[Scratch3rail]

A couple of simple scratch built cars using lionel flatcars and 6464 boxcars for sizing. Trucks, couplers and wheels are 3D printed, as are the doors and ends on the boxcar and stock car. The passenger car is fully 3D printed except for the roof. No prototypes, just fun cars that look good with larger lionel locomotives and cars.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Nicely done Scratch. Do you have create your own CAD drawings or are you able to download some to start with?

Pete

Thank you! For the passenger car and box car parts I got them from thingiverse. For the trucks though nothing was remotely satisfying so I created my own. They are very simple, built to the same dimensions as postwar lionel cast metal trucks, and pretty close to where I’d be comfortable posting them.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Definitely not proto 48, (mad respect for all you guys building those locomotives and cars) but I have a passion for making silk purses out of sows ears. My latest is reworking a lionel 8007 into a semi-scale K4. I know there are way better ways to do this, but I’m having fun engineering new parts and reshaping existing ones.
Primary changes:

• Relocated LED headlight
• New cylinders and cow catcher
• 4 wheel pilot
• 2 wheel pony truck
• Remove some glaring inaccurate cast details
• Scratch built tender (mostly for fun)

(yes, the new steam chest is on a bit cockeyed, hence why the front looks a bit off)

 

[Scratch3rail]

The cab shape on the 8005 is totally wrong for a K4 (understandable since the mold has its origins in a pre-war freelance locomotive) so rather drastic changes were in order.

before:

After:

I cut the cab sides off, trimmed the running board, and then added a new cab side with the help of my wife
I still need to frame the cab window and fill in all the gaps, then repeat on the other side.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Cool project.

What material did you use for the new cab walls?

Looks like a new headlight forming up there too!

Tom

Thank you!!
Sheet styrene, I’d never worked with that before so it’s a new foray.

Oh yeah, I decided to move the headlight up a bit to a more scale location. I flattened and repolished a white LED, then wrapped it in styrene and mounted it to a wood platform.

 

[Scratch3rail]

A bit more progress. I botched the cylinders twice, but I’m finally happy with their shape and ability to hold the cross head guides. The cylinders are only set in place in the photos. Additionally I got the other side of the cab installed. Next up, steam vent pipes (not sure what they’re called) and cab details.

 

[Scratch3rail]

After my wife had to have knee surgery it took a bit to come back to the K-4 project, but I got it assembled yesterday to test the mechanisms and fit, and while not perfect, I’m really satisfied with the result

Next is a 226 single axle trailing truck and a diy 4 wheel pilot.

 

[Scratch3rail]

A fun little diversion, I had a scout tank car that had its markings worn completely off, so I decided to give it a totally free lance Rio Grande paint scheme. Decals are custom made, and my first half decent job.

 

[Scratch3rail]

A little more progress on the K-4 conversion.
I cut off and filled the existing smoke box band and smoke stack and installed a new one further forward. I’m still not happy with the headlight, but that will come. I also cannibalized an mpc 4-4-2 for its trailing truck and heavily modified the cab to accept it.

I’m also building a pilot, but I thing it will be too light as it’s sheet and 3D printed plastic. Any recommendations for a place I could get a 4 wheel pilot with a 1 and 1/8” wheelbase?
Before:

After:

reference:

 

[Scratch3rail]

Idk if I’m a talented crafter, but if the K-4 is interesting to y’all I’m very glad. I love projects like these as well, I learn so much from them and appreciate seeing what others are doing

 

[Scratch3rail]

Ooh! Neat little motorized unit!

 

[Scratch3rail]

Bryan: I’ve had really good luck with citrustrip, it’s not hurt any plastic or metal parts I’ve used it on, and I’ve soaked items for days by mistake without I’ll effects. Others may have other/better recommendations as well.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Been painting pipes and small details in tight areas. Consumes a lot of time.

View attachment 591601

The firebox silver was difficult to mask, especially under the running boards above the FWH.

View attachment 591602

Decals are next. Gloss coat is dry. Progress is happening. Hope to be weathering by end of week. Got a plan in my head ! What can possibly happen… 😆 haha!

Ooh, that looks amazing!!!

 

[Scratch3rail]

I got a bit more work done here:
Pilot details, 3D printed bell, walkways, also filled the cab depressions left by the old angled cab and put in a new cab floor to replace what I had to remove for the new trailing truck.
I pulled the headlight for the 3rd to make a better bracket. I’m finally happy with the new one, but no photos yet.

 

[Scratch3rail]

One semi scale 110p75a tender coming right up.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Lou,
Does it have 57” drivers? IF so, I would be interested in purchasing the frame/driver assembly.

Like you, I’m trying to get paint done prior to cold weather, same reason. Even a respirator, paint booth, adequate ventilation is not enough for the SC paint fumes. Winter is building time, spring is paint season, haha.



Very nice! Styrene? Which glue did you use?

Thanks! Yes, I got an evergreen odds and ends bag, which has given more than enough for this and other projects. I used Testors bottled plastic cement. It’s a little syrupy, but works quite well.

Now I’m trying to work out how to do the front end 🤔

 

[Scratch3rail]

looks great! The Testors is great for styrene. Testors glue, while takes time to set and harden, has more tensile strength that any ACC glue would have. ACC dries quickly, but can be fragile…

I spy a bunch of little F-9 Panthers parked in the back. Doing a aircraft carrier on the side?

Tom

Agreed on the testor’s glue. It is a solvent, with nothing other than a thickening agent as far as I can tell. I’ve gradually learned patience in this hobby, it’s been a slow process. Good eyes! Those are my wife’s, she’s working on USS Ticonderoga next to me

I got a few more parts in place and set it on some spare trucks until I 3D print the right ones.

 

[Scratch3rail]

While waiting for something at work, I quickly snuck over to the 3D printer and printed these off:

Simple, but they give the desired effect.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Thanks guys! I’m definitely not a cad master, I was thinking how little I know about how to use these tools as I drew them last night. I use a hobbyist account for Fusion360. It’s free for a year, then you just have to sign up for the free account again.

Update: I was able to temporarily assemble one of the trucks, and couldn’t resist setting the tender on it for a look.

There’s too much space between the truck and body in the shot, but I think I can lower that.

 

[Scratch3rail]

Those look sweet! Do you have a ten-wheeler to pull them somewhere?