Hi, fellow forumers, Being from Aus, I’ve always wanted a Garratt model. Many forum members have noted that there’s no such thing as an N-scale Garratt on the market, apart from one kit offering. So, other than that, it’s scratch build or nothing (my brother models HO and has one of the Eureka NSWGR AD60 Garratts, a wonderful model). I thought 3D printing might offer a third way to get a Garratt. I got some AD60 drawings and pictures from the net, and running gear from two Bachmann light mountains and I made two models. The first is a passable static model and the second is the running model you can see in the video. I used Bachmann light mountain wheels which are wrong for the AD60 (the connecting rod couples to the second driver, whereas on 4-coupled Garratts the con-rod coupled to the third driver, the drivers are about 1mm too big, and the wheelbase on the pilot bogies (trucks) is about 2mm too long). The detail on the boiler is just done with 0.5mm styrene rods, and a couple of bits taken from one light mountain. It runs! But not very well, the front engine is tight (I think the gears are binding in the printed frame) and observant viewers will see that the rear engine is running faster than the front. So it needs work, but I’m happy with where it has got to. Anyway, there’s no alternative. [video=youtube_share;2SBshVp5Msk]http://youtu.be/2SBshVp5Msk[/video] (hope this video link works OK - the strange wavy bits are due to Youtube's anti-shaking software) The Bachmann 2-8-0 running gear would be more suitable for this project, it has 9mm drivers instead of 10mm and the con rod connects to the third driver. So does the Kato Mikado running gear which also has 9mm drivers, but I didn’t want to scrap any of my Mikados or 2-8-0s. The printer is a Chinese made UP! Plus (sold in the US as the Afinia, I believe), and the drawing was done in Turbocad Pro v19, whish exports the STL files which the printer’s own software reads directly. There’s a LOT of fiddly work to file the printings and get things aligned so they will work. The printed parts don’t actually have particularly good tolerances. The drawings took many hours, but the 3D drafting software lets you test it all for fit before making it. The video first shows the prototype running on the test track, then a shot of the prototype running with the motors uncovered, no pilot bogies and the engine units just joined by the frame, and then some shots of the loco running on my layout. Anyway, if there’s any interest, I can post some pics of some of the detail of the loco parts.
Wonderful model! I've always like the Garrets - too bad there were none in the US (at least, none that I know about).
There might have been one of these bashed together in N scale, but I sure don't recall it. Never thought I'd see a lokey like this in any way manufactured for N scale. Sure shows what printing is doing for us!
I think you have done a marvelous job with Prototype #1. It runs, is controllable, and it looks good. Now all that you need is to observe, record data, and correct each problem one at a time while developing Prototype #2, #3, #4, etc. until the result is perfection in your eyes, and your eyes ONLY. Don't worry, we all will applaud each step, because it is you who are doing it, while all we do is sit back and admire your abilities.
Well done. What would set it off is sound with each engine's exhaust going in and out of sync like the real thing.
I have seen a couple models someone did once, but with very small wheel arrangements using two motors with one reversed. Apparently the most challenging part was getting one of the matters to run successfully on reverse polarity in tandem with the forward running motor. The one you have shown looks really good, and it actually sounds even better! Just like a real steamer. With a bit of refinement and tweaking, it could probably be quite reliable and a pretty good puller, too. I would love to see many more pictures of it, and I'd be looking for any possibility of being able to get a 3D printed shell to try this duplicating the project.
There is now a Kickstarter project to build a NSWGR AD60 Garratt at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1560185090/n-scale-nswgr-ad60-garratt-locomotive, the project closes on 30th June, so if you want one, you will have to pledge before then and hope the required number of pledges are met
Have always thought these were some neat units! Only wish I had something to contribute to the cause!! I'd love to get one!
Pricing for the AD60, if Kickstarter funding is met, will be around AUD$600; therefore someone pledging to the project at AUD$500 will save 16% on the expected retail price
As I mentioned in reply to another thread on this forum, I'm 'in' at the "choose reward" level on this project. You can pledge as little as AUD 1 on this, so don't hesitate, thinking you have to be a big spender. And, at least, let your fellow N scale buddies know this great project so it will get funded. As of today, it's about 25% funded, with about a month to go, so jump on this now! Paul Ingraham, AsiaNRail
We are just over half-way through the funding cycle and we have approximately 75% of the funding target to go. For those who are interested in an N scale AD60 but have not pledged, we would appreciate some feedback at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1560185090/n-scale-nswgr-ad60-garratt-locomotive to get a better understanding of why the project isn't for you; cost, timeframe, something else? It may help future crowd funding attempts succeed if this one fails.
Only two weeks to go to fund this amazing project! Project funding finishes on 30th June 2014. At the time of writing, the project is only 33% funded - that means that worldwide, there is only interest for 62 models of this iconic locomotive used in Australia and South Africa. Now is the time to decide to pledge to have your very own RTR 4-8-4+4-8-4 on your layout. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Remember, if the project doesn't meet its funding goal, then the RTR AD60 won't be made.
4 days to go and now 71% funded - so another 45 pledges...or a couple of big ones...and the RTR AD60 will be a reality This is your chance to own a spectacular and unique locomotive - would look great as a visitor on almost any layout and would certainly become a talking point!
Project funding closes at 1400 (Eastern Australian Standard Time) on 30 June - we are $30K short of making the project a reality. If you know of *anyone* who can pledge, NOW is the time to ask them!
Well, the project completion date has come and gone! Unfortunately, although there were almost 90 backers, the funding target wasn't reached, so there will be no RTR AD60 produced. No funds have been debited from anyone's card and we now know that, although almost 5,000 people viewed the messages on the fora to which they were posted, and just over 1,000 visited the project page, watched the video and, presumably, read the project details, only 89 felt inclined to back the project. Which seems to suggest that the AD60 is a very small niche, loved by many but not likely to be produced as a RTR model in the foreseeable future, because there is no financially-viable demand for it Thanks to all who provided comments, suggestions and, most of all, backed the project
