Does anyone know where to find P2k E7 plain/solid bearing caps? I have a couple of E7A chassis that are a few short. Would like to make it 0 short, with spares. Would prefer not to scrap a chasis to get replacements.
Hello BMM,
I'm in a similar situation as I own 11 P2K E-units. I have several solid and roller bearing journal caps missing that I want to replace.
Unfortunately no one, afaik, makes comparable replacements. A long while back I emailed a rep from Details West asking if their journal caps (pictures below) would work on LL units.
Unfortunately, he stated that they would not work.
I was going to restort to hunting for damaged LL E-units on ebay and at train shows to use as parts sources. However, it occured to me to send an email to Shapeways and ask them that, if provided with samples, if they could reproduce the LL bearing caps. I explained in the email that it's likely that a good number of modelers with P2K LL E-units would likely be willing to buy bearing caps as this is a common issue.
I'll share Shapeways response here as soon as I receive it. It might help if you and other modelers with E-units contact them as well. Here's their contact page:
https://www.shapeways.com/contact/contact_form_customer_service?email_to=service@shapeways.com
BMMECNYC Does anyone know where to find P2k E7 plain/solid bearing (caps)? I have a couple of E7A chassis that are a few short. Would like to make it 0 short, with spares. Would prefer not to scrap a chasis to get replacements.
Does anyone know where to find P2k E7 plain/solid bearing (caps)? I have a couple of E7A chassis that are a few short. Would like to make it 0 short, with spares. Would prefer not to scrap a chasis to get replacements.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Not sure why I didnt think of Shapeways. I know a guy with a store. I'll see if he can draw them up.
Edit:
He doesn't appear to be selling parts anymore.
Ok,
I'll post any replies that I get from Shapeways.
Hi crew,
Here is the response that I received from shapeways:
Nov 20, 22:07 CET
Hi Antonio,Thank you for contacting Shapeways Support. Would you be able to confirm if it's a model you'd liked designed and then printed? If so, although we ourselves do not have any designers on staff, we do feature members of our community who you could hire on our Hire a Designer page:https://www.shapeways.com/hire/designer
Again, to be clear, these are not employees of Shapeways. They are designers from our community who we feature on our site. You could look through this list, find a designer who you would like to work with, and reach out to them about your project.Please let me know if this answers your questions!All the best,
Arafat Hossain | Customer Service Agent
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I clicked on the link and found a gentleman named David Cutting. Here is what I wrote to him:
Hello sir. Re: 1990's-early 2000's Life Like HO E-unit locomotives.If you were provided with samples, would you be able to reproduce the journal/axle (solid and roller bearing) covers that are mounted on the Proto 2000 E-units? They're of a "snap fit" design and, unfortunately, the versions produced by Details West will not fit. Since quite a number of modelers own P2K E-units, there could be a potential demand for this part, if produced in bulk. Currently modelers are forced to look for damaged or discarded units on ebay and train shows to cannibalize for parts. - Thank you very much for your consideration - AntonioFP45
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Sounds like specific dimensions would be critical to the designer.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Sounds like specific dimensions would be critical to the designer.
Rich
Alton Junction
It may also be partially too small for the resolution of the printer. Worth trying IMO.
BMMECNYCIt may also be partially too small for the resolution of the printer.
Shapeways is doing some amazing things lately. I recently ordered some PRR dwarf signals made to be illuminated with 0402 LEDs. I couldn't believe just how tiny these things were when they arrived!
https://www.shapeways.com/product/L6LJSGN6H/ho-dwarf-signal-jhdd111-swe-usa-version?optionId=59322603&li=marketplace
If you find the right designer, perhaps they could make the journal boxes in a "stick" of multiples, say six? Once the design work is done on one it is easy to clone it into additional pieces fairly easily. If you search you will see the dwarf signals in multiples of five or ten also.
As a technical note, what looks like a solid bearing on the early E units is actually a roller bearing. It is mounted in that housing in order to have a thrust plate on the axle ends. Very, very few E units (possibly none) were made with solid bearings.
https://donstrack.smugmug.com/UtahRails/Locomotive-Details/Locomotive-Trucks/i-wnCwBc8
Regards, Ed
Ed,
Thanks so much for that info regarding E-unit trucks.
Hopefully, Mr. Cutting will respond and provide some good news regarding these bearings. There are a couple of other model railroad designers as well at the website. Would be helpful if some of the LL E-unit owners would get on the bandwagon as well. Great idea of having them made available in sticks or trees of six.
The primary hurdle now is getting someone to produce them. I'm hoping that providing the designer with a few physical samples would be more helpful than blueprints.
BTW: The photos below show the source of my mis-labeling the journal as a "friction-bearing" type vs roller bearing. The first photo is of a truck sideframe on a LL P2K E8, while the 2nd photo is of an E6's "box-style" journal cover (same as some E7's).
I always hate to revive old threads, but I am wondering if the OP ever found a source for the bearing caps?
Rich,
I have not.
BMMECNYC Rich, I have not.
I've communicated with a gentleman on another forum who stated that he can make the "sloped" and "squared" type journals for the LL P2K E-units.
He has finished making a set for me and will be shipping them soon in the near future. I'm looking forward to trying them out.
If they work out well, I'll ask if he can produce more. I'll let him know that there are other modelers that are interested in having journals produced and ask him if he would like to communicate with them.
I realize that the newer Walthers E-units are much more dimensionally accurate and excellent performers.
However, to me, my LL units are attractive and (with their "brick weight") will easily pull heavy trains without lurching or sputtering. I especially appreciated, years back, that LL was willing to produce E's in ACL's "Bumble Bee" paint scheme.
With the proper detailing (which I plan on performing soon), they can look quite sharp.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/323933840475
This guy I think makes both types covered and not covered. I purchased these from him