Testing a 3D-printed Terrier on Wooden Track

Densha

I’ve been working on a printable Terrier to run on 0-gauge, Plarail and wooden railways. I am using the same mechanism that I used in my version of DrMopp’s Toby. At home I found that it runs well on OS-railway track and passably on Plarail except that some adjustment is needed for trailing points.

Yesterday I visited a very young grand-nephew and had a chance to try it on his track. Definitely toys, not collector’s items. The other plastic rolling stock are things I made for him for Christmas and birthdays.

The Ikea loco still works well but the Trackmaster Thomas does not run at all.

Perhaps this post belongs in the 3D printing thread but BWT was looking a bit lonely. Please forgive the background sounds. It was hard enough to marshal the trains and children without dealing with the adults making our dinner!

Super

Darn adults, they always ruin everything

I really like the looks of that steamer Densha, have more pictures of it?

DalaGStanator

Incredible work. I was just about to ask how you got the coupling rods to move realistically without binding, until I realised 3D printing makes it much easier to ensure the wheels are fully quartered. Surprised it doesn’t need more torque to handle it while also pulling a load (compared to the DrMopp Toby setup). Looking forward to any other locos you could come up with in this style.

Densha

Yes, 3D-printing does help with quartering. The con rod centres exactly match the wheelbase and the powered wheels fit flats on the motor shaft. However the front wheels still need to be manually set. The first two engines have the brass rod front axle in round holes in the frame so the wheels had to be quartered in situ. The next one I am working on has the axle in slots and kept in place by a plastic cover like a Plarail wagon. That way I can quarter the wheels on the bench and just drop them in place. Fortunately these engines had a multiple of four spokes (12) and my crank pin holes go right through the wheel. This helps to line things up.

Another way is to print the front wheels and axle in one piece but this can be messy.

I would prefer to have all wheels driven (0-4-0) so that it can pull long trains, even up Plarail slope rails. However I plan to try a 2-2-0 version with smaller independent front wheels for more reliable operation over Plarail trailing points. That version would only pull half the load.

Densha

Now I have three of them!

I have put them on Thingiverse ( https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7051340 ) if anyone else wants to have a go. The instructions are not brilliant so if you embark on this project please let me know.

Super

Wow, they look fantastic Densha 😃