Nolwyn Valley Tramway

[Lonsdaler]

Hold your noses everyone, here comes the morning refuse train!
Screenshot_20231016-105922.jpg

Phew!
First time I've seen that in our scale!

[FWLR]

That is neat Drew. Are you not going to have a rake of them, they would look good with about 6 or more. Next year perhaps...

Thanks Rod. Just trying to focus on the earthworks and pond setup and (someday) laying the track down. Once it gets too cold to work in the garden I plan to get back into stock making mode. The baby's almost a year now and she's been sleeping better, so I'm hoping to be able to do more woodworking besides just the 3D printing this winter. I've got some plywood set aside for my own version of your shorty box van and a few other projects. Been working on setting up my painting kit in an old travel case so I can go somewhere and paint without the kids, uh, "helping".

I know what you mean Drew with getting on with your line, it's taken me nearly 2 years to get ours to nearly a completed track laying....

Thats all I do mostly in the winter, either doing a build or trying to finish ones I have started. I always seem to get distracted it's the guys on here who do some brilliant builds, no names, but 'the person who lives in Mid Wales' who I think is the top builder on here, is to blame..

Looking forward to version mate, it's bound to be excellent.

They do grow up fast don't they, I had the same issue when I wanted to go fishing, one of them needed me to help them with something or other.

Glad I haven't got the problem with nappies anymore...

[drewzero1]

Drew,
Slight thread drift, but I keep looking at your "Thornas", which for some reason really appeals to me. I think you said early on that you designed and 3d printed it and I wondered if you might be willing to upload your stl's for it to our print files section?

Just a quick update on this... (No I haven't completely forgotten!) I spent last night collecting and sorting out my STLs for this project. I've got most of the files either collected or recreated, just need to write some assembly instructions. It looks like about 30 parts and I don't think I want to know the total print time!

[philipy]

Just a quick update on this... (No I haven't completely forgotten!) I spent last night collecting and sorting out my STLs for this project. I've got most of the files either collected or recreated, just need to write some assembly instructions.

Looking forward to it.

[drewzero1]

Looking forward to it.

Doing a test fit of all the parts in TinkerCad. A lot has changed with this model since I started it in February!

Screenshot 2023-10-17 at 09-39-22 3D design Thornas Tinkercad.png (132.92 KiB) Viewed 3525 times

Also making some much-needed improvements to the chassis to address some issues that have come up with splitting along layer lines. This was originally just meant to be a push-along toy, so the motor mount is also a bit of a bodge.

[drewzero1]

Looking forward to it.

Here it is! THORNAS, a freelance steam-outline locomotive

[philipy]

Thanks Drew, looks very comprehensive.

I've downloaded and unzipped it, and had a quick through your extremely comprehensive instructions, but that's as far as I've got. Somebody else beat me to it with a download, don't know who?

[philipy]

Drew,
Not withstanding your comprehensive instructions, whose gears did you use and what ratio? That motor appears to have a 4mm shaft.

Also, what size are the wheels

[drewzero1]

Drew,
Not withstanding your comprehensive instructions, whose gears did you use and what ratio? That motor appears to have a 4mm shaft.

Also, what size are the wheels

I used a 1:1 bevel gear set from Thingiverse. Can't remember if I modified the hub to fit or just drilled it out, I'll have a look when I'm back to my computer. The 3d printed gears were meant to be a bit of a stopgap, back in March. I don't imagine they'll hold up well to heavier use.

The wheels I believe were also from Thingiverse, but it's possible I scaled them and put in my own hubs. I'll measure and dig through my files and see if I can figure out what I did for those.

Comprehensive instructions... for a hover train? Looks like I'll need to add a running gear group because I also forgot to show the cranks and coupling rods.

[philipy]

I used a 1:1 bevel gear set from Thingiverse. Can't remember if I modified the hub to fit or just drilled it out, I'll have a look when I'm back to my computer. The 3d printed gears were meant to be a bit of a stopgap, back in March. I don't imagine they'll hold up well to heavier use.

Ahh, that makes sense then. I've been struggling to find a 4mm-3mm bevel gear set! Can get 4mm bore and can get 3mm bore, but not mixed and not a geometrical match if I got both. I did find a 4/3 reducing bush intended for exactly this purpose... Out of Stock!!

I think I may just try find a similar motor with a 3mm shaft, rather than bodge the gears.

The wheels I believe were also from Thingiverse, but it's possible I scaled them and put in my own hubs. I'll measure and dig through my files and see if I can figure out what I did for those.

OK, don't worry to much, I just need the wheel diameter.

Looks like I'll need to add a running gear group because I also forgot to show the cranks and coupling rods.

I hadn't actually got that far yet!

[drewzero1]

OK, don't worry to much, I just need the wheel diameter.

I can never remember whether wheels are measured on the flange or the tread. 29.7mm on the flange and 25mm where the tread meets the flange, though depending on how you cut the running board they could be a bit bigger.

These images also give a bit of context for the way the motor, gears, and rods all fit together.

[philipy]

Thanks, that helps a lot.

[Red Star]

Meanwhile inside the shop there's been a ban on new stock, to focus on the outside effort. Despite this somebody managed to sneak in a new coal wagon. Still needs some paint, details, weathering, and weight, but here's an in-progress pic:
Screenshot_20231015-004715__01.jpg

This is from Red Star's digital model from this thread: FR style iron body coal wagon (in the 3D print section). I made a few cuts in the model so the walls could be printed flat and ironed. Ok, now I'm really done with stock until the railway is ready!

Just seen this and it looks fantastic - a good size for running with Thornas! I'll admit that I've not yet printed out this version of the wagon, my printer was working flat out last leave making parts for commercial kits - seeing your one though, I really need to have a go at it when I'm back this winter.

Andrew

[drewzero1]

Just seen this and it looks fantastic - a good size for running with Thornas! I'll admit that I've not yet printed out this version of the wagon, my printer was working flat out last leave making parts for commercial kits - seeing your one though, I really need to have a go at it when I'm back this winter.

Andrew

It's a great model, Andrew. I split it up so I could print the sides and solebars flat and avoid a lot of postprocessing to get rid of layer lines. I'm quite happy with the result. Still need to fit some details like the brake handles and coupling chains, and do some weathering, but it looks like I'll probably have all winter to do it.

[drewzero1]

From the smoky mists of the Duckweed Works emerges a new project:

Screenshot_20231025-005645.jpg (375.59 KiB) Viewed 3251 times

Details are similarly hazy but it appears the Thornas chassis I was building as a test has been completed in a manner somewhat contrary to the instructions. I suppose it was about time for the Nolwyn Valley Tramway to get its first tram!

Still needs power, one side's crank pins, front cab steps, and a final livery, but for now it's serving its purpose well as a test and demonstrator for the construction of a Thorn-class loco. The Small Controller has nicknamed it 'Toby' for now but upon completion a suitable name will be chosen.

[dudeface]

Looks like you're going to have a nice little railway there Drew, is the dude on page 4 3d printed too?

[drewzero1]

Looks like you're going to have a nice little railway there Drew, is the dude on page 4 3d printed too?

Thanks! Little is the operative word here. Yes, he's from Thingiverse: "Passengers for steam bus" by Slanjonok... This figure is "Pa" scaled up something like 800%. Almost all of my stock is 3d printed but I'm working on getting my workshop back up to do more in wood and metal.

[ge_rik]

Looks like you're going to have a nice little railway there Drew, is the dude on page 4 3d printed too?

Thanks! Little is the operative word here. Yes, he's from Thingiverse: "Passengers for steam bus" by Slanjonok... This figure is "Pa" scaled up something like 800%. Almost all of my stock is 3d printed but I'm working on getting my workshop back up to do more in wood and metal.

That looks like an interesting set of files. I recognise some as originating from those cheap Chinese eBay figures but others look original.

Rik

[drewzero1]

That looks like an interesting set of files. I recognise some as originating from those cheap Chinese eBay figures but others look original.

Rik

Yes, this has been a very valuable resource for populating the Nolwyn Valley. I've also used a few on the yet-unrevealed "mini Nolwyn" in O-16.5, since the GVT open coach looked a bit lost without any passengers. I've been using the smaller scale for testing models and paint schemes that I'm not ready to commit to yet in 15/16mm

Thornas' driver posing with the smaller-scale coach. This one suffered a failure mid-print but I finished it anyway.

Screenshot_20231116-080832.jpg (305.29 KiB) Viewed 2960 times

Screenshot_20231116-080919.jpg (209.2 KiB) Viewed 2960 times

[philipy]

That colour scheme looks good on the GVT stock.
Thanks for the link to those figures, I've saved them for future reference.