Festiniog Railway Welsh Pony - 3 D printed

[FWLR]

That is a superb 3d print of your boiler Trevor, very impressed with it.

Don't think I could attempt to be cutting any holes in mine though mate. Anne would be so upset and I don't like doing that for fear of reprisals...

[-steves-]

I think that the issue is printing in ABS. It is a very unforgiving material to print with. I have had problems doing roofs as well. Probably I should use one of my spare nozzles and get PLA for printing roofs and the like.

Trevor

Wouldn't be a bad shout, PLA is much more forgiving for roof's, not sure I could print an ABS roof

[Trevor Thompson]

I have most of the model ready to assemble - but I am not satisfied with the gears I have used to provide the drive.

They are rather noisy, perhaps this is the problem with cheap plastic gears.

Anyway the chassis as it stands:

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It does run, but it makes an un-prototypical racket!

I have taken to fine tuning my wheels in the lathe. Mounting them on a mandril allows me to turn the tread to exactly the same diameter on each wheel, and clean up the flanges as well. It seems to overcome the occasional problems I was having getting printed wheels to run true. Note that the number of skin layers and infil density I am using is making these almost solid. They seem to turn as if they were solid material!

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It is about time I cleaned and oiled the lathe!

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

I have also started to assemble the tender:

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You can also see the connecting rods, coupling rods and slide bars ready to attach to the chassis in the background.

I am making a copy of all the components (after I successfully assemble each section) with a view to offering the locomotive as a kit of parts in the for sale section of this forum when I have it completed.

I am currently awaiting a tool to enable me to make my own worms and worm wheels from brass - which I think will solve the noisy gear issue!

Trevor

[-steves-]

Looking very good so far Trevor, can't wait to see it complete.

[ge_rik]

Coming along nicely, Trevor.
I must try printing a roof, Steve, I've fought shy of it up until now.

Just had to replace the nozzle on my cheapo printer - my first major clog. Decided it was to gummed up to manage to clean it up properly. I suppose, after nearly a year, that's not bad.

Rik

[-steves-]

Coming along nicely, Trevor.
I must try printing a roof, Steve, I've fought shy of it up until now.

Just had to replace the nozzle on my cheapo printer - my first major clog. Decided it was to gummed up to manage to clean it up properly. I suppose, after nearly a year, that's not bad.

Rik

Honestly, an upright roof comes out well. If in any doubt you can add a 1mm or 2mm wide support each side that just touches the roof, careful though, if the touching point is too small, it will just build separate structures, ask me how I know, lol.

As for nozzles, I replace mine most times it clogs. If upping the heat doesn't clear it, then it gets replaced there and then.

Trevor will know this one, I assume ABS doesn't clog in the same way as I printed ABS at 205 degrees by accident and although it didn't stick to the base board, it did leave an almighty mess of ABS all over the place overnight, lol.

[philipy]

That is looking very good Trevor.

I assume the tender body is printed as 3 separate sides with the insides flat on the bed? The external surface finish looks excellent from what I can see.

[Trevor Thompson]

Just had to replace the nozzle on my cheapo printer - my first major clog. Decided it was to gummed up to manage to clean it up properly. I suppose, after nearly a year, that's not bad.

Rik

I haven't had to replace a nozzle since I started using ABS exclusively.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

That is looking very good Trevor.

I assume the tender body is printed as 3 separate sides with the insides flat on the bed? The external surface finish looks excellent from what I can see.

Yes the tender was printed as 3 sides, a curved top, a base upside down on the bed, and two axle box sets. Tha axle boxes are joined by a stretcher so there is one print per side. I did think about making the springs work - but maybe next time!

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

The other comment I would make is that the quality of the surface of the prints is very good - probably the best I have ever had. The only difference is the supply of filament. I have been getting it direct from a company called PolyProps via their website.

Trevor

[philipy]

Cheers.

[Trevor Thompson]

I have made my own brass worm wheel and stainless worm which I hope will be much more suitable for this model. " Free hobing " the worm wheel using an M8 spiral flute tap:

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Of course to fit its I had to disassemble the existing wheels which had been secured to the axles with foaming polyurethane glue. Initially I couldn't move them on the shaft and thought I was going to have to make new wheels. After applying heat from a soldering iron onto the ends of the axles they came free quite easily. So the wheels are re-usable. I have put it back together with the new worm wheel and re quartered the wheels:

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I will try it in the morning when the glue has cured.

Trevor

[philipy]

" Free hobing " the worm wheel using an M8 spiral flute tap:

Beyond me I'm afraid but it certainly looks most impressive and I'm full of envy.

[ge_rik]

Wow!!! This must be a first for the forum. Home made gears.....

Rik

[Trevor Thompson]

I suppose the locomotive is essentially finished. I am now thinking about finishing touches:

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I have created the nameplate, and am printing the handrails for the water tank - and they are not actually printing properly (yet).

In the early photos I can see that the loco has oval plates on the cab sides. I am looking for a photo of the original makers plate - can anyone help with that?

I can see that the second one is probably a Boston Lodge plate stating a rebuild. I wonder what that would have had on it prior to 1900? I have a photo of the current one of those so maybe that is a starting point.

And of course I can see a photo of the rebuilt engine in what looks like a dark brown. I presume that represents a result of research and should be the victorian livery. Of course what I want to find out is what livery would she have carried in the 1880's or 1890's?

Trevor

[Andrew]

Hi Trevor, that's looking great!

My book of 7mm FR drawings says that the Englands were probably delivered in a "deep red", which had "changed to a slightly lighter shade, sometimes described as brick red". Lined with a black band, bordered with gold or yellow...

I think I'm right in saying that WP's current livery, although lovely, isn't based on a historic one...

Hope that helps!

Andrew

[philipy]

Coming on well Trevor. Can't help with the details you are looking for but I'd guess that some of our Ffestiniog afficionado's may be abe to.

[Andrew]

Ah, it changed again after the last Fairlies arrived in 1879 - more later!

[Andrew]

Sorry, was in the middle of a telly programme with the family...

So... "The introduction of the last two Fairlies... heralded a period of more elaborate lining. The black band was edged with fine red, yellow and black lines, and the panels were bordered with a fine red line. It is certain that at this period the base colour of the locomotives was a deep maroon... The maroon lasted until the 1930s."

Sounds like the liveries currently sported by Palmerston and ME?

You'd better get the lining pen out!

Andrew.