the italian job (motrici tranviarie di servizio)

borsig1963

borsig1963

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Hi everyone, first of all a brief introduction, I am a tram enthusiast (I have written some books on the history of trams in the Monza and Milan area) and I am creating an internal route inspired by the interurban tram scene in Italy in the 50's and 60

I've been experimenting with 3D printing for a few months and in this period I'm working on my project: two service engines, created based on the well-known LGB tram; here are two photos with the pieces made in 3D resting on the LGB frame, just to see if everything is going well: there are still many details missing and there are still a few problems, but as a first job I think it's not all to be thrown in the bin

I don't know how to define these vehicles in English (service tram?), but from the photo you can clearly understand what it is, I hope... all the tram networks have used old tractors now discontinued from regular service to recycle them as vehicles suitable for various services (in this case transport of materials and street watering). This is not a faithful reproduction of a real prototype, but is inspired by existing vehicles.
FTA 11.JPG


FTA 12.JPG

I confess that the approach to 3D printing (and drawing) was not easy and I thought several times about taking my Saturn to the landfill... but then the learning curve started to become more efficient and I started to see some decent result

If anyone has suggestions for painting or other things, they are welcome (for previous work on LGB models I used a primer and then a spray paint...)

ciao a tutti, Paolo
 
Yes, it's quite clear what you have in mind there, maybe a maintenance tram describes them. Service tram made me think of trams in passenger service, but other board members may disagree.
 
Welcome aboard, borsig1963. I remember you from the Italian forum. It appears that your 3D printing skills are miles ahead of my own.....:)
 
Hullo Paolo,

long time no hear!

Maintenance tram would be my description. As you rightly say, old redundant trams were often convert into maintenance service vehicles, and yours does look the part....
 
That looks very good. It is called a sprinkler tram. Or when it grind the rails, like mine you can call it grinder tram. I like workt trams. Just today I bought an crane tram, found on Ebay. Hope to get the parcel on friday, so I can take it to the big tram layout at the museum Hannover Wehmingen. Saturday we driving a lot of trams to find results for shortcirciuts. We have trouble with digitrax.
Hopefully on sunday we are open to the public.
Peter52967-sprengwagen-26.01.2014.jpg53176-modellbau-08.02.2014.jpg
 
schienenkönig said:
That looks very good. It is called a sprinkler tram. Or when it grind the rails, like mine you can call it grinder tram. I like workt trams. Just today I bought an crane tram, found on Ebay. Hope to get the parcel on friday, so I can take it to the big tram layout at the museum Hannover Wehmingen. Saturday we driving a lot of trams to find results for shortcirciuts. We have trouble with digitrax.
Hopefully on sunday we are open to the public.
Peter
Click to expand...

I know your models and your layout well, I hope to be able to plan a visit sooner or later to see everything live in Hannover...

ciao, Paolo
 
hello everyone, a little update

I had several problems during the work, also due to my inexperience with resin printing: the result obtained so far does not satisfy me at all, but that's okay, it's the first project of this kind that I dedicate myself to and more generally, it's been a few years since I did "practical" modeling

Many details are still missing and I don't know when I'll be able to continue, unfortunately my Saturn 2 is stopped due to a fault (motherboard) and I'm waiting for spare parts from China (!); no big deal, in a few days the holidays will begin, I hope to start again at the end of August with more luck...

ciao!!!!!!!

FTA 13.JPG
 
hello everyone, finally the engine 13 is finished, or almost. After several years of inactivity I am quite satisfied with the result, also thinking about the debut with 3d printing. Now it's time to move on to 12 and... get to work to modify the LGB overhead line so that it works with a trolley pole, or at least with the Bachmann trolley, if anyone has ideas or suggestions, they are welcome!


Paolo
 
borsig1963 said:
hello everyone, finally the engine 13 is finished, or almost. After several years of inactivity I am quite satisfied with the result, also thinking about the debut with 3d printing. Now it's time to move on to 12 and... get to work to modify the LGB overhead line so that it works with a trolley pole, or at least with the Bachmann trolley, if anyone has ideas or suggestions, they are welcome!


Paolo
Click to expand...
Well first you need to have a layout plan because trolleys on right or left hand turns will need a frog at junctions this keeps the trolley head going the correct way. They are placed in quite precise locations, run your trolley on straight track but have a point that goes right or left. Make a mark with a felt tip where the trolley cones off the wire, test a few more times to see if the place is almost the same. That is where your frog needs to be. It is possible to make temp frogs, seen it at a Model Railway Show at Birmingham NEC. Only 2 pics I took of the overhead, worked for Trolleys and Pans.

IMG_7388.jpegIMG_7387.jpeg
 
dunnyrail said:
Well first you need to have a layout plan because trolleys on right or left hand turns will need a frog at junctions this keeps the trolley head going the correct way. They are placed in quite precise locations, run your trolley on straight track but have a point that goes right or left. Make a mark with a felt tip where the trolley cones off the wire, test a few more times to see if the place is almost the same. That is where your frog needs to be. It is possible to make temp frogs, seen it at a Model Railway Show at Birmingham NEC. Only 2 pics I took of the overhead, worked for Trolleys and Pans.
Click to expand...

ciao thanks, yes I already have the tracks laid, I just have to do some (many) tests inspired by reality and the few tram layouts I've seen, unfortunately only in photos

when there's interesting material I'll open a topic specifically for the subject, hoping that it will be useful for other trolley enthusiasts
 
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