Cute little Railcar

[Tanker man]

Use a 3-6V motor, and the volume of a matchbox, and I will give you a RC, battery, and sound solution..

PhilP.

I hope to start printing tomorrow, give me a couple of weeks and I will get back to you!
Dave

 

[DGE-Railroad]

I've been using the Apple Tree railways gearboxes for my trams.. Although most of his products are for Gauge 3 - 63.5mm, the smallest units do fit G45 very nicely.

Nice and easy to hide and quite powerful for the size. I am running the 9V version from 7.4V Li-Ion packs and my trams trundle along at a good pace. It will need outside frames at G45, but I think this could be accommodated with this model!

Apple Tree Railway

Apple Tree Railway. 297 likes. Supplier of enclosed gearboxes, power bogies and coach/wagon bogies for garden railways

www.facebook.com

View attachment 278045

Thanks for the recommendation. I'd spoken to Tim about one of his G45 gearboxes for another project. Given this is an outside frame, it may well be a decent contender.

He's out of stock but I think he has a test unit I could acquire..

 

[DGE-Railroad]

Have you been talking to Eddie at Kippo Models?

PhilP

Me Phil?

Yes, but only about G1 coaches and tunnel portals

 

[trammayo]

I've been using the Apple Tree railways gearboxes for my trams.. Although most of his products are for Gauge 3 - 63.5mm, the smallest units do fit G45 very nicely.

Nice and easy to hide and quite powerful for the size. I am running the 9V version from 7.4V Li-Ion packs and my trams trundle along at a good pace. It will need outside frames at G45, but I think this could be accommodated with this model!

Apple Tree Railway

Apple Tree Railway. 297 likes. Supplier of enclosed gearboxes, power bogies and coach/wagon bogies for garden railways

www.facebook.com

View attachment 278045

Virtually prototypical as well.

 

[Tanker man]

Ok so after nearly 7 hours, this is where I start! .............ok, it’s a Ford but it’s not black! ......rule 8
have to say, I used supports, which came out easily and clean.
Dave

 

[DGE-Railroad]

Ok so after nearly 7 hours, this is where I start! .............ok, it’s a Ford but it’s not black! ......rule 8
have to say, I used supports, which came out easily and clean.
DaveView attachment 278076

Looking good Dave!

I've had to reprint the body and tank as I ran out of filament about 75% of the way through!

What has printed though looks okay. I too am using supports.

 

[Fred2179G]

Looking good Dave!

I've had to reprint the body and tank as I ran out of filament about 75% of the way through!

What has printed though looks okay. I too am using supports.
View attachment 278078

Those frames look like they would fit a big Co-Co diesel?!? Totally inappropriate for a railcar - all the ones I ever saw just had rail wheels bolted on the axles. Or maybe a tiny truck in front.

 

[Paul M]

Those frames look like they would fit a big Co-Co diesel?!? Totally inappropriate for a railcar - all the ones I ever saw just had rail wheels bolted on the axles. Or maybe a tiny truck in front.

View attachment 278290

I think a bit of rule 8 applies, plus of course, there's a prototype for everything

 

[Fred2179G]

I think a bit of rule 8 applies, plus of course, there's a prototype for everything

I'd like to see the prototype of a 3-axle truck used under a railcar.

 

[Paul M]

I'd like to see the prototype of a 3-axle truck used under a railcar.

Come on someone, that sounds like a challenge!

 

[DGE-Railroad]

A small amount of progress on my version of the build. I think it's the most fiddly things I've printed, made worse because i left supports turned on, which is making their removal from small, delicate parts quite challenging

Equally challenging is figuring out where to put everything. I've remixed the wheels to incorporate hubs for the gearbox and axles for the chassis members on the front wheels. I know PLA doesnt wear well and is less than ideal for this kind of application but its a test mule at the moment.

The remaining wheels mount on steel axles running in some tiny bearings I had spare



The battery pack is a little 4.7v unit sitting underneath the seat/floor and slung between the axles.
I'm redesigning the cross members to have the front support the motor/gearbox unit and the rear hold the battery.



Here's a mockup of it, without the screen, roof or rear bed



I'd like to incorporate sound and remote control if possible. The speaker is no problem - a sugar cube in the engine space at the front.

I had been considering a mylocoremote mini 3b as it has a pretty optimal form factor and would suit smartphone control. Ive printed out boxes to represent the sound and non-sound versions and work out fitment. Annoyingly, I need to loose 1mm from the width of the body but if so, i think the sound version could sit above the rear axle and intrude above the bed floor by 5mm or so.

 

[Tanker man]

Hmmmmmm! Looks like I’ve made a boob! Am half way through printing the motor section that goes between the frames! , was wondering how you got the motor in there! ............real men don’t read instructions!!! .....oh well, it will probably make a good wagon load, so no waste just time and filament.
had to re level the bed yesterday as nothing would stick, strange, it’s been printing fine for weeks then all of a sudden started playing up.............you live and learn !
Dave

 

[3 minutes of fame]

This really shows the value of 3D printing. The ability to create a model so quickly, to re-jig parts and recreate at pace and to produce a really interesting finished design!

 

[DGE-Railroad]

Hmmmmmm! Looks like I’ve made a boob! Am half way through printing the motor section that goes between the frames! , was wondering how you got the motor in there! ............real men don’t read instructions!!! .....oh well, it will probably make a good wagon load, so no waste just time and filament.
had to re level the bed yesterday as nothing would stick, strange, it’s been printing fine for weeks then all of a sudden started playing up.............you live and learn !
Dave

Oh no!

I've had to read and re-read the build instructions several times and am having to make most of it up as I go along.

As you say though, the motor section will make for an interesting load. The remixed files do also use the central section to contain a small, geared motor at the end by the look of it. How its powered isn't clear though, so i went my own way

There are a few subtle differences in the remixed version - the roof for instance is now included as a quite pretty printed object. Before that it had to be made and even in the photos for the remix, it seems to show a piece of foam being used for the roof!

 

[Paul M]

Looks like I’ve made a boob!

Oy family forum and all that!!!!!

 

[Tanker man]

Oy family forum and all that!!!!!

Ok, ok! “ I have made a small error!”..............but you would be surprised what you can make on a 3D printer!!
Dave

 

[PhilP]

Ok, ok! “ I have made a small error!”..............but you would be surprised what you can make on a 3D printer!!
Dave

Does your SW know what you are getting up to?

 

[Homo Habilis]

Does this count as a prototype of a 3-axle truck used under a railcar?

 

[Paul M]

Does this count as a prototype of a 3-axle truck used under a railcar?


View attachment 278295

Told you.....prototype for everything

 

[Tanker man]

I am becoming increasingly despondent with the running gear of this project and, after some research , must agree with Greg, that the chassis is nothing like the type it should be. After mistakenly printing the motors, it is obvious that the design is from an electric powered loco and the sides are far to hefty. I am hoping that, even with my limited experience of CAD programs, I can print something more prototypical, with spoked wheels.
i have an electric motor on order and when it arrives will try to design a better set of running gear for the body...............I may be some time!!
Dave