The Fun Has Started Our First Water Tank

The Fun Has Started Our First Water Tank

 

After  my Hubby and our Daughter playing around most of Saturday afternoon setting up the printer and the computer and getting the right programs, we were ready by 6 o'clock on Saturday night to start a test run by printing out our much needed water tanks. Because everything was on hold in the farm lands waiting for the arrival of their water tanks. After all the crops and veggies and animals needed their water not to mention the loo and showers, lol, To our surprise they only took 39 minutes each. We ended up printing out 4 of them, but I'm thinking of making another one or two. One for our famous Aussie wood shed. Because you always need somewhere to keep your firewood dry and the other one for a chicken coop. I will just have to see how I'm going for space with the chicken coop. They may just left to forage around the yard, sorry, lol.

I do have one tip for you. After our first print the models all started sticking to the plate. So we found a handy hint. You mix up a solution of 50%, alcohol (I used Isocol) with 50% water in a a clean spray bottle. You spray a small amount on your work and just wait 10-30 seconds and them it is much easier to come of. But you do have to be careful not to get any moisture on your rolls of filament and equipment. Then after you have removed the 3D model just wipe over the plate with a micro fibre cloth to clean it. 

Here go you all painted. I painted them in a metallic silver acrylic artist paint, I used Atelier brand because it is just so think but I do also use Mont Marte brand as well and find these just as good. Then for the rusting I used some Red Earth, Jo Sonja's, matte fluid acrylic paints, watered down. For the moss effect I used Moss Green, Jo Sonja's, matte fluid acrylic paints, also watered down. Then I covered them with Mont Marte Acrylic medium gloss to help keep them looking like metal tanks. 

I do know that you can get rusting effect paints but I am very sensitive to fumes so I find these types not useful for me personally. 

And here is a little sneak peak of where this little beauty is going to be living for the rest of her life. I think she look right at home. 

I have some left over down pipes from other buildings I have made (because you never throw out anything, you may need it latter). These down pipes will be glued to the guttering and go down into the tank.

Last night we started printing out our next building in our 3D printer, so stay tune for this one. 

And last and all this is a short video of our Flashforge Dreamer 3D printer, printing away. 

We have been so blessed this week from some very special friends. A T-shirt for Hubby, some cartons of beer and some copper filament. A very very big thank you to all, you are truly loved, not just for these gifts but because of how special you all are to both of us. Thank you once again. Feeling the love. 

 

I would just like to send a big thank you to Luke Towan at Boulder Creek Railway for the free print pattern for this tank. You can find Luke on You Tube. He has some really helpful ideas and techniques.