Canadian National, ex- GTR Center Cupola Wooden Van

[sbhunterca]

Eastern Road Models is pleased to release our CNR, ex-Grand Trunk Railway Center Cupola wooden caboose kit in HO scale.
Some of these cars lasted well into the 1950s, and are a nice break from CN's usual end cupola cars.


The 3D printed kit includes full detailing- brake wheels, K brakes, brake levers, handbrake wheels, queenposts, toolbox, marker lamps, steps, smoke jack, cupola seats, and end ladders. It is available in Shapeways FUD and FXD acrylic.


I recommend using monofilament fishing line for the truss rods, with Grandt Line turnbuckles. Turnbuckles are too fine to be able to print. The builder will need to supply the usual materials and parts such as trucks, couplers, wire, ACC cement, paint, and decals.


I will be releasing this car in S scale as well, in a few days' time.


The HO version of the kit can be found here:


www.shapeways.com/product/5759C3SAF/cnr-center-cupola-wooden-caboose-ho-scale?li=shop-results&optionId=57854412


Steve Hunter

[dtinut]

Looks good, but holy crap - Batman! Thats a lot of dough for basically a resin casting, and doesn't include any of the details to finish it.

These cabs lasted longer than you mention, at least in US on the GTW & CV. They were still in use in the 70's.

Here is one i kit-bashed from a WKW wood caboose.





I do like the mutton bar windows on the shapeways model!
Regards,
Brian

[sbhunterca]

Hi, Brian:

3D printing is still an evolving technology, and as such it's still expensive... designers have no control over that. However, there are a number of developments on the horizon that, combined with market pressure on print agencies, plastics suppliers, and machine vendors, will gradually force the costs downward.

Until that point, I will be getting kits out there, and look forward to the day when 3D printing becomes more economical and becomes a mainstream process in the industry.

Regarding detailing- The 3D printed kit does include full detailing. The brake wheels, K brakes, brake levers, handbrake wheels, queenposts, toolbox, marker lamps, steps, smoke jack, cupola seats, and end ladders are all part of the kit.

I recommend using monofilament fishing line for the truss rods, with Grandt Line turnbuckles. Turnbuckles are too fine to be able to print.

The builder will need to supply the usual materials and parts such as trucks, couplers, wire, ACC cement, paint, and decals.

If you scroll through the product listing images, you will see the details are printed inside the body, where they are protected from damage during cleaning and shipping.

Resin casting is not an option, as I do not have a separate workshop, have young kids, and am not about to do casting production in the home and risk exposing them to isocyanates. I have seen the results of isocyanate exposure in industry, and this is not a risk I will take with my kids.

Incidentally, for the Grand Trunk Western and Grand Trunk- Eastern Lines modellers out there... stay tuned, there are two treats coming your way!

Steve

[tjmfishing]

You're right Brian, these kits are quite expensive. Comparing them to a resin kit however isn't totally accurate. The quality of the parts printed in FUD or FXD is much higher than those of any average resin casting. Although I've seen some resin castings that are as good as injection molding, the vast majority of them come no where close to it and 3D printing is far more accurate, and will produce a far cleaner model in the end.

Like Steve says, the price will come down. I'm just not sure when. For now, I've been buying parts from Shapeways but not entire HO shells.

[iomalley]

Holy crap Bri, I had no idea you built one of those vans! I've always wanted to make one of the handful that ended up on CN briefly and have passed over many cheap WKW kits...makes me ponder...