Silver Fern

Things have been rather busy in the last month, I ended up getting my hands on a 7.25" gauge silver fern that appeared on trademe. The fern has always been special to me, dad took us kids on a trip in her to rotorua in the early 90's and everything about it felt modern, right down the air operated internal doors.

So to celebrate I decided it would be a neat idea to 3d print it in 1:24 scale, the 3d printing part is almost finished with the underside still in progress. I intend on 3d printing the seats this time around, this version is more of a test print as I've altered the front end and with a bit of effort managed to thin out the walls.

NZ120 Silver Fern - Undergrubbins Arrive

The NZ120 Silver Fern undergrubbins arrived. Printed in Frosted Ultra Detail. I've done some work on the non powered end. The powered end is not so simple, with the chassis taking up half the space. Some butchering required.

Design available here

Just out of the box from shapeways

Cleaned & Primed.

Ensuring it all fits

After painting & weathering

Even on my steep grades no issues with the centre part scrapping the track as it goes over humps in the track.

NZ120 Silver Fern - Undergrubbins

Today sees a start on completing the underside detailing for the nz120 silver fern.

Designed to be a separate item, but this isn't concrete yet..

Under-grubbins comparison with actual prototype,

View of both sides.

Side on

After the supports that keep the model straight during the printing process are removed, the underside
can be inserted upwards into the body, with the walls of the rail-car gripping without the need for gluing.

Model will be available here 

The design packaged up for printing

Silver Fern truck sideframes arrive

In an earlier post http://newzealandrailwaymodels.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/187-zh.html I had ordered a set of sideframes, and here they are.

Definately cleaner than Frosted Detail! The wheels 13.5dia from trackgangproducts, simply pop in. No need for bearings. They are quite free running, and more importantly don't pop out easily.

Top view, brutal closeups...

The motor bogie... intended as sideframes for the power bogie truck

Fitted with the new bogies, Power bogie to go...

*Update, to answer below question, the model is now available here NZ120 Silver Fern sideframes

1:87 Zh & Silver Fern Updates

The Zh shell has been made available in 1:87 scale upon request, available here http://www.shapeways.com/model/1560575/1-87-scale-nzr-zh-class.html?li=shop-results&materialId=6

NZ120 Silver Fern

The silver fern fitted with front lights

The fern also received front head lights. It is a very bright led, but really is a personal preference. 

Also worth mentioning, the bogies... Since the size of the fern, even in nz120 scale is simply too big to fit inside the Printer (for Frosted Ultra Detail). It is available however in Frosted Detail, which is better than Strong & Flexible in terms of smoothness so I can't complain. The bogies however, being small and detailed in nz120 need to be made available as a separate product. 

An initial order to replace my fern, in FUD Material is a go so far. The bogie could be made available in Brass/Bronze after a test print is ordered in one of the materials. The power bogie is spaced apart like the non powered 3 bogies, so its now possible to have an un-powered free running model.

The undergrubbins will be added, and the bogies removed from the main shell, with links pointing to the bogies from main product page.

The undergrubbins will also be made available for mine and others test prints as a separate item also.

NZ120 Silver Fern - Jolon's Build

Sent in from Jolon Sweeny

Starting with the Silverfern body. I looked at the nose and removed about 10mm back to the head-stock  mounted 2 plastic blocks that are 7mm x 4mm by the baggage doors, drilled 2 mounting holes for screws to hold the chassis. I drilled holes in the chassis for the screws. Mounting blocks are sunken into body by 3.5mm, so that the chassis sits in the body, and this makes the trucks just clear and turn. Mounting block on top of SD7-9 weight is 8mm long - this rests on the inside of the roof. Chassis is 75mm long x 15mm wide which sits comfortably into the body, as in photo. Bearings were fitted flush into the trucks. Fitted one first, and super glued, then fitted second loosely and spun freely to see that the depth was correct. Once correct, removed wheel, super glued in and then fitted wheel again to check smooth running. Have used a draw bar between carriages, but could use standard couplers if you wanted. Height of mounting block for trucks, used 2 pieces of thin plastic to get to correct height. Once correct height was established, super glued them to top of truck and screwed onto body. Could use small washers instead. When you receive the body, chop out the first 2 supports from the drive end for chassis to fit in, and remove the 4 internal supports as well, so that chassis fits snug with block on top of weight.

part two silver fern nz120 couplers and air-hoses fitted

NZ120 Silver Fern Arrives

The Silver Fern was printed in Frosted Detail, as FUD wasn't an available option due to the size. Also of interest, lower left picture sees a tidal surge..

As soon as I recieved the box from shapeways, I quickly gave the model a bath in soapy water & scrubbed the model with toothpaste and toothbrush, removing the oily stuff. And running under a tap of hot water and continuing to scrubb. Although don't run under the hot tap too long or the model will become too soft.

For a cheaper material than FUD, the finish is more than I expected. Can't wait to see it running around the layout now. And painting it silver is not a big ask!

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1335772/nz120-silver-fern-railcar.html?li=shop-results&materialId=60

Showing Missy the cat being woken from a Mixed Express hauled by KR DXR, Vid taken not a week ago now, Sadly passed away only today (24/09) from what the vet called cancer.

The front of the cab's looks a bit messy, Sanding and touching up is still required!

Nice clean sides..

Showing the Lifelike chassis sitting in place.

Showing bogies, 2mm brass bearings and wheels will be required

Photo Courtesy of http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/rm---silver-fern-of-1972.html

NZ120 Silver Fern RM & Ud (Well) wagon

NZR Silver Fern

A test print has been ordered in Frosted Detail, not available in FUD due to sheer size of model in 1:120 scale.. Will wait for a test print with great interest! 

The under grubbins will be made available after a test arrives, still unsure how to tackle this as with all the boxes the price of the model tends to shoot skyward. Will make the under-grubbins available as a separate item.. Perhaps a clip on job? still not sure!

This model will replace my scratch build attempt.. 

Designed to be fitted with 2mm brass bearings & wheels inserted.

Power Bogie side frames, designed to attach to a single bogie using a chassis of SD-7 with the other power bogie removed. If you use a lifelike you wont see the motor through the windows.

Showing bogies, Printed inside the body to prevent handling damage.

Ud Class, Well wagon of 1940

This model is a must have for any nz120 Layout, Requires 6 Wheels per wagon, 3 per bogie. Available from trackgangproducts.co.nz

Hooks and rivets!

Bogies need removing from body, 4 1mm struts connecting.

NZR UD Wagon, Image Credits, http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/ A great source for modellers, every single wagon with photos and information on anything.