Another first in Z? ..I am trying to build a Thrall J301 gon

ZFRANK Sep 24, 2014

  1. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all,


    I am trying to build a coal train out of Thrall J301 coal gondolas. The first car body is roughly finished. Now I can start with the detail parts. I will try to copy the styrene body in resin. This is a new adventure for me... hopefully I can show more car bodies soon.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. ModelWarships

    ModelWarships TrainBoard Member

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    Nice, what road?
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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  4. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Really enjoy seeing things built by scratch. Very nice Frank!
     
  5. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Frank, looks good, cast first the body before starting detailing, casting things like stir ups don't work...
     
  6. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I'll try etching details and add after casting.
    There are lots of road possibillities, but at least a couple will be drgw.
     
  7. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  8. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice work Frank. Its nice to see how easy it's to make a car from styrene when you have skills. :D
     
  9. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank,

    You are the styrene master!!! Well done!

    John
     
  10. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi,

    Today, I have finished the mold for my coal train gondolas.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank,

    That looks like a very clean squish mold! Good clean crisp mold lines. I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes out.

    John
     
  12. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    All,

    The first resin casting looks promising. Just a couple of imperfections, but these can be fixed.

    [​IMG]

    See the rough casting with air channels still attached.
    I did a bottom fill through the middle channel, which is connected to the bottom of the gondola bottom.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    Well done, well done!
     
  14. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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  15. JamesTraction

    JamesTraction TrainBoard Supporter

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    Vacuum will also work to get the bubbles out. If your mold set is small enough, the food type vacuum pumps and containers (like FoodSaver) can work. I bought mine on sale and got the largest hard container I could find.
    JamesTraction
     
  16. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very cool. Do you plan to sell any? I'm an n-scaler but I've been tempted to buy some MKT and BN SD40-2's and build a FPPX train. Or maybe sell a mold and I could make my own? I've never done any casting either so watching the process is interesting.
     
  17. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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  18. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    All,

    I have repaired the first casting (white spots of styrene), added some lead, installed MTL Barber roller bearing trucks and did a first test run on my switching layout. Not yet a coal train, but it is a start. :cool:

    [​IMG]
     
  19. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank,

    Fantastic!!! Well done. I love molding and casting parts!

    John
     
  20. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    I did attach a hosepillar to a 'keep fresh' box and connected an air pump used for inflating air matresses. You can use this pump also to suck out the air. After pouring the resin, I close the box and lower the pressure in the box temporary. It sure improves the quality of the resin casting, but still the tub trim at the top needs rework with styrene strips.

    [​IMG]
     

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