What began as a simple request from the Muncie Children’s Museum quickly became a passion project for Steven Polchinski, a 2022 graduate of the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning. Recommended by his professor, Tom Collins, Steven was thrilled to take on the challenge of modeling and 3D-printing iconic Muncie landmarks for the museum’s O Scale model train display. His architectural expertise and lifelong love of model trains made it the perfect fit.

In late December 2022, Steven began the project taking detailed measurements of Shaffer Chapel, Shafer Tower, Muncie Fieldhouse, and Wysor Street Depot. These measurements, along with countless photos and research, became the foundation for hours of careful digital modeling throughout the spring and summer of 2023. With more than 113 hours dedicated to modeling and over 630 hours to printing, Steven worked tirelessly to capture every detail of each structure. The Muncie Fieldhouse, with its intricate brick textures and offset materials, presented unique challenges that pushed Steven’s modeling skills to new levels.

To capture the Fieldhouse’s hard-to-reach details, a friend and fellow 2022 graduate, Mitchell Geis, provided drone photos. “I wanted to be sure the models were as close to the originals as possible,” Steven explained. “I forgot how much detail you can see in O scale! These buildings had to be like dioramas, showing every brick and texture as legibly as possible, and that level of detail really put my computer to the test.”

Steven’s background in model trains also played a key role. While his personal collection, a shared hobby with his dad, focuses on G and HO scales, his knowledge of Lionel-scale O trains helped him envision how his models would fit into the existing Muncie Children’s Museum display by the Muncie and Western Model Railroad Club.

One of Steven’s favorite pieces to model was the Wysor Street Depot’s unique red tiled roof, which stands out beautifully on the 3D-printed replica. Reflecting on the finished project, he said, “This wasn’t like the architectural models we sometimes simplified in school. Seeing iconic buildings from my time at Ball State come to life in this display has been amazing.”

Once the buildings were 3D-printed by Steven, they were handed off to Brian Wolfe of the Muncie Western Model Railroad Club for painting and installation. The combined effort created an impressive display that Muncie residents and train enthusiasts alike will enjoy for years to come.

Steven’s 3D-printed models