Post by fr8kar on Dec 17, 2022 16:23:32 GMT -5
Over the past few years I've gone down a rabbit hole of trying to model four-axle Dash 7 locomotives. I've posted several of those models here in the past. But the rabbit hole opened up into a cave, so to speak, when I started 3D printing parts.
At a certain point once you've drawn every hinge, latch, door, grille, window, headlight, sideframe, fuel tank, etc. you'll have enough ingredients to make a complete model. I'm not there yet, but I'm making progress. I've reached a point where some of that progress is worth showing, to wit:
Shapeways printed hybrid frame
This is a 3D printed/laser-cut steel frame setup for Athearn trucks and a Kato motor (whose hex flywheels work with Athearn drive components. The base of the frame is 3D printed nylon from Shapeways and the laser-cut metal that fits on top of the frame is from SendCutSend. The fuel tank/reservoir halves are 3D printed from Shapeways as well. The steel part is to add some weight but mainly to reinforce the plastic frame, which will sag under the weight of a motor. I have moved on to printing these through another vendor in a much nicer resin material:
MP Scale Models printed hybrid frame
The reason for printing these frames is the different truck centers GE used throughout the Dash 7 line, but more importantly for the Dash 8 demonstrator units I'll be getting to after I knock out the Dash 7s I'm after.
These models use Athearn trucks, because they're pretty easy to get, they're compatible with Kato motors and if you're modeling a Seaboard unit with Blomberg trucks there's really nothing better. But there's not much out there for FB-2 sideframes other than the old Smokey Valley parts which are hideous. So, as you can see on the model above I've adapted Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframes (from the old U23B model) to the Athearn truck using 3D printed adapters. They're a huge improvement from the Smokey Valley parts.
Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframe on Athearn truck
But along came Rapido with their fabulous sideframes, so I wanted to get my hands on some of those. After a parts mixup by Rapido's factory had them sending out replacement sideframes to customers who requested them, I picked up several sets of Rapido sideframes from modelers who had extras. A new adapter was printed to mount these to the Athearn truck.
Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframe on Athearn truck
Finally, I decided the best solution would be to print my own sideframes since I'd run out of Rapido sideframes pretty fast. Again, another rabbit hole.
3D printed Adirondack FB-2 Sideframe
3D printed Rockwell FB-2 Sideframe
Ultimately the goal is to 3D print all the components of a model, but the cost is still pretty high for that, especially as I buy test parts to work out the bugs and errors in my drawings. So I'm upgrading a lot of Atlas models in the process. One thing I wanted to address was their attempt at a high short hood. It's flattened but they got the profile mostly right on the numberboards which gives the model a very weird look. Answer? Print a new nose:
Atlas nose on left, printed nose on right
Here's a radiator section for a Southern B30-7A1 with KV Models etched grille attached.
Originally I duplicated the Atlas B23-7 radiator section and used etched grilles and plastic frames purchased on ebay, but the radiator is undersized on the Atlas B23-7. The Atlas C30-7 has a much better radiator but the grilles are solid so printing a new part with radiator core detail inside was my solution rather than continue to cut up more Atlas shells.
Atlas on left/top, printed part on right/bottom
I'm not happy with the exhaust being made a part of this radiator section since it traps liquid resin in the small voids between the exhaust stack and body frame. The exhausts will be printed separately going forward which will help accommodate the different heights the exhaust stacks might have depending on the prototype and its history.
Anyway, the next big project for this is a 3D printed sill part with prototype-specific details. Those Rapido B36-7s with the wrong steps for Seaboard/CSX modelers won't be a problem for the printer.
At a certain point once you've drawn every hinge, latch, door, grille, window, headlight, sideframe, fuel tank, etc. you'll have enough ingredients to make a complete model. I'm not there yet, but I'm making progress. I've reached a point where some of that progress is worth showing, to wit:
Shapeways printed hybrid frame
This is a 3D printed/laser-cut steel frame setup for Athearn trucks and a Kato motor (whose hex flywheels work with Athearn drive components. The base of the frame is 3D printed nylon from Shapeways and the laser-cut metal that fits on top of the frame is from SendCutSend. The fuel tank/reservoir halves are 3D printed from Shapeways as well. The steel part is to add some weight but mainly to reinforce the plastic frame, which will sag under the weight of a motor. I have moved on to printing these through another vendor in a much nicer resin material:
MP Scale Models printed hybrid frame
The reason for printing these frames is the different truck centers GE used throughout the Dash 7 line, but more importantly for the Dash 8 demonstrator units I'll be getting to after I knock out the Dash 7s I'm after.
These models use Athearn trucks, because they're pretty easy to get, they're compatible with Kato motors and if you're modeling a Seaboard unit with Blomberg trucks there's really nothing better. But there's not much out there for FB-2 sideframes other than the old Smokey Valley parts which are hideous. So, as you can see on the model above I've adapted Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframes (from the old U23B model) to the Athearn truck using 3D printed adapters. They're a huge improvement from the Smokey Valley parts.
Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframe on Athearn truck
But along came Rapido with their fabulous sideframes, so I wanted to get my hands on some of those. After a parts mixup by Rapido's factory had them sending out replacement sideframes to customers who requested them, I picked up several sets of Rapido sideframes from modelers who had extras. A new adapter was printed to mount these to the Athearn truck.
Atlas/Kato FB-2 sideframe on Athearn truck
Finally, I decided the best solution would be to print my own sideframes since I'd run out of Rapido sideframes pretty fast. Again, another rabbit hole.
3D printed Adirondack FB-2 Sideframe
3D printed Rockwell FB-2 Sideframe
Ultimately the goal is to 3D print all the components of a model, but the cost is still pretty high for that, especially as I buy test parts to work out the bugs and errors in my drawings. So I'm upgrading a lot of Atlas models in the process. One thing I wanted to address was their attempt at a high short hood. It's flattened but they got the profile mostly right on the numberboards which gives the model a very weird look. Answer? Print a new nose:
Atlas nose on left, printed nose on right
Here's a radiator section for a Southern B30-7A1 with KV Models etched grille attached.
Originally I duplicated the Atlas B23-7 radiator section and used etched grilles and plastic frames purchased on ebay, but the radiator is undersized on the Atlas B23-7. The Atlas C30-7 has a much better radiator but the grilles are solid so printing a new part with radiator core detail inside was my solution rather than continue to cut up more Atlas shells.
Atlas on left/top, printed part on right/bottom
I'm not happy with the exhaust being made a part of this radiator section since it traps liquid resin in the small voids between the exhaust stack and body frame. The exhausts will be printed separately going forward which will help accommodate the different heights the exhaust stacks might have depending on the prototype and its history.
Anyway, the next big project for this is a 3D printed sill part with prototype-specific details. Those Rapido B36-7s with the wrong steps for Seaboard/CSX modelers won't be a problem for the printer.
