7 November 2025

Two jobs on the go at once Laser Printer Lidded Box and X5SA Printer Modification Log. I had started by playing with the laser cutter and was making good progress, but with a cutting speed of 150mm/min it takes a while for the more complex profiles to cut, so I decided to fire up the 3D printer while waiting, and that has got a little more attention since the laser last ran. However waiting now for a 12 hour print on the 3D printer before then next step there, I'm back with the laser and trying to sort my next problem. Glue seems to be the sticking point, and while the dispenser I'm now using works, I think I need just a little freer flowing solution. I have a number of different glue options, and I've been putting off the Flying Scotsman build simply because I am not confident in it's reliance on using super glue to assemble it. The gel consistency may be the right answer, but at least I do have a few spare duplicate parts that I can practice on.

Back to the laser printer and since I have built a few plywood models in the past, selecting one from the long list I've developed is a bit daunting, but next step I think is to follow the 3D printer approach and add to the tool kit. Cutting some more boxes of more useful sizes seems the right next task and ones to store the paint in the portable workspace should be easy to address now that I have found the right site to create variable size boxes. So just what size ones do I go for ...