How would I do these smol NS electrics in N?

[Jim Starbuck]

I’ve got a low profile concept worked out in my head.
I need to develop a printable shell now to have a target to shoot for.

[randgust]

I like the idea of the Kato low-driveshaft trucks, if the wheelbase and diameter are even close, change the sideframes no big deal.

Add in the NW2 style driveshaft under the floor with a gear on it.   But no room for the motor.....

And hmmm, maybe mount the motor with a worm on an angle vertically in the cab, almost like some of the brass shay concepts to get to that driveshaft gear?  If it was tilted about 30-degrees off center......

[peteski]

What's the size of cab's footprint?

[chessie system fan]

Are there any Z scale parts that could be useful for this project?

[Jim Starbuck]

Are there any Z scale parts that could be useful for this project?

This is part of what I have in mind.

[Iain]

What's the size of cab's footprint?

Unfortunately, I don't have dimensions, nor do I have a good photo with someone standing next to it to get me a size reference.

[Lemosteam]

Iain, Disagree.

You have coupler height from top of rail.

Insert this image into you CAD tool and align the image until the frame is horizontal to CAD X direction:



Draw a best fit circle of the two farthest wheels.  Draw a tangent line to the bottom of those circles this line should be parallel or close to parallel with the frame.  This is your top of rail.

Standard top of rail to horizontal coupler center is 34.5" (as found in other threads here).

This is your vertical proportional value.

Assuming there is no stretch to the photo and minimal perspective, this is also your horizontal proportional value.  You should be able to layout the shape of the body over the image once you know the proportional scale.

[nkalanaga]

John:  You're right - AAR standard coupler height is 34.5 inches.  However, that can vary.  It shouldn't, though, on an electric motor, as the weight shouldn't change.

From the 1977 "Field Manual of the A.A.R. Interchange Rules":
Rule 16.E.12:  Required Coupler Heights
a.  Empty cars     Minimum 32.5 inches   Maximum 34.5 inches
b.  Loaded cars    Minimum 31.5 inches   Maximum 33.5 inches.
Measured from top of rail to center of coupler knuckle

[Jim Starbuck]

I took another swing at sending the photo through the ai studio and it gave me a better model to start with. As far as scale I used a sill width of 9’4” and let everything else follow and I think the proportions stayed pretty close. It’s actually quite a bit bigger than I was expecting at 2 3/4” end to end. It’s just mocked up here sitting on Kato 11-105 trucks and compared to a LL SW9. I’m wondering if it should be scaled down a little smaller?
 
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[u18b]

Wow.  Looking good.

If you are still tweaking, it looks like the under frame is a little too tall.

[Jim Starbuck]

Wow.  Looking good.

If you are still tweaking, it looks like the under frame is a little too tall.

Thanks Ron,
Yes, still very early in the process. I haven’t actually started building the mech yet and this is just the first print in order to have a fixed target to build towards. The milled out shell is just sitting loosely on an unmatched pair of trucks to get some visualization and sense of scale.

[Iain]

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NS 2 seems to be a little bit bigger, but this view is probably still useful.  Note the hood doesn't slant in.

[Jim Starbuck]

I hadn’t noticed the sides of the hoods tapering towards the front.
Yeah, AI can get you moving in a general direction but it’s definitely not a replacement for designing from scratch which is still way above my skill level.
I’ll go old school and laminate a slab of styrene to the side then mill it parallel to the sill.
It looks like the sill width is pretty close.

[u18b]

This is an amazing and challenging project.

[Iain]

what do you have for general dimensions in mm?  length, width, cab?