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Created a 3D passenger chassis/interior for the Bowser/Varney Aerotrain!

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  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 6:07 PM

Nice!  I'm glad they're working for you!

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 8:05 PM

I got the Aerotrain interiors in the mail today:

I am quite happy with the quality and appearance and the fit is excellent, all thanks to Darth Santa Fe's exacting design skills.

Looks promising.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 11:20 PM

Hi Darth,

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I wish I had your talents!

I'll let you know how things go.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 5:43 PM

I just sent you a message with the file!  I printed mine using PLA, but any printable plastic material should do the job since metal bearings will need to be inserted for the wheels anyway.

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 12:14 AM

Darth Santa Fe
It looks like they need to have it on a plastic tree (like injection molded plastic models) for it to work on their printer.  I might be able to adjust the file that way, so I'll give that a try and send it to you if I can.

That would be very generous of you! Thanks. If doing it becomes a problem please don't waste your time.

Do you have any suggestions regarding what material to have the chassis printed in?

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:45 PM

It looks like they need to have it on a plastic tree (like injection molded plastic models) for it to work on their printer.  I might be able to adjust the file that way, so I'll give that a try and send it to you if I can.

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 7:49 PM

Hi Darth,

I tried to order the interior/chassis assembly from i.materialize but they said that the program needed to be adjusted. Here is their comment:

 "In order to print so-called ‘grouped models’ (a 3D model that consists of several parts), the individual parts need to be connected to each other. The recommended type and thickness of the connections depend on the printing material. For Polyamide (SLS) you can find the recommended guidelines for connecting grouped models here: https://i.materialise.com/en/3d-printing-materials/polyamide/design-guide#OPartWhereArtThou."

I have no idea of how to make the changes. Is it possible for you to make the changes and send me the revised program? If my request is unreasonable I will understand.

Thanks,

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2020
  • 581 posts
Posted by Southgate 2 on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 1:52 AM

Pretty cool, Darth! And while I wouldn't be able to make use of your 3-D program, I thank you for offering it to us. Dan

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • 409 posts
Posted by Autonerd on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 12:26 AM

Fantastic bit of modeling! And of course the real thing was a rough rider, so it's good they can handle the bumps!

Aaron

  • Member since
    June 2005
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, January 11, 2021 11:12 PM

Thanks!Big Smile

hon30critter, maybe some square brass rod can fix the flexibility of that chassis.  It looks like there's quite a bit of space on each side where some could be mounted.  If you get the interiors printed for your cars, I hope they do well for you!

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, January 11, 2021 2:42 AM

Hi Darth!

Once again you have come up with an answer to a question that I have been asking myself for a long time, i.e. how to do the interiors for the Aerotrain cars?

I wasn't aware that Bowser was offering car interiors, and I don't plan on buying a 3D printer so I will look into those. The option of course is to find someone with a printer and get them to make the interiors for me using your program. Thanks for sharing that.

FWIW, I bought the Bowser drive for the Aerotrain locomotive. The chassis is very flexible so I will address that issue when I install it.

Thanks again,

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, January 11, 2021 2:36 AM

That is fantastic!

Here is the video imbedded:

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Created a 3D passenger chassis/interior for the Bowser/Varney Aerotrain!
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, January 11, 2021 1:07 AM

The passenger cars of my Bowser Aerotrain have never been reliable rollers, usually derailing after no more than a few times around the track.  I designed a new chassis a while back with an equalizing axle, which fixed the problem right away, so I decided to take things further with my 3D printer!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_xZBE-Dbw

I created a simple coach interior which presses straight into the body of any of the passenger cars, and it has the same self equalizing axle system as the chassis I made a while back.  It works well, and it makes the cars look quite a bit better!  And for anyone who might be interested in giving one a try, I've gone ahead and put it online for free download: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4716983

The whole train now runs around reliably without derailing, so I think it was all worth it!Big Smile

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