Benches for Gondolas and Flat Cars for Excursion Trains

Grey One Sep 2, 2021

  1. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    My N-Scale excursion train will have several 40' open air cars. It would be great to have benches I could easily glue in place and glue passengers to.
    Do they already exist?
    Does someone make passenger car seats?
    Could they be sold for a viable price? I'm thinking I could use about 8 per car.
     
  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Do you have some photos of ones you have in mind?

    Not saying that I'd design some if you can't find them but I might have some time that needs to be filled with something coming up and it might give me something to do.

    Sumner
     
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  3. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    In the past couple years an N scale manufacturer released some open excursion cars. I don't remember the manufacturer's name.
    Maybe you can find some.
     
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  4. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @Sumner I will do up a sketch but I guess I'm thinking simple benches with backs. Room for an aisle down one side so not quite the full width of the car.
    Still, they are probably not worth making unless the maker wanted them as well.

    @logging loco Thanks for the heads up. I'm in a de-accumulation phase with lots of cars. my hope is to bash them into something unique.

    Edit: If it takes a person 2 hours to do the 'sketch' for the 3D printer it probably is not worth their time unless they can sell a lot of them.
     
  5. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Question: Do you have a printer and only looking for print files or do you also need the finished printed benches? I'd put some time into the design if I had sketches or photos of the benches along with some dimensions. I don't have the time to also be printing them and shipping and can't do that with my license with Fusion 360, which is a license to use it for non-commercial purposes.

    A couple hours isn't much time to spend on even a simple design. I've probably got well over a thousand hours in the items I have on ( my thingiverse.com account )

    Sumner
     
  6. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @Sumner I wish I had a 3D printer. sigh.
    Ya, I'm looking for an inexpensive source and thought maybe someone here might want to explore possible.
    Sorry for not being clearer.

    Is it commercial for swapping benches for a car I intend to 'de-accumulate'?
     
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  7. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It's difficult to judge level of effort without having a better visual of what you want. If you can hop on Google and do an image search for the type of bench you're interested in, show that to us then provide us a measurement of how wide you want the bench to be (so it will fit on your car with the space for an isle you had mentioned) I think that would give us a better idea of what you're looking for.

    Cheers -Mike
     
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  8. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh. Understandable. Im looking forward to be in that mode.
     
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  9. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Steve,

    1st, welcome back!

    I just googled "N scale park benches" and found a plethora of samples on the 1st page. I think you may find what you are looking for.

    check it out, above all be well,
    Carl
     
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  10. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Pardon me, the post posted twice. Loose nut behind the steering wheel ? ? ?

    Carl
     
  11. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @Carl Sowell Thanks!, Why didn't I think of that. Sigh. I'm too close to the forest. Still, if a trainboard person sees a business opportunity I'll consider buying from them.

    Good to be back. I intend to stay but, um, well, I have disappeared before so don't want to make any promises.
     
  12. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    Crude 'drawing' of what I hope for
    Benches for 3d Printing.png
    So, overall if there is someone who might feel it is worth producing please let me know.
    Thanks!
    Steve
     
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  13. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Couldn't these be fab'd from styrene or soldered brass.
     
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  14. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @logging loco Or perhaps even cardstock.
    If I had the resources, vision and skills I would pursue other methods.

    Not knowing the nature, limitations or cost of 3D printing I thought I might put it out there and see what happens. Maybe there is someone who could add this to their production line.
     
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  15. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @logging loco Has been very helpful with a few examples / suggestions to my inbox. Thanks!
    In particular putting the benches 'longways'. I *should* have thought about that myself as the tourist train ride at 'Clarks Trading Post', (Lincoln, NH), is laid out just that way.
    Clarks is well worth visiting at least once and especially with children. There is a some train stuff and a trained bear show.

    Seats from my scrap box. I found an acient scrap box which has 'metroliner' shells from long long ago. I might be able to salvage seats from them. ☻

    I'm still up for 3D printing and any other ideas / methods.
     
  16. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thought I'd take a stab at it - first effort is just a scale bench, zero considerations for viability. Just a test for what it would look like and how fragile would it be. With individual legs - very fragile. Definitely would recommend adding some support structures and possibly doing away with legs altogether. These are 2mm deep, 4mm high and 7mm long. The one in the back has a straight vertical back, the other two have a light contour for comfort.

    2x4x7_Bench.jpg

    Cheers -Mike
     
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  17. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @SLSF Freak WOW! Those are great!! A little fancier than I had in mind.
     
  18. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The fancy benches are pretty fragile. Did a redesign that can be handled without risk of breaking:
    2x4x7_Bench_b.jpg
    In addition, since we're in the 3D forum I thought it would be fun to show the process of designing something like this with a short video:

    Looking forward to the build thread of these cars! (y)

    Cheers -Mike
     
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  19. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    @SLSF Freak That was great! I'd add another 'like' for the 'CFO' but she does not have an account there.

    I'm thinking I will keep the benches on the 'spru' but will determine more when I see them.
     
  20. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Can the spru be sized and shaped to also serve as the cars deck?
    That would make it stronger. Might be a bear to paint though.
    Shop built car sides would hide the seam between OEM deck and printe deck with benches.
     
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