paterpracticus.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

While waiting for a new tin of Revell 31 to arrive, I've started transfer designs for #NaughtyBus. I'm going to stick with fictional ads and route 88 blinds for now. They'll stay for the finished #JFFBooks postings but I'm lining up some authentic ones as replacements afterwards.

submitted 21 hours ago • 0 comments

Instead of literally watching paint dry, back to the old Hornby Class 37. One extremely tiny 3D printed brake wheel for the progressively more detailed cab. Space in the nose for two 3mm LEDs for the illuminated head code.

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

Getting there! Coverage good, but some of my filling needs further smoothing before a second coat. Back to work tomorrow, so that may have to wait a few days.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

All the bits that were just slightly too rubbish to make it into the build and replaced with my 3D printed ones. I’m glad I persevered with the windows - masking them a whole lot less painful than sanding and polishing them.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Seats in, back glued and roof on! Keep thinking there must be something I’ve forgotten to do.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

My tip of the day: stick a bit of emery paper on the end of a bamboo skewer with a bit of double sided tape. You can write the grade on the back. Perfect for sanding those little, hard to reach places.

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Quite a bit of filling around the front of the bus. Leaving the interior out for now so it doesn’t get damaged.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Final version of the cab, with new slightly smaller steering wheel on a longer stem to capture that distinctive sit up and beg look. The wedge shape also helps get the bonnet lined up with the radiator in the middle. Glad I went to the extra trouble.

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

As with the rest of the RT bus interior, Tower Models' stab at the cab definitely has room for improvement, so time for a bit of Tinkercad to rustle up a design of my own. Really didn't think the steering wheel would print that well, but was absolutely fine.

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Flitting between projects, I’ve got the 3D printer running ever more refined inner nose sections for my Class 37 upstairs, while glue is drying on the bus kit downstairs.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

Back on my Tower Models RT bus kit and I’ve reached the first proper glued assembly of the body. With all those windows polished and fitted, I can get my 3D printed safely inside and attach the chassis.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Found sufficient flush glazing left over from a previous Class 37 makeover (youtu.be/6q1XTYFClXQ?...), so that’s another thing off my shopping list.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Started work on the Hornby Class 37 makeover. Drilled out the headcode panels and made progress with the design for the 3D printed cab interior which will house the lights for the panel. Just a 1/2 mm to high at the moment.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

My ultrasonically triggered #RaspberryPi Pico 'mind your head' warning sign is now finished, as is Part 2 of my 'how-to' video with details of the 3D printed screen and case with space for all the gubbins inside: youtu.be/WYHUWdoq3kw

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

What do you suppose these guys do?

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

The perfect #FathersDay project - make your own automatic ‘mind your head’ sign with an ultrasonic sensor fitted to a Raspberry Pi Pico. Complete with a warning buzzer for anyone who gets too close (sound on). Part 2 out now: youtu.be/WYHUWdoq3kw?... #

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Part 2 of my Raspberry Pi Pico warning sign project is out now: youtu.be/WYHUWdoq3kw?...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Spaffed a whole GB pound on this really handy pin reference guide for the @raspberrypi.com Pico, currently stuck to the front of my Mac so I can remember which pins I used on the ‘mind your head’ sign for the VO of latest video.

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

A rare total print failure from yesterday evening. At only 41 mins I’d left it unmonitored, so wasn’t there to stop it. Almost certainly down to the very high humidity at the time.

submitted 13 days ago • 2 comments

Very early CAD for my #Hornby Class 37 head code back-box/cab interior. Measured as best I can for now, but really only a series of test prints and tinkering will get the fit just right. #TMRGUK #BSMRGUK

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

The nose of the old Hornby is going to need a lot of work. Illuminated head-codes planned, along with sorting those dodgy lights and lamp brackets.

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

I’ve got next week off, and as well as finishing my RT bus model and the @raspberrypi.com ‘mind your head’ sign video, I think there will be time to start something new - a complete make-over of an old Hornby Class 37 in the hybrid livery I found in one of my books. #TMRGUK #BSMRGUK

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Everything now migrated from the breadboard to the sign, leaving just the Pico WH behind, having served its purpose. Bog standard Pico inside the case.

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

‘Mind your head’ warning sign all wired up with the Raspberry Pi Pico inside the case. Sensor top right and buzzer bottom left.

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Revised case design, with space for the buzzer, printed in white and ready for all the gubbins to be transferred from the breadboard, soldering the wires directly to a standard @raspberrypi.com Pico, without the headers. Follow up to youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8 coming very soon.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Last circuitry tweak to my Raspberry Pi Pico powered ‘mind your head’ sign. My LED backlight panels didn’t suggest a specific resistor, and having tried out a few I’ve settled for round about 60ohms. Next to rewire everything to a headerless Pico inside the case.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Adding a buzzer to my illuminated ‘mind your head’ sign, programmed to go off if you get much too close. Front case design lengthened slightly to accommodate at the end. Follow up to youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8?... coming very soon.

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

My 3D printed airbrush stand is looking pretty good. Needs to be a tiny bit higher to stop the nozzle slipping forward.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

I've been improvising rather with propping up my airbrush during paint sessions, so figured designing a 3D printed stand specially for it might not be a bad idea.

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

Not one, but two mentions in the Raspberry Pi Magazine this month! As well as making it into the #MakerMonday round-up, I spotted my level crossing lights among the 10 Amazing Tiny Pico Projects – with a link to my @YouTube Short: rpimag.co/levelcrossingvid

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

The old Tower Models glazing is super thick with some nasty blobs in the mouldings, as you can see from the ones on the sprue. So nothing else to be done but sand every one flat with wet & dry paper, finishing up with 3000 grit before bringing back to a shine with polishing compound.

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

With seat handrails painted the RT bus interior is nearly done. Staircase and cab still to sort.

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

Spent much of the last couple of days painting the 3D printed seats for my RT bus kit - progressively masking off areas for each colour. Just the handrails to go.

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

When off, both sides of the LED panels I’m using in my ultrasonic warning sign look the same, but a big difference when lit - the light reflected off just a bunch of dots. Part 1 of the video here: youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8?... - Part 2 coming soon.

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

For the follow-up to part 1 of my #raspberrypi ultrasonic ‘Mind your head’ sign project (youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8?...) I’m adding a buzzer to warn when you really are too close (sound on).

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Silver fuel tank, slightly rusting silencer and a bit of black detailing finish off my RT bus chassis. In the unlikely event anyone is tempted to build the Tower Models kit themselves I’ve popped the .stls for the chassis and interior on my website: paterpracticus.com/tower-models...

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Deliveries! Now I can crack on with both projects.

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

The perfect anniversary gift from my wife.

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Making and modelling on hold today for a bit of mending. Our Bamix blender had totally seized up, so full strip-down required. This bearing was the culprit, but nothing a whack with a hammer couldn’t loosen. All greased up and back together it is now working perfectly again.

submitted 40 days ago • 0 comments

Back-light LED panels make a really effective basis for ultrasonically activated warnings, and two are better than one for my ‘Mind Your Head’ sign: youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8?...

submitted 40 days ago • 1 comment

Part 1 of my ‘how to make an ultrasonic warning sign with a Raspberry Pi Pico’ project is out now: youtu.be/dnucOPa1LK8?...

submitted 41 days ago • 1 comment

The house of the future, according to the Ladybird Book of Homes from 1975

submitted 43 days ago • 5 comments