1:8 Scale NZR Q3 Hopper Wagon Build, day three

Day three see's the end platforms finished with hopper end cradles attached, figure before I do the hopper I should print a second wagon frame so I can play with the automatic couplers. Regarding the second frame the bearings have been altered in design to allow a 10mm Ext Dia; 5mm Int dia Bearing to be imbedded into the 3d printed bearing by press fit. I've doubled up the springs with a heavier one that snuggly fit outside the existing spring.

More wheels completed and fixed to a 3.97mm Steel axle. Hopefully tomorrow the second frame will be started/finished. 2kg of silver ABS is up next, I wanted black but this was in stock and sounded interesting enough to pursue.

1:8 Scale NZR Q3 Hopper Wagon Build, day two

More progress on the hopper wagon for the 5inch Railway, All I set out to do this weekend was weld up some track & simply expand my railway. First thing on the morning we picked up the steel I figured I would 3d print a large wheel in 1:8 scale just for fun, after it printed I realized I should print a second wheel, then I knew I needed 2 more to build a wagon. While looking up my past projects I came along the 1:24 Q3 wagon files and before I knew it I could visualize me and a rake of  Q coal wagons with even a guards van running along the 5" track. 

Onto the build, the main frame members are now fixed together, with 3x25mm steel bar added for weight & some stiffness. I'm going to widen the channel to allow a steel bar to neatly fit inside & running the full length of the wagon. Currently it needs 2mm shaved off the bar so we will get it on the next one. Currently printing the end flat plates, I've reduced the thickness of them to 3mm to save material. After that its onto the hopper cradle then the hopper itself, the hopper currently has presented me with a question of printing the rivets or not, if I left it a hole I could get some small rivets and install them, that would then enable me to use actual metal strapping for assembling the hopper in a prototypical way. 

Getting these wheels cast in metal is becoming increasingly critical.

5 Inch Gauge

Recently to celebrate my recent 40th birthday my dad shouted me a couple hundred $ of steel to build and expand my 5 inch layout. With dad in tow we drove to Vulcan Steel in whangarei to purchase 3x25mm steel bar cut into 2.5mtr lengths so to fit the car. Already 8metres were cut into 25cm lengths to form the sleepers. Welding with a very old MIG welder with the highest setting it seems to be doing the job, I need to drag the ARC welder out and see if that's better suited. Yet to unpack the grinder and clean things up, blury pics taken in a very dark garage. Also need to sort out some better lighting.

In preparation for welding the track together I knew I needed a Jig of some sort, so I quickly designed handy spacers in CAD software that would friction grip and hold the track in place & 3D printed half a dozen or so, these proved the value hugely. So much so I'm printing some to hold the track in place for the turnouts & make things easier before I weld.

That got me thinking about wagons and what I could do, watching clips on youtube some places run scale wagons, not to sit on just for decoration. So my spin is to 3d print a working 1:8 Scale NZR Q wagon, although with not so prototypical couplers. I found some neat american automatic couplers and decided to download the file and experiment, sorta knowing how they worked but never really opened one up until now. Heres a link https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4700824

The ABS Plastic I use is very strong, i'd be keen to hook them up to a scale and do a load test. Me and dad both held a coupler each and gave it a good tug, nothing broke so i've decided to use em practically until they brake apart.

I'm using meccano for the axle, although I need to find something sustainable if I want a rake of these. I purchased some "Utility Comp Springs" from bunnings. Also of note are hand brakes that will actually work.

A "test" print of the couplers, the next pair will be twice as large.

Axle boxes & frame with springs installed. Also, working grease doors, although I only need a small reservoir if any grease at all. 

24 Hours after coming up with the Idea of printing a 1:8 Scale NZR Q wagon

The initial plan calls for 2 straights then at least 2 curved sections to make 90degrees and then lastly a turnout. From there one can only dream.

Plate Girder Bridge Continued

 The bridges cosmetic & safety team have really gone overboard with the inclusion of 3d Printed sleeper straps. If I were really serious about detail I would spend the time doubling the number of sleepers, Its tempting to print some sleeper ends at the very least.

Also of note is the TR logo on the Dixie, I asked my brother to print a black and white logo of the approximate size, then carefully cut the letters out and simply trace the outline using a fine pencil on the locomotive. 

Actually painting is quite nerve wracking, but with a very small & fine brush I carefully filled in the dark blue around the pencil line. All in all it came out better than a decal would have.

In this shot, pre handrails, just visible below the fuel tank is a switch that controls the LED 3v lights. Turn the loco upside down and a 2x AA battery cradle can be accessed. Main headlight driven by track power.

*Update* Later that day..
Inspired by the post, I popped into the local model shop and purchased 1.2mm music wire and promptly went about installing them.
The handrails are cemented only to the chassis.
The cab, long and short hood joins are removable.

Lego Chain attached to the handbrake, not quite scale.

All efforts now reside on detailing her rear end, and underneath the chassis, pipping etc.

1:24 Dxb, automatic coupler

Showing off further DX progress, had hoped to have the bridge painted but will wait for a sunny day.

Cab & ditch lights added. a new front hood with modern door handles. I managed to get the manual uncoupler lever working, safety is still a thing after all.

Plate Girder Bridge

 This bridge idea was inspired by what I saw at michaels place, 3d printed plate girders.

Still a work in progress, each girder took about 2 hours per section. The center guard rails are lego track with the sleepers removed, once painted should blend right in.

Printer Render

Peckett negotiates the safest bridge on the railway

At least it will be when the girders are all attached..

1:24 DXB Build

Showing off a new 1:24 build, this time continuing will the Dx model of which I intend on painting in the "bumblebee" livery. 

"Bumblebee Livery"

It's been a challenge to build this from within my 7mtr house bus, the 3d printer sits comfortably above the bus engine with the fillament spool resting on the gear stick. These rainy days have helped p

rovide good detailing time. 

Features working cab doors and seats, the front hood is an old one I had spare, I intend on redoing this. The control stand is from an older generation that I printed a year or so ago. Still lots to do, working on installing some LEDS and finishing the handrails which i've been using 1.5mm brass

Showing further progress, more sanding and painting and printing.