ok so I have been working on this for a few days, and I am pretty happy with it so far, my plans is to try to use these to make molds and mabey try to re-produce them, if it turns out good. I admit it still needs lots of work, it need some fine tuning, and some weight over the trucks, right now the weight is in the bottle. here is a Pic Now my next couple of questions are 1. if I make these, in resin, dose anyone want any? I don't have any reason to have one, but I thought it was cool, so I will make up a story to have it. 2 has anyone ever made molds and poured resin before, I know Randgust has done it before and a few others, but I am lost on how to do it. if anyone is near olympia Wa and wants to give me a hand, once it is finshed, let me know.
Nice! Why concerned about weight over the trucks versus weight in the bottle? Regardless the trucks will see the same weight.
No, just modelling a steel mill. As that is my entire layout, I figure I have reason for 'em. Mind you, I will not want them all at once, but eventually I will want them all.
Well, I did start talks with a company about casting them in pewter, and I may offer them, either thought the company or though myself as kits. my plan as of now is the bottle carriers and the span boulsters will be pewter, and possibley cast the bottle it's self and detail parts out of resin, if I can figure out how to make resin molds, and play with it till I get it right. BTW, I fixed the tracking issues, and here is the curent Photo! alot of the details will be optional, and I will be making some more optional details, such as diffrent covers for the rotational gear, and diffrent platforms on the span bolsters. so that is 50 of them so far huh? wow. never would have thought it
There is a project actively working for similar cars to be made by a major manufacturer. Production details haven't been hammered out but the research and design phase have been completed and rapid prototypes of the final 3D design are in the process of being made. The cars will have all prototype rivet detail and scale features and IIRC correct heavy duty sideframe trucks. (there have been several versions kicked around; one with span bolsters like the one presented here and one that would use the Micro-Trains six wheel Buckeye truck). As these cars vary in design I wouldn't discourage you from making copies of your excellent work; just a head's up to let you know that we are finally going to see some cars commercially to go along with the Walthers Steel Mill. My best guess for ETA would be within 2007; but don't hold me to it.... Charlie Vlk Railroad Model Resources
Peach Creek Shop presently produces a resin kit for a 168 ton Treadwell bottle car. It comes with three different spouts and has MT trucks and couplers. http://www.peachcreekshops.com/prodimages/32289.jpg
In addition to the bottle car kit, Peach Creek Shops also has the KenRay slag car almost RTR, just add trucks and couplers.
I showed these at the last Timonium show. These are the two masters I had laser scanned a week ago. Using a Rapid Prototype machine, the scanned CAD files are being scaled to N and a casting master made. I plan on making these a combination cast, resin & metal. Lots of etched brass too. The Treadwell on the left may be too difficult. I will not know for sure until I get the scaled master in three weeks. The 80Ton Pollock on the right will be quite straight forward.
