Darby steel gondola (first in Z scale?)

ZFRANK Jan 30, 2016

  1. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all,

    I have added 3D design and printing to my modeling skills :).
    EAMX 5014 Sullivan Scrap 'breast cancer awareness' gondola. This is a blue painted Darby steel gondola, where the pink 5017 is a Thrall steel gondola.

    Features of 5014:

    - I have used Sketchup to design the gondola body and it has been 3D printed by Shapeways in 'frosted extreme detail' material.
    - MTL roller bearing trucks with coupler.
    - Detail parts are designed by me and professionally etched by PPD Ltd in Scotland
    - Yellow warning stripes were cut from a piece of airbrushed decal paper.
    - White decals are self designed and printed by 'Decal winkel' a print shop here in the Netherlands.
    - Black decals are self designed (using Open office draw) and home printed.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The reinforcement bars in the detail parts (printed on top of the gondola body) were not used.

    See more details at my picasa album:
    https://picasaweb.google.com/108766641213050685068/DarbySteelCoalGon?authkey=Gv1sRgCMjV8caCs_ezAw#

    /Frank
     
  2. kimvellore

    kimvellore TrainBoard Member

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    WOW, that looks impressive, the details are awesome. I did not know one could use sketchup and do what you did. It looks like a lot of work with photoetch and the decals. The end result shows it all
    Kim
     
  3. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like a Wood Chip car too !
     
  4. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    That is right Jeff, Thrall coal gondola's are just slightly smaller have slightly more beefy ribs. I have not yet seen any Darby wood chip gons. /Frank
     
  5. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Oooh I like that!

    Kev
     
  6. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank,
    Are these available for purchase as kits?
     
  7. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Loren,

    I have not yet plans to sell the gons. For a kit, I need to rework the etched detail parts, which were designed for the Thrall gons. I can make them available from shapeways though, in that case I might need to add a version with printed on ladderrs and brake wheel. (Less fine details) In extreme frosted detail the printed gon is not realy cheep, still approx 25 Euros. Althought the layers are 16 microns, the surface still needs to be saded a little with fine grain sand paper.
    Right now I have optimised the gon to be able to make a mold and make PU copies. I still have to see whether that works for me. I'll let you guys know soon.

    /Frank
     
  8. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all,

    Two more printed Darby steal gondolas added to my coal train.

    Both are 3D prints FXD by shapeways.
    PSCX364 (2 rotery ends) has etched stainless steel ladders and brake wheel. PSCX315 has printed on ladders and brakewheel. Switching steps are all etched.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very nice work! A great payoff for so much effort.
     
  10. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you David! I was able to learn a lot from you and all other scratchbuilders here at Trainboard. Took me some years to get me to this level. Bud it is fun!
    /Frank
     
    david f. likes this.
  11. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all,

    Just finished 3 more PSCX Darby gondolas. These are PU casted copies of the previously shown double rotary end gondola.

    [​IMG]

    Next picture shows the left one on AZL trucks and the right one on Full Throttle trucks.
    [​IMG]

    Right now the total is 32 gondolas (6 Darbys and 26 Thralls) :)
    ..My test oval becomes too small... :)
    ..My test oval becomes too small... :)
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Lookin' good! (y)
    Time to load 'em up with coal!!:cool:
     
    shamoo737 likes this.
  13. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Kurt Moose, Kez and shamoo737 like this.
  14. southernnscale

    southernnscale TrainBoard Supporter

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    Great job ZFRANK! outstanding pieces!
     
  15. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Hi All,

    Eventually I have received my first Shapeways Black Hi-Def Acrylate printed Darby coal gondola. It looks promising, I'll guess the print quality will improve over time. Still a lot of cleanup to do. There still are printing artifacs at the side, but these might be invisilble after a little sanding and primer spray.

    [​IMG]

    These small notches were not designed, but are remains of support rods of the printing process. Have to sand these reinforcement ribs flush.
    Note the printed switching steps and holes in the brake wheel footplate. At least the switching steps would become too fragile with FDX.
    [​IMG]
     
  16. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    All,

    I did sand off the remains of the suspention wires of the printing proces. Installed a brass weight and MTL roller bearing trucks.
    Runs as the others, ready to add some paint.

    During the printing the brake wheel was a little deformed at the bottom. Hopefully Shapeways will inprove HDA printing on these details.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    /Frank
     
    shamoo737 and Kurt Moose like this.
  17. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    All,

    I have covered the brass weight with a 0.25mm sheet of evergreen styrene and installed the FXD printed brases. These brases were not possible in HDA.
    Maybe a little sanding and I can start to spray some primer.

    [​IMG]
     
    Kez and Kurt Moose like this.
  18. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    All,

    Meanwhile the HDA printed gondola has been painted.
    Front shows HDA, back FXD.
    HDA surface is smoother tha FXD, FXD shows more crispy details.
    Switching steps on the HDA are printed on.

    [​IMG]
     
    southernnscale, Kez and zdrada69 like this.
  19. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    In my opinion HDA is the way to go combined with etched details
     
  20. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

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    Right, but Shapeway still has to improve on hda. It would have not worked for the dropbottom gon.
     

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