Another project done this weekend, my new tool/idler car. This version is set up to work with my Industrial Brownhoist wreck crane. The Shapeways kit will come with all kinds of MOW goodies that you see here and more. I have another car painted but not put together yet that is meant to work with my Ohio locomotive cranes. I'll post pics of that when its done. I cheated on this one and made this so you mount it right on the existing MTL 50 foot flat car. Then you add the detail parts you want from the kit. I’m pretty happy with it. Wheels do not come with the kit. Kit does come with grab rails. But on this one the center foot rail is fabricated .3 copper wire. I wanted the car to be "durable" when (not if) it derails. The kit allows you to use the MTL brake wheel. One quirk I found, the MTL side stake mounts do not have all the same size spacing. I suspect that is from the part shrinking in the mold. Shapeways parts shrink too. So I averaged it out and hoped the shrink gods would be on my side. It starts out correctly at one end but is a bit off by the time it gets to the other end. The other version I’m building for the Ohio crane is almost exactly lined up from end to end. I suspect both the MTL car and Shapeways part vary in the slightest bit from car to car, print to print. As we all know, "vary in the slightest bit" in z scale translates to several inches in full scale. Its just not something I can control or predict so it will line up perfectly all the time. Some might find this miss matched detail unacceptable but I can live with it.
Well I got to finish all my idler cars. Kit will have all the goodies seen in each idler car. Only think not included are chains, spreader bars and wheels. I'm real happy with how these came out. They work very well with the Ohio crane and both versions of the Industrial Brownhoist cranes thru turnouts and down to 170 mm radius curves. The Ohio crane boom sits in a slot on the optional cradle. It keeps the boom inside the corner radius so the boom doenot get taken out on corners. This is a special versoin of the crane. The carbody is brass. Makes for a very nice rolling and stable car. All the grab rails and foot rails are fabricated from .3mm copper wire. So its nice and sturdy. The brass car body will be sold separately as an option. Here's the UP Ohio crane and idler car in action. Very happy with how it performs just as its supposed to.
In real life, the Industrial Brownhoist crane is mechanically fastened in the rear to the carbody along with the boom in the front being tethered to the carbody. This prevents the upper works from rotating while the crane is being moved. That wont work well on z scale corners. So the main hoist (which is not rigged but instead hinged on the crane kit) sits on optional cribbing provided in the idler car kit. The main hoist sits in the cribbing. This keeps the end of the boom inside the idler car tested down to 170 mm radius corners. In real life photos, it is common practice to have the main hoist resting on wooden cribbing when traveling. It keeps the large main hook from swinging around. Here's the UP version and the Reading version with a few more details added. Here's the Reading crane and idler car in action. Very happy with its performance as it works just as it should. Here's the UP crane and idler car in action. Just like the Reading crane, very happy with its performance. So one kit will allow you to build a tool car that will work with both cranes. You will need an MTL 60 foot flat car. Making instructions is the no fun part, like writing a book report.... So I save it for last. I just need to put together some images and directions and I will then upload and post it for sale. Wont have time this week for anything z scale... So hopefully in the next week or two. This is real simple so it will most likely be the first new model posted before the Ohio crane, the 2nd version of the Industrial Brownhoist crane and the new tank car conversion.
Finally got the instructions going and everything posted on Shapeways. This one is real easy. Just make sure you have the notch for the brake wheel mount on the correct side. After painting, I suggest adding the wheels. Then add desired details included with the kit that you have pre-painted and your done. Chain does not come with the kit. That you can find at Z Scale Monster. You can buy the kid here: https://www.shapeways.com/product/ERU2EVK3P/master-idler-car-04-02-19?optionId=98115615
