Welcome to Diagram3D
Diagram3D designs and produces kits for scale model railway vehicles. The kits are produced using innovative techniques and modern technology. The kits are laser cut in card, MDF or wood and can be assembled without soldering. The assembly instructions can be freely downloaded from this website. We don't mind sharing historical information. There is a section for interesting prototype information which has been collected from various sources. Our products include historical notes and pertinent details.Making models of historical railway vehicles can be frustrating. The prototypes often had complicated panels and details. Reliable historical information can be difficult to find. Producing a set of vehicles from scratch can be a daunting prospect. Our intention is to reduce this frustration and save your valuable modelling time. Each of our kits will assemble into an accurate body shell which can then be used to produce a detailed model.
The results can be impressive. Visit our gallery for images of completed models and details of construction. Save your time by using our products.
About Us
Diagram3D designs and produces kits for scale model railway vehicles. The kits are produced using innovative techniques and modern technology. The kits are laser cut in card, MDF or wood and can be assembled without soldering. The assembly instructions can be freely downloaded from this website.
We don't mind sharing historical information wherever possible and spend time researching information. There is a download section for interesting prototype information which has been collected from various sources. Our products include historical notes and pertinent details.
Making models of historical railway vehicles can be frustrating. The prototypes often had complicated panels and details. Reliable historical information can be difficult to find. Producing a set of vehicles from scratch can be a daunting prospect. Our intention is to reduce this frustration and save your valuable modelling time. Each of our kits will assemble into an accurate body shell which can then be used to produce a detailed model.
https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/laser-cut-coaches/
Originally titled "21st century Modelling" is an article I wrote in 2008. I think it has aged well. At the time there were no 3D printers or laser cutters available at a decent price.
These days many of the concepts in the article are taken for granted, just like computers and 3d printers. Anyone who has tried to use these tools will know that it takes hundreds if not thousands of hours to master the hardware and design processes.
Modelling using lasers and 3d printing is as difficult, if not more so, than traditional methods. There are mistakes and heaps of ruined material. However this is preferable to agony over a single hand crafted part. I would never been able to produce the rolling stock I wanted by hand.
Diagram3D is the result of a natural progression. Models and accessories for the time period and region of interest were not available. As a result I began to make my own. Making these models individually was taking up most of my spare time with variable results. Having tried all the slow traditional methods for making models I began making my own models in various gauges using a laser cutter.
Visit our gallery to see images of completed models and details of construction.
Diagram3D products are tried and tested extensively. We support our products and our customers. As committed railway modellers we have strong views on badly designed kits and try to ensure that our products are well designed and easy to build. While you are visiting, do not forget to look at our free downloads section. The gallery is worth a visit too for images of kits built by customers.
Periodicals like "The Engineer" and "Engineering" often contained articles and supplements about railways. These are of value because they reflect contemporary impressions and opinions about the development of railways. Some of these articles span several issues.
A number of these articles have been collated on this website for free download.
All our products contain clear instructions which are available for download (in PDF format) from this website. Read the instructions before buying and there will be no hidden surprises when you order. We aim to make the assembly process as pain free and efficient as possible. Historic information is included. Hints and timing of the stages is included as an aid to help plan the project.
Click here Instructions for TK-GN04-D303 to open the instructions for this kit.
Click here TK-GN04-D303 to open the product page for this kit.
Lasercut: As good as it looks and plenty in stock.
There is a minimum quantity of the items we advertise for sale in stock and we are prepared to restock within days rather than in months in the event that we sell out unxpectedly. We accept cards and payment by Paypal which means that you can buy from us on-line with confidence.
Our latest GNR kits are pre-coloured.
Diagram3D products are tried and tested.
We do not sell anything that we would not buy ourselves. We understand and support our products. Detailed assembly instructions can be found on this website. This allows you to see what is included before purchasing as well as keeping the instructions up to date.
Smartframe: An accurate, reliable and simple method for producing rolling stock. A difficult and tedious task encountered when crafting rolling stock is the preparation, cutting out and alignment of the windows, droplights, panels and beading. This is especially difficult in smaller scales. Smartframe is our solution. Smartframe reduces the time, complication and labour associated with the construction of rolling stock using accurate lasercut layers which are conveniently assembled without specialist knowledge to give the same quality, or better, as traditional methods using plastic or etched components.
