Sunrise Details, mostly gone but not forgotten, a new project

[bsoplinger]

I miss a number of the Sunrise details and it doesn't look like he is ever going to be making them again and it sure doesn't look like anyone else is stepping in to replace them. I'd guess there really aren't that many folks who detail things in N-scale to support the time and effort it takes to make white metal castings.

The etchings that companies like BLMA make are another level of effort to design, but the work needed to make them is 'send the computer file out and make sure the parts etches like I thought it would.' Which means I don't see companies like BLMA making white metal castings ever. (BLMA got out of the resin casting business)

There are a few bits out there from other companies long gone that I also miss.

So my evil scheme is to take things that will work in resin and use the existing parts I do have to make a master and then resin cast them.

I'd like 3d bells, I just like how they look better than the 2d etched bell, ditto with air hoses. Trouble is, air hoses would be too brittle but I think bells would work ok.

My intention isn't to try to make a business out of this, after all, I'm using other people's work as the master, but just to have a bunch of details I can't purchase anywhere anymore.

So I'm looking for suggestions of different parts that folks have that they'd like to see done as a resin part, if it makes sense.

Right now I'm just looking for suggestions of parts that are out there that don't have replacements. For example, Sunrise made a white metal air filter found on many Paducah rebuild geeps. But Mocalova Model Works makes one so I wouldn't want to make my own resin version of the Sunrise part. It isn't my intention to replicate things that can be purchased, as I said, I don't want to make a business out of this.

Since these are tiny parts and I figure any mold will be way more rubber than part I hope to make a big mold that has a bunch of different parts in it.

So chime in with suggestions for fiddly bits that you have at least one of for a master that you'd like to see redone in resin. Once I'm ready to jump in and make a master you'd send me the bits, I'm make a master and return the bits to you and then offer you the bits you need at the cost of the resin and some % of the molding material (since a mold only lasts so long). As I said, not a business, just a way to get fiddly bits that aren't available.

Things I have that I want to do:
Barrel style headlights
Winterization hatches
MU Stands
Bells (both under sill ones and up on the hood styles)
Cabbage style air filters (I need to see if JnJ are close enough in which case I wouldn't need to do these)
Conrail battery boxes (not mine but I got an offer of a loan for making my master
Other battery boxes and other boxes found on those odd locos
Speed recorders
Snow plows with doors and handles and hatches
Steam snow plows
Pilot mount lights (ditch lights that go on the front of the pilot vs on the deck)
Specific air horns, although I don't have any metal details that are particularly good (too big or too poorly cast)

Please feel free to add to the list of things that could be added and also point out if another company makes a decent version that's available now from a different source. There are a number of small detail parts companies out there so I may not be aware of something that's out there.

[wm3798]

Nathan 5 chimes, for me.  As my F unit fleet grows, this will be of keen interest to me.  I'm wishing now that I'd stripped the ones I had from all those Bachmann F's I sold off.

Lee

[biker_ray_pa]

Sunrise made a hood-mounted bell, part #358 that I would definitely purchase. I think you've got a good idea going here.



They also used to make a closed pilot for the Arnold S-2. You'd sell a PILE of them, I'd bet.


Ray

[daniel_leavitt2000]

There is little benifit to resin casting over white metal casting. Go with pewter parts. They look better and add weight plus you can charge a premium for them. They also hold fine detail better.

As for parts I would like to see in white metal, pretty much the Sinrise line:
Hurst and Farr air filters for geep rebuilds
A variety of snowplows
Gong and regular bells
Beacons with clear plastic lenses
CR style electrical boxes
Air pump trip valves for engines
4 step adapters for Kato C30-7s
T vent
Various GE and EMD exhaust stacks
MU cables
Post mail drop boxes
Fire pull stations
Air brake kits

[Nelson]

Miniatures by Eric http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/catalog.htm has quite a few cast detail parts and seems to be expanding his line. It wouldn't hurt to put in requests for something you would like to see done.

[Wlal13again]

Conrail cab signal boxes and plows with grag irons.

[Mark5]

Sunrise made a hood-mounted bell, part #358 that I would definitely purchase. I think you've got a good idea going here.



Ray

Aye, I have some of those (among others). IIRC Miniatures by Eric also makes that one.

[Bob Bufkin]

Nathan 5 chimes, for me.  As my F unit fleet grows, this will be of keen interest to me.  I'm wishing now that I'd stripped the ones I had from all those Bachmann F's I sold off.

Lee

Have to check by junk drawer, might have some old Bachman F's.  If so, I'll send you the horns.

[Mark5]

Nathan 5 chimes, for me. 

I think Lee needs a Nathan M5 (right?)

http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/m5.html

You'd be in luck if JNJ actually has these in stock:



Although I gotta wonder which Nathan 5 Chime JNJ is portraying above:

Nathan M5:



If you're like me you'll have to settle for "close enough"  :-[

[Bob Bufkin]

Sorry Lee, no 5 chime horns.  Did find 4 unopened packs of Detail Associates 3 chimes tho. 
Bob

[jlong]

Yea.....plows for Atlas geeps and Kato SD-40's.

Also, roof mount air conditioning units for hood diesels.

[TiVoPrince]

Yea.....plows for Atlas geeps and Kato SD-40's.

Also, roof mount air conditioning units for hood diesels.

Already
available from BLMA.  Air conditioners also from Mocolova and the BLMA are a little more work forming the flat etchings.  BLMA plows have a better overall shape and require a lot less finishing work.  Now SP light clusters are still needed in quantity...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The Sunrise 5 chimes suck. There's no good way to cast 5-chimes. There are too many "voids" that can't be done with injection molding.

However, this is one instance where I wish the dollar was better against the NZ dollar. I bet Mark's machine can make 5-chimes like it's NOBODY'S business.

[jlong]

Already
available from BLMA.  Air conditioners also from Mocolova and the BLMA are a little more work forming the flat etchings.

We know. He mentioned plows in his his list so I responded. I threw air conditioners in.

[nscalesteve]

BLMA plows have a better overall shape and require a lot less finishing work...

yes, BLMA snow plows rulez ! much better than the sunrise ones and much easier to clean and work with... !