resin, and including the track:

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It's  light on detail of the machines and software used, and it's a shame the  track includes such nonsenses as the Peco-style bent timbers, but it  does show where the hobby is heading.

cheers,

Martin.

Nice little video Martin  :thumbs
Is this the future ?? Well I can see in the not too distant future many households having a 3 D printer linked to The internet and when needing a spare part for something just contacting the company who will trigger a 3D print using some type of one time only secure code. I can see software becoming much more sophisticated where you show it a picture or an object you want and it will scan and create the necessary file to print the object, rather than us having to learn the graphic design skills needed ?  Maybe even local print shops where you take in your file and they print for you ?  There must be so much in the world that instead of manufacturing it in china you will simply get it printed in your local '3D shop

Food for thought  :hmm what do you guys think ??

Cheers

Matt

Sounds like we're heading towards Star Trek replicators.

Bring them on  :thumbs

Bill

3D printing of parts and accessories as Matt has suggested will soon be technically possible and I am sure will be used by modellers who go down the 3D printer path.
And not just for model railways - how many times have we had to throw something away because a critical plastic part has broken and spare parts are not available?