GN NW5 ans NW3 3D printed shell?

[delamaize]

Hey everyone, in my Pursuit of weird power, I've decided I need to add the NW5 and NW3 to my list of projects. I seem to remember someone had designed and printed both an NW5 and NW3, but I can remember who, or what buisness it was. Anyone got the info?

[randgust]

I don't know if anyone ever got around to printing one or not.   There was a drawing on Shapeways of a rendered shell that had 'issues', that's gone now.

This is the link to the build that Tom Todd and I did back in 2021 for the GN NW-5:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51305.0

Old school kitbash using a whole bunch of scavenged parts.   But the basic mechanism was a Bachmann RS3, GP7 trucks, chopped up LL SW's.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51305.0



link:  http://www.randgust.com/NW534.jpg

Go ahead and tack on that old thread if you have a new approach or find a decent printed shell, but you have to solve the mechanism first and work out from that.  When I look at this it's almost unrepeatable, as the spark arrestors were from Miniatures by Eric, the winterization cab windows were from Gold Medal Models. I'd have to dig on the number boards, probably Erics.  And fair warning, that paint and decal job was a bear.   I also remember the tight mechanism clearances on the transition from the cab to hood on the long end, compromises had to be made.   Looking back at that old thread, the body was extended about 9" to fit the Bachmann RS3 frame MINIMUM dimensions even after grinding.  That's always the glitch on rendered shells to scale, no consideration for how it's going to fit an available mechanism.

[jpwisc]

Jim Starbuck built one. Very accurate, and designed around a custom chassis. This one isn’t available commercially, the designer is just doing them for the fun of it.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=59518.msg820281#msg820281

[jjb62556]

I know the person who does them and many other ones. Made a Milwaukee SDL39  in N scale with sound. He just is not interested in 3D printing for others but friends....

[delamaize]

I know the person who does them and many other ones. Made a Milwaukee SDL39  in N scale with sound. He just is not interested in 3D printing for others but friends....

I know it's been a long time since I brought this up, but do you think your guy would be willing to print one for me? Or would be willing to share the file?

[randgust]

The mechanism for my build was the Bachmann RS3 with Bachmann GP7 trucks on it.  We reversed the trucks over to the GP7 and resold it as one with AAR trucks under it.  It ran really, really well.   It was neither easy or cheap but it's a solid build.   I do have the full photo set for the build, still.

Figure the mechanism out, that was the bear.  It really impacted how 'deep and narrow' the taper could be on the long end of the cab.   Second bear was the striping, the 'stock' ones didn't work and fell back on separate striping decals.   And now all the parts that Miniatures by Eric made like the spark arrestors and GMM winter cab windows are no longer available.

I suspect, but don't know, that if you printed one out exactly to scale you'd find no commercial mechanism would work.  There are always compromises, so you have to tweak stuff.  And weigh the 'what's more important, that it runs perfectly or looks perfectly?' choices.

I did an SW1001 as a custom build of a printed shell, buyer was not satisfied with an off-wheelbase so went Tomytec plastic frame.   Perfect hit, but the loss of weight and tractive effort and pickup was a pretty bad trade in my opinion.

[jjb62556]

Short answer would be no..really not interested....

[delamaize]

Short answer would be no..really not interested....

Thanks, I figured it was worth the ask.