Z Scale SW1200

shortpainter Jun 8, 2018

  1. Garth-H

    Garth-H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi Rudi;

    fantastic work on this project . Looking forward to the Calf as well. Is it going to be possible to get any of your SW shells any other material other that the Brass? I would like the CP SW1200 of the CN unit in FUD or similar material?
     
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  2. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Garth, I'll guess that fud will not give the locomotive enough weight for proper traction.
    /Frank

    Verstuurd vanaf mijn ANE-LX1 met Tapatalk
     
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  3. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    Finally some progress on the TR4 A and B units. It took a long time to get the etched metal parts in my hands. The first order got lost in the mail so it all had to be reproduced, ugh. Here is the first official TR4 A and B unit. The TR4 is based on the SW7 chassis so these models have new updated details to match the real thing.

    These are the prototypes to test all parts before making them available.

    IMG_0068.jpg IMG_0064.jpg IMG_0063.jpg
     
  4. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good! to here progress! Still working on my SW1200! All most ready for the final build!
     
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  5. JoshMurrah

    JoshMurrah TrainBoard Member

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    I'm jumping in head over heels into Z right now, and I'll be in line for your cow/calf as soon as they're available.

    I run UP, and they did run a few of the TR5s (SW9), and reading back looks like I'd be able to model that right?

    I just have to find somebody that can finish the shells in UP livery for me, as I am not up for the fine detail painting yet and have no clue about decals.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2018
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  6. Garth-H

    Garth-H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank I get your point but I would use the brass under frame for the drive I would be quite happy with the FUD body, I am sure it will provide me a longer lifetime with the Zshorty motor and one truck drive.
     
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  7. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    Here is the EMD TR4 so far. It just needs a bit more paint and I still have to attach trucks to the B unit. Some slight changes to the frames need to be done and this will be ready.

    tr4ab.jpg tr4a.jpg

    I received a couple requests for plastic shells for the SW1200. Due to Shapeways new pricing structures and the way 3D models are tied to products, I have decided against it. Any changes to the current product line would force increased prices and I'm not willing to do that. I may include a plastic variant to all new upcoming products.
     
  8. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I understand your concern for the life span of the shorty under a brass shell pulling freight cars. Let's face it, the shorty is not exactly Rokuhan's flagship product. However, according to all my testing, there is no need to worry. To preserve the life of the shorty's running gear, I would recommend no more than ten cars with all metal wheels or five cars with plastic wheels. Something else to keep in mind is that the shorty parts are replaceable as long as it is being produced. The brass parts will last forever and I can even design a new frame that fits another product's parts in the future. All that being said, I have run my locomotives for months without and signs of damage or wear & tear. I even had one pulling 17 cars for a couple hours without any issues. The shorty is more resilient than it appears.
     
  9. Heay Equipment Designer

    Heay Equipment Designer TrainBoard Member

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    Really nice! How on earth did you mask the yellow handrail on the body? that came out really sharp.
     
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  10. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I used a wash of the blue paint as the mask. The whole shell was painted blue then I hand painted the yellow rail. Next I "flooded" the area with a wash of the blue until the yellow rail formed a wall that stops the blue paint from flowing. The blue paint follows the rail shape covering any mistakes with the yellow. I had to leave the loco sideways so the watered down blue paint would dry in place. This is a technique I figured out when painting 1" metal figures to differentiate layers of clothes, sword hilts, guns and the like.
     
  11. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    The calf looks really cool! outstanding work! the brass shell is the way to go! I have been working with the 3D printed models and if you are a person like me and handle them with lots of care there isn't any problems but if your the type that drops things the brass is the way to go. I have dropped a few of mine and I keep a tube of that UV glue on hand it in a jell form and the light has to be used to harden the glue just like FUD material!
     
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  12. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    Two new decal sets will be available later this week. Three road numbers per sheet. The BN decals have stripes that will fit the front grill and back cab area. The ATSF decals include the yellow "warbonnet" section for the side of the long hood (as seen in the cow/calf photos above). Use Model Master 4721 Insignia yellow for best match.

    300px-BN_251_IL_Eola.jpg atsf1226ads.jpg sample.png

    In other news, I am delaying the EMD TR4 B-unit (calf) release a few weeks because they are difficult to assemble and run the risk of destroying key components of the shorty. In order to fit the circuit board under the calf unit hood, the board needs to be cut down to size. The risk of ruining the board is unacceptably high. In my opinion, the high risk does not make a good a good quality product. T̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶l̶f̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶d̶u̶m̶m̶y̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶. [EDIT: Powered and dummy version will be available] These will be available on Shapeways in brass and plastic in a few weeks. The hand rails will available at the same time.

    The good news is that my research into developing the B-unit has helped me figure out how to fit more features into future locomotives. Things like having all four axles powered, directional lights, light fixtures for fiber optics, drop in DCC boards, reliable traction and copper tabs for electrical pick up(less soldering). The SW1500 is being redesigned to fit in these new capabilities.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2018
  13. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    Good news regarding the SW1500, looking forward to your technical solutions with all axles powered!
    Regarding the TR4 B-unit: I would offer them with a powered option, you are selling basically a craftsman kit, it's not Lego you take the bits and plug it together. Things needs to be tweaked, it's not a criticism, but the Shapeways parts are not all the same every time, it's a casting with variables from the master and the casting itself. I don't use the board in the first place and just solder wire on anyway.
     
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  14. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    Sure thing, I'll put both powered and dummy version on Shapeways. I used up four shorty circuit boards to get two successful B-unit builds. I figure that kind of failure rate wouldn't be acceptable to most modelers but i could be wrong. I'll have the powered one available in a few days. The dummy version will be a couple weeks out.
     
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  15. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm waiting on decals have CSX, N&S, Chessie being done waiting for them to arrive!
     
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  16. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yep! I don't like the updates at Shapeways most every thing will go up but they did make it for models already in your shop the same till 2019 as long as you don't revise or update a model! But I see a big change in the site page to! I have been waiting for the B unit and you said there was a problem! would it make a difference which end the card went in, could it be turn around and place in the other end. the 1500 I did both shell are the small except for the cab on one!
     
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  17. woodworker19

    woodworker19 TrainBoard Member

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    Count me in as another power junkie that would like to power his TR4. Thanks for listening and helping us get there even if there are a few challenges. It adds to the fun. Great job on the ATSF and BN decals. I've always liked their color schemes (and wish BNSF had never messed them up). I would have made my first SW1200 for ATSF but thought it would be too much for my first decal printing adventure. Don't think you could get any easier than the SOO. Now I'll have to build a few more SW1200's for ATSF and BN. Thanks for all the work you've done.
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2018
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  18. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wanted to do a CSX, N&S, Chessie in the SW1200. two of each with A&B unit. They just sent me a proof photo They looked good so now to wait to have them done. these are being done by CMR products!
     
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  19. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I'm glad to hear you guys are getting decals made. I can't wait to see the photos!

    The TR4 A and B units are now available at Shapeways in brass. I will be adding "fine detail plastic" for the shells as soon as I can. I will also need to set up the frame to be sold separately. That way you can have a brass frame and a plastic shell. The frame has a new type of clamp to hold the circuit board. You just gotta push down on it to lock the board in. It also doesn't get in the way while trying to solder the wires. The B-unit standard type of handrails are available at the thezmaker.com. The full length handrails will be available very soon.

    To Shapeways

    To my site

    [EDIT] I will hold off on the dummy version of the B-unit until I see a demand for it. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2018
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  20. zdrada69

    zdrada69 TrainBoard Member

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    Could you please show the exact measurements of "universal chassis" available in brass on Shapeways ? I prefer mm measurements.
     
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