Atso's C&W works

[Atso]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Jonathan, I truly doubt that my effort is neater than yours. I've seen you work and it really is exceptional.

[Atso]

Suddenly, there were two fish vans... Two more to go...

[will5210]

Very Nice. Shame to paint them really!

[Atso]

It does seem like a shame to paint them Will. However, they'll be remaining in this condition for a little while yet.

Finding myself with a bit of time to kill yesterday, I decided to make a start on the 2mm Association LNER/GER Mac K etches. However, I got stuck in and completed the model.

[Atso]

My latest build, an ex-GCR Mac N from the 2mm Association etches.

It was a challenging build but an enjoyable one. I stole the buffers from a spare loco body as they were the closest match to the drawings I had. I've still got to fit wheels but I'm out of 5.1mm diameter wheelsets at the moment so will have to buy some more.

[Atso]

It's been far too hot in the shed the last couple of days to continue painting and lining the spare Dapol corridor tender described on my loco tread. Therefore, I've grabbed my work tray and a few bits and de-camped down into the dining room and made a start on my second 2mm Association Toad E etched kit.

The basic chassis has been built but there are a lot of details to add to this before I turn my attention to the body. Despite the kit being drawing to 2mm scale, it is actually slightly longer than the venerable Peco version and the first one runs well using Farish wheels and 2mm Association conversion axles.

[Atso]

The Toad E has progress a bit further today.

I think now is a good time to do some cleaning up before adding any more details.

[Atso]

Other than vac pipes, some couplings and roof fittings, I'm going to call this build complete.

[Atlantic 3279]

Looks complete enough to me, so why not?

[Atso]

Needing a break from designing the N1's chassis, I looked about for a suitable unfinished project to do a bit more on. I found a Worsley Works 51' Third that I'd started building just after Christmas and decided to do a bit more on it. I've more or less sorted out the fact that the floorpan is slightly longer than the body (probably my fault). I've also soldered the body and frames together as well as adding some strengtheners from 0.25mm nickel silver sheet. My plan is to 3D print the roof and attach this using magnets. I'll be sourcing some bogies from the 2mm Association and truss bars from Ultima Models. Battery boxes will be 3D printed and the partitions will likely be made out of plastic to keep the weight down.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Magnets to keep the roof on, I've noticed a lot more usage of magnets lately, even couplings!

Nice coach, can't you 3D print the whole coach ??

manna

[Atso]

Magnets to keep the roof on, I've noticed a lot more usage of magnets lately, even couplings!

I've seen this too. I purchased 100 3mm diameter magnets for uncoupling. Unfortunately, they weren't powerful enough for that purpose but seem ideally suited to holding bits together. I've been using simple hook and loops, made out of bits of wire, for fixed couplings but I'm very tempted to use these magnets for fixed rakes of corridor stock; it'll be so much easier than trying to thread a hook through a loop with a corridor connector in the way!

Nice coach, can't you 3D print the whole coach ??

Many thanks.

I've done so in the past with shorter NPC stock, however there are two issues I've run into. First, I'd need to come up with some way of flush glazing the coach. I could 3D print the glazing in "clear" resin but this will take some effort post printing to make it optical quality. The second issue is preventing a long open box structure from warping over time. I have managed this occasionally, but it is rather hit and miss. Printing the roof wouldn't be so much of a problem as the magnets will hopefully hold it straight. If not, it would be a simple matter to reinforce it with some brass rod.

Below are a couple of short NPCs that own their origins to 3D printing.

The six wheel full brake is 3D printed while the D.120 van is a resin cast made from a 3D printed master.

This is a 3D printed Holden lavatory composite. You can see just how thick the sides are and it would be a shame to have to glaze them from behind. While the coach looks pretty straight and true here, it subsequently warped and I'll probably end up designing an etch for the final version.

[manna]

G'day Gents

Thought I'd ask, loco bodies seem to be OK 3D printed. Hmmm

Thinking out loud, what if you printed all the corridor and compartment walls !!

manna

[Atso]

Thought I'd ask, loco bodies seem to be OK 3D printed. Hmmm

Locos tender to be OK but some tank engines still warp. I need to understand why this happens on certain designs but not others. Longer coaches are more of a problem.

Thinking out loud, what if you printed all the corridor and compartment walls !!

I might well do this, at the very least for the seats.

[Atso]

The full third had a couple of bearings soldered onto the underside of the floorpan today. The holes were then opened up from 1.5mm to 1.6mm and tapped to accept M2 screws. I found a couple of bogies (2mm Association for a full brake) as temporary substitutes for the ones on order and added these to get a feel for how the coach will eventually look.

It needed a couple of packing washers to bring the ride height to roughly the same height as a Dapol Gresley.

Encouraged by this, I also made a light start on one of the brake thirds.