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Post by thunderhawk on May 6, 2019 8:58:16 GMT -8
Still have the Western Maryland GP chop nose WM CHOP NOSES??? ? I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!! Have the drawings. Just keep getting sidetracked with other, more attractive, projects. I joined the WM modeler group on FB and the desire for those things seems to even outstrip MILW fans love of SD10's. btw-Your package is awaiting pickup by the mailman.
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Post by fr8kar on May 6, 2019 13:53:25 GMT -8
A functionally correct GE cab would be sooooo welcome to replace the utterly dysfunctional one's on all of the U series Atlas GE units I have. KV Models is going the other direction with metal etching for GE's. One part happens to be the fairing piece for the early U33C. He's also working on radiators and screens for U series GE's. All general knowledge on his Facebook page. Here's their web. kvmodels.com/Greg Accurate drawings and a cab can be made for Atlas GE's. The downside is if the windows are wrong that means new ones of either acetate sheet or "molded" like on my SD10 kits which are more difficult to not only make but install. I don't have one and have never really looked so I'm curious what is wrong with it? I made a blog post about the differences between the some of the HO scale model GE cabs out there and my own 3D printed solutions to the problem: fr8kar.blogspot.com/2018/02/ge-universal-seriesdash-7-series-cab.html
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Post by thunderhawk on May 6, 2019 16:48:48 GMT -8
Seeing your cab and the Atlas side by side the difference is very noticeable. And saying that, I now recall thinking that about every GE model I have seen in the past had what appeared to be very small windows in the front wall for the engineer and fireman. Especially on the door side.
Pretty amazing what we can do with 3d printing these days. Nice work.
btw-One benefit of producing them myself is I can do them as one piece for less than Shapeways charges for a flat kit while still making a little money. Helps having 4, soon to be more, printers.
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Post by fr8kar on May 6, 2019 17:20:28 GMT -8
They could be done as a single piece for less money, but the way their printers perform makes flat kits a better choice for detail fidelity and smoother faces.
The prices on some of these cabs nearly doubled with Shapeways' latest price increase around the first of the year. It's certainly made me consider other options.
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Post by thunderhawk on May 6, 2019 18:20:38 GMT -8
They could be done as a single piece for less money, but the way their printers perform makes flat kits a better choice for detail fidelity and smoother faces. The prices on some of these cabs nearly doubled with Shapeways' latest price increase around the first of the year. It's certainly made me consider other options. Orientation does make a slight difference on my printers but once painted it's not noticeable. I do recommend priming the cab roof and sanding with a very fine grit as there is no way to totally remove the layer lines as it's a flat curve. They are very fine compared to FDM however. Nothing like the Lincoln Log look I have seen on shells made on traditional printers. Vertical walls with openings require some attention to design as varying suction forces can effect the surface quality. That's something I am working on with the Thrall caboose right now. Just something to account for and mitigate. I went with the single piece cabs (and noses) for ease of use to the end user. Just snap them on. Having assembled Cannon cabs before I know most people will be intimidated by them or not want to take the time to do them. Great product but a smaller market in today's ready to run world. To add, I've had requests for pre painted conversion kits. (Walthers MILW orange is impossible to match it seems) I've been considering taking on some outside designs to keep the printers full while working on new projects. Might be something to discuss if interested.
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Post by simulatortrain on May 6, 2019 19:30:10 GMT -8
WM CHOP NOSES??? ? I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!! Have the drawings. Just keep getting sidetracked with other, more attractive, projects. I joined the WM modeler group on FB and the desire for those things seems to even outstrip MILW fans love of SD10's. btw-Your package is awaiting pickup by the mailman. While that second sentence is highly questionable , I'm excited to hoard a bunch of these when you have them available. I want to say I have six geeps waiting to be chopped, and I did always wonder how one would fit on an SD...
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Post by roadkill on May 7, 2019 7:10:43 GMT -8
Have the drawings. Just keep getting sidetracked with other, more attractive, projects. I joined the WM modeler group on FB and the desire for those things seems to even outstrip MILW fans love of SD10's. btw-Your package is awaiting pickup by the mailman. While that second sentence is highly questionable , I'm excited to hoard a bunch of these when you have them available. I want to say I have six geeps waiting to be chopped, and I did always wonder how one would fit on an SD... Well, in Thunderhawk's defense, the Wild Mary's chopped Geeps WERE called "Ugly Ducklings" !
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Post by roadkill on May 8, 2019 6:50:14 GMT -8
Got my SD10 kit, can't wait to start building mine. If my craptastic camera does a decent job I'll post some pics.
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Post by MILWmodeler on May 9, 2019 22:27:32 GMT -8
The drive as far as what motor it will have is not set in stone as yet, but I am leaning towards one that is well known for quality and availability. Not naming names but it shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. And it will MU well with an RSC2.5 just like the prototype on the Viroqua branch. My gearing source is closing up shop so I am now looking into other options there. Off the shelf gearing will work fine as it's simply repositioning the idler gears to get the correct axle spacing. So I hate and love that you're doing this. I work in CAD, but am a long way's behind you in technical skill. I've been slowly working on a SDL39, GP20 cab, and Thrall caboose design. My life is so busy that I rarely get 15 minutes a month to tinker with them so I'll probably never finish.
My SDL was going to take the guts from a Kato SD-whatever and with a printed truck, re-org them into the proper spacing. I've also played with adding a wheelset to the Kato GP35 since the frame is almost the correct size for an SDL, but parts are becoming sparse so starting with a unit that has everything is the better option.
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Post by thunderhawk on May 10, 2019 1:27:23 GMT -8
Thrall caboose? This thing is being a huge pain in the ass but is coming along. The end rails and how they attach are causing the biggest issue as I want them to be somewhat durable. And easy to assemble as eventually I will have them available decorated. The larger printer coming late this month will allow the body and roof to be made in one part and will greatly speed production as 4 shells will fit at once versus the one I can do currently. Still need to do the drawings for the etched roofwalks and wagon wheel antenna yet. That's a "tubular" reinforced truck on the near end with the normal drop frame on the other. Some of the tubulars had steel straps that spanned between the journal pedestals which this version has. Easy enough to remove the straps for those that didn't have them.
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Post by trainguy99 on May 10, 2019 9:46:08 GMT -8
Cool stuff - good luck with the projects.
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WFN12
New Member
Posts: 40
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Post by WFN12 on May 10, 2019 12:35:45 GMT -8
Any chance of chop noses for the RSc-2 anytime soon?
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Post by thunderhawk on May 10, 2019 12:51:39 GMT -8
Any chance of chop noses for the RSc-2 anytime soon? I have an RSC and an Atlas RS32. And measurements off the RSC2.5 that was saved then scrapped. Perhaps someone here knows if the Atlas has the correct roof contour? Haven't been able to find drawings so will have to work off of that and reverse engineer. Not an Alco fan so I don't know if the RS32's had the same profile/cab as the Centuries and haven't got around to checking closely. The windows do look too small. Contrary to popular belief the nose is not exactly the same even though Alco rebuilt them. It is 10" shorter in length than the stock RS32 nose. Just need to get to it. Plate has been pretty full but there does seem to be a bit of demand for it. Did a poll a while back and it was only behind the Thrall caboose. For those that do not know what an RSC 2.5 is;
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Post by roadkill on May 10, 2019 16:27:00 GMT -8
Later RS's do not have the same roof profile as the Century Series locos.
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Post by thunderhawk on May 14, 2019 9:27:33 GMT -8
One of the SD10 conversions almost done. Modeling by Shawn McGrath. btw-Shawn is a senior in High School. Very talented kid that I expect to the modeling community will hear more about. Decals with the proper MILW number fonts and trust data are included with the kit. No other decal sets have these correctly done.
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Post by edgecrusher on May 14, 2019 10:36:36 GMT -8
Thrall caboose? This thing is being a huge pain in the ass but is coming along. The end rails and how they attach are causing the biggest issue as I want them to be somewhat durable. And easy to assemble as eventually I will have them available decorated. The larger printer coming late this month will allow the body and roof to be made in one part and will greatly speed production as 4 shells will fit at once versus the one I can do currently. Still need to do the drawings for the etched roofwalks and wagon wheel antenna yet. That's a "tubular" reinforced truck on the near end with the normal drop frame on the other. Some of the tubulars had steel straps that spanned between the journal pedestals which this version has. Easy enough to remove the straps for those that didn't have them. I'm pretty excited for this, the more caboose options on the market the better. For the ends maybe just print the larger parts and let the buyer make the rest out of wire? I was just all over one of the prototypes this last weekend, its always neat to see the real stuff. That one in particular had mixed journals on one truck and truck mounted generator. Excellent modeling subject. Have you considered doing the generators for your trucks?
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Post by thunderhawk on May 14, 2019 11:00:27 GMT -8
I'm pretty excited for this, the more caboose options on the market the better. For the ends maybe just print the larger parts and let the buyer make the rest out of wire? I was just all over one of the prototypes this last weekend, its always neat to see the real stuff. That one in particular had mixed journals on one truck and truck mounted generator. Excellent modeling subject. Have you considered doing the generators for your trucks? I've kicked around and tried a lot of ideas and have been able to make the end platform/steps/end rails as one piece that seems to be working well. I'd prefer having the handrails in wire however where it mounts to the sill is just too small. Will likely go with the trainline/angle cock being a separate part. The odd bracket they used makes that a bit more difficult however. With some flex resin mixed in the parts can take some abuse. There was none in this one so I managed to break the tops of the ladders. Making progress at least. The trucks with generators and mixed wheelsets are planned. I'm still fiddling with the base design a bit to improve the rolling ability. They are a bit stiff much like a brass truck with blunt axles. If you got some detail shots I'm always looking for more.
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Post by sd40dash2 on May 14, 2019 11:06:08 GMT -8
That's impressive. I like the end railings as you designed them as they otherwise have to be built up from wire and parts from various sources. I think the air hose looks just fine. Your component is fully integrated and complete. Good job.
Can you leave the walkway and step areas "empty" so as to allow installation of nice see-through etchings such as Plano 454?
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Post by 12bridge on May 14, 2019 11:07:19 GMT -8
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Post by thunderhawk on May 14, 2019 11:25:49 GMT -8
That's impressive. I like the end railings as you designed them as they otherwise have to be built up from wire and parts from various sources. I think the air hose looks just fine. Your component is fully integrated and complete. Good job. Can you leave the walkway and step areas "empty" so as to allow installation of nice see-through etchings such as Plano 454? It appears some had grates and some didn't. Makes this so much fun....
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Post by thunderhawk on May 14, 2019 11:27:35 GMT -8
I have some and will be making a test set of trucks with them. They may impact the width of the truck a bit however which I am trying to avoid. .970 wheelsets will help a bit.
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Post by edgecrusher on May 16, 2019 9:33:51 GMT -8
Here is a link to the pic I took of the one preserved in Antigo WI. Pardon the bad lighting, it was late in the day. And try to forgive what they did to the poor thing, Antigo was a purely CNW town.
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Post by thunderhawk on May 16, 2019 12:51:17 GMT -8
Here is a link to the pic I took of the one preserved in Antigo WI. Pardon the bad lighting, it was late in the day. And try to forgive what they did to the poor thing, Antigo was a purely CNW town.
Nice detail shots. Those will be a help. One thing that is maddening doing these is over almost 40 years things were changed. The one in Sturtevant has the triple valve right under the bay, with the emergency pipe going right up through the bottom of it, while this one is not. More research.... This one seems to have grating front and rear and on the steps. Have found them with a mix of diamond plate as well. Damage repairs I'm sure. Thanks!
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wictl
Junior Member
Posts: 75
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Post by wictl on May 17, 2019 4:47:52 GMT -8
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Post by edgecrusher on May 17, 2019 10:11:30 GMT -8
Yeah this one had grating on both ends, but interestingly some of the steps must have been repaired. The direction of the grating slats varied in places.
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Post by laughinghippie on May 25, 2019 19:01:25 GMT -8
So when is the GP20 kit coming? Started doodling on one this afternoon. The ugly one will be first with matching nose with number boards.[/quote] I was hoping someone would eventually do one of these. Several of the MILW "GP20s" ended up in the service of the Georgetown Railroad in Texas. I modeled two of them using old Front Range shells. Those oddball number boards were a pain. Glad to see someone doing something unique like this!
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Post by thunderhawk on Jun 29, 2019 20:35:07 GMT -8
Have started shipping 20 pre production models of these. Not a full product announcement so I'll just add it to this thread for now. Doing the pre production kits to get some feedback. The above model is not glued together at all, so the end rails and such are not tight. And I didn't have enough MILW caboose yellow mixed so the edge of the roof panel doesn't match too well. Have about 45 minutes in paint and decals to get an idea how it looks finished. Everything but the wheelsets are 3d printed and the end platforms/steps/rails are all one piece. The truck journals are cut as well, so the printed trucks roll as well as a molded Delrin.
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Post by vincep on Jun 29, 2019 22:19:28 GMT -8
That wayward looks so good I remember riding on one in Everett Washington down at the old Milwaukee Roads Belt yard.
3 SD40-2's on the point going to Bellingham.
Local Milwaukee switcher was an NW2 i think
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