Trucks

[Bad Droid]

I'm not sure this is the correct area to be posting this. But since it's in the "Rolling Stock" section I'll ask here, if it needs relocated we'll that's fine.
My question is about Fn3 truck sources, like 4' archbars and even the early 3'7" units, or anything for that matter. I've been on a boat and away from the hobby for a long time, I kind of remember more sources for archbar trucks and such back then vs today? I've been scouring the net and there seems to be slim pickings or out of stock items.
I used to use Northeast Narrow Gauge castings and modify/go from there, but as we all know NENG isnt around any longer.
I've found a few 3D printed units but not so sure about scale. Ideally I'd like to get a hold of something decent, modify and eventually make molds and cast my own.
I'm not needing them immediately by any means, just trying to locate something I can use and standardize with the things that I build.
What have ya'll been using for your recent builds?
Anyways, thanks in advance.
Edit: Added scale 1:20.3/ Fn3.

[ge_rik]

Are these any use?

https://slrmodels.co.uk/product-category/bogies/

Rik
PS As they are 3D printed, I would imagine you could specify scale

[Bad Droid]

I'll check them out, thank you.
I should have been a little more specific, looking for late 1800's / early 1900's American narrow gauge style but there's a couple of those you linked that I'll look into...

[Bad Droid]

Well, I'm a bit old school and didn't realize how versatile these 3D Printers are. A while back my neighbor gave me a brand new Printrbot, I just stared at the box for a few months. Well recently he set me up with all the software and what not and I've been playing in "Thingiverse", met some good peeps in there too who have held my hand a little. Now I'm feeling a lot more confident, ordered some material and planning on printing my own trucks and pieces parts. Long run, I hope to use the printed truck parts and other details for silicon molds and cast some truck parts like I used to get from NENG. But that's down the road a bit. For now, I'm just thrilled about the printer, I probably sound like a dork but I feel like I went through a time machine since I last modeled anything, its all so new to me and very cool!

[drewzero1]

Don't worry, if you're a dork you're far from the only one here! 3D printing made my garden railway dreams possible. Then I started modifying 3D models, and creating my own... It can really become a hobby in its own right if you want it to. I made a simple silicone mold once for casting epoxy but haven't tried one with a 3D printed positive yet, so I'm really interested to see how you do it.

[philipy]

Dont worry about being a dork on a big learning curve, we've all been there!

You've probably already looked at our 3d printing section on here, but if not I suggest you take a peek. There are loads of stl files that members are sharing for free and if you have any queries or problems with printing, that's the place to ask - nobody will put you down.

Having said all that, I'm a wee bit puzzled about why you would go to the trouble of designing and printing your trucks then make moulds and then cast them? Once you have a satisfactory print, simply reprint as many times as you need and save yourself several steps in the process?

[-steves-]

It all starts with filament printing, then it goes to both filament and resin printing and then a small laser cutter for wood and acrylic. It's a very slippery slope

I do all three as I find wood is good and cheap for coaches and wagons , fine detail resin and larger parts in filament. (I admit I have not done much laser cutting as I got this as a Christmas present last year. So far I have only done a few bingo boards for my wife and her friends and a small loco pencil holder for another friend)

As said above, the creative side is a hobby of it's own. If you don't already know a CAD program, then quite a few of us find TinkerCad (a free online CAD program) a great place to start.

[GAP]

I 3D printed a heaps these and they look good under my 1:20.3 wagons.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1799120
Picture down bottom of the page.
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... built.html
The one in the picture was a first run (printed in white, the ones fitted are black) where I did not have the printer set up properly, now it is set up the prints are much better.
Or these
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3774447

Not sure why you would want to 3D print one then use it for a mould when you could just print out a whole heap.
I have found them to be quite robust.

[Bad Droid]

Thanks for all the comments and help, much appreciated.
As far as printing them to make a mold, I was thinking for a low temp metal cast, I like the weight of the ones I used to get from NENG. BUT I'll try them first with metal wheel sets, might be perfect and less work.
Again, thanks everyone I'll check all the links and sub section out.

[Bad Droid]

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4624688
I did a set of these, they look great but assembly was tedious. The X Brace/bracket was a PITA.
So now I'm printing these. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2929708 They look amazing...

[GAP]

Thanks for all the comments and help, much appreciated.
As far as printing them to make a mold, I was thinking for a low temp metal cast, I like the weight of the ones I used to get from NENG. BUT I'll try them first with metal wheel sets, might be perfect and less work.
Again, thanks everyone I'll check all the links and sub section out.

Can confirm that printed ones with metal wheels give enough weight down low, eliminated a derail problem I had.

[Bad Droid]

Can confirm that printed ones with metal wheels give enough weight down low, eliminated a derail problem I had.

Yeah I really liked the heavy trucks, sounds like the printed units with metal wheels sets will work just fine, thanks for the heads up.

I do all three as I find wood is good and cheap for coaches and wagons , fine detail resin and larger parts in filament.

Same here, can cut down/mill my own lumber, I prefer the look and feel of wood over other stuff. Lots of detail parts to print and there's always Ozark.

[GAP]

Can confirm that printed ones with metal wheels give enough weight down low, eliminated a derail problem I had.

Yeah I really liked the heavy trucks, sounds like the printed units with metal wheels sets will work just fine, thanks for the heads up.

I also glued steel washers to the back of plastic wheels to add the weight and that worked as well.
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -bins.html
3D printed wheels would be good for this method and cheap as well.