Drop-in Andrews trucks for Bachmann tenders from Keystone Details

[Lemosteam]

Pictures, pictures pictures. PLEASE, closeup and as straight on as you can.

I am not an expert on tender trucks (unless they are PRR class trucks, and even then, NOT AN EXPERT) LOL!

I also cannot model what I cannot see.

[Chris333]

The Bachmann commonwealth truck is missing the whole top part. Like they left it off so the truck could swing.

[Lemosteam]

Ewwww.

[Chris333]

You can barely see them in the top photon here:
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bachmann482.html


http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43545

[peteski]

Pictures, pictures pictures. PLEASE, closeup and as straight on as you can.

I am not an expert on tender trucks (unless they are PRR class trucks, and even then, NOT AN EXPERT) LOL!

I also cannot model what I cannot see.

How about this: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51733.msg704493#msg704493
Would you consider designing those?  Like I metioned, the author of the 3D design might be willing to provide it to you (I haven't asked them yet).

[Brian M]

I took a look at the Bachmann Commonwelth trucks, and they seem a bit different than the NYC ones, namely a little shorter (maybe?).  It is a little hard to say for sure based on the pictures online.  I'm also not much of a truck expert, so certainly welcome any correction/feedback.

The best images I can find of the NYC version is actually in Jim Six's article on modeling a NYC K-3q Pacific:
https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh2019-01/nyc-pacific

Also, these look to be the same trucks in the pictures of the Erie Pacifics @prr7161 posted in the BLI USRA Pacific thread.

Hope that helps,
Brian.

[Lemosteam]

In order for this to work ANY truck must be proportionally shortened to work with the 11 mm axle spacing of the Bachmann electrical pickups.

If you are expecting different, you won’t be happy.

[nickelplate759]

11mm is about 5'9" N scale, which is pretty good for an Andrews truck.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm totally OK with the axle spacing. The Fox trucks might be spaced a bit further apart, but the side frame face is so wide that it is hard to tell for sure. Arch-Bar trucks should have a very similar axle spacing as the Bettendorf trucks.

The Commonwealth trucks are a bit longer, but again, I much rather live with the compromise than totally incorrect trucks.

One think I beg you to consider: Make these on your printer. The stuff Shapeways uses is just not up to the task of providing really good intricate detail these trucks need. It has been one of the reasons why I held back from purchasing the Flex Coil side frames for so long. I have had far too many issues with Shapeways to ever buy from them again.

[peteski]

One think I beg you to consider: Make these on your printer. The stuff Shapeways uses is just not up to the task of providing really good intricate detail these trucks need. It has been one of the reasons why I held back from purchasing the Flex Coil side frames for so long. I have had far too many issues with Shapeways to ever buy from them again.

+1

John, I know you specifically mentioned that you will not be printing items for sale in-house on your printer.  Mainly because you don't want to be dealing with the hassle of printing, collecting payment, packaging and mailing. I hear you - it is a hassle.  You are an artist - you don't want to sell your stuff directly. You rather do the design part, then have an "art gallery" (Shapeways) do the mundane part of the business. But maybe at least consider sharing the file with the design with someone who wants the items you designed, so thy can maybe find someone to print them on a better printer than what Shapeways  uses.  There are quite a few people here with printers like Photon, and they might be willing to print few (as a favor) for their fellow TRW members.

Just a thought . . .

[daniel_leavitt2000]

It is to the point now where I would totally pitch in, get a printer, do packaging and mail runs just to be able to get this stuff off Shapeways. The designs are great, Shapeways is awful.

[peteski]

Well John,
Looks like Daniel just offered to be your bitch, um, I mean producer and distributor. 

How many N scale trucks can be printed on a Photon at one time?  A dozen maybe?

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

I do not want to intrude John but for those interested (Daniel)....
Archbar tender trucks with leaf springs and all wheel current pickup (modified FVM wheelsets, I still have some supply...) are available: [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
See my website WWW.ATSFNSCALEMODELS.COM., under ENGINES/CARS and then TENDER TRUCKS, kit no 416.

Regards, Dirk Blikkendaal

[Lemosteam]

Well John,
Looks like Daniel just offered to be your bitch, um, I mean producer and distributor. 

How many N scale trucks can be printed on a Photon at one time?  A dozen maybe?

After the trucks I have printed so far for myself, I am not yet convinced I can come anywhere near the accuracy or detail of FUD/FXD.  I will share a comparison pic later of the same truck. '

I will preface that with the fact that I am still trying to zero in on my printer settings, but out of the printer box?  NOT EVEN CLOSE.  The amount of axle pocket reaming I had to do was ridiculous because of resin pooling and support attachments. Not a failure, but not as sharp for sure.

Some of the small details holes and features that I can print in FUD get completely filled with resin and I have to drill them out.  For instance, I can print 0.010" diameter holes in FUD and when I try that, even if the axis of the hole is parallel to the Z axis (meaning i am printing the circle at each layer) will only leave a dimple on the surface last surface layer and completely fill with resin.

Again, I expect my knowledge to grow and prints to improve.

@Dirk Jan Blikkendaal no worries.  Your pickups are tangential through-holes correct or are you forming a needle point into them?

My cross beams are designed to mate directly to the Bachmann tender floors the way the originals do, WRT to height and pilot shoulder on the floor,

[peteski]

John, I admire your drive towards dimensional accuracy, but IMO, that is not the most important thing for N scale trucks.  The surface finish and appearance to me would be most important. No, I know that they also have to be usable.     Still, there are members here who use Photon to successfully print out items like N scale trucks, and those look so much better any anything offered by Shapeways.  Hes, they had to futz around with the printer settings, but in the end they seem to be very successful.