Couplers in 1:29

[Burl Rice]

I have been lurking for a little while, and finally have something to post.

I am developing a 1:29 scale AAR type-E coupler & draft gear assembly.

I design in Sketchup, and have my patterns printed in acrylic (Frosted Ultra Detail) at Shapeways. From these, I make a rubber mold, and inject casting wax:

These get sent to a foundry, where they are turned into brass parts by the investment casting process. When I get them back (after I clean them up), they look like this:

The centersill is made from photoetched brass:

After silver soldering, and chemical blackening, the look like this:

 

[beavercreek]

Damn fine those.... a work of art.

 

[royale]

Wow! Excellent.

 

[Burl Rice]

I have decided to rework my trip pin, and see if I can make it operable. My first revision required the pin to be manually pushed up from beneath. If this revision succeeds, it will be operable by a cut lever.

Here's a 3d rendering:

And here are the patterns ready for molding:

 

[Burl Rice]

I got distracted last week with some unexpected dental work, but have gotten back to wax casting. Here's the latest batch about to be sent off to the foundry:

 

[tac foley]

Beautiful work, Burl - a genuine pleasure to see.

Good luck with sales.

BTW, do you post on sister forum largescalecentral.com as a few here do - me and Greg included?

tac
OVGRS
POCRR
G1MRA

 

[Burl Rice]

Thank you, and yes, I post there... about as sporadically as I do here.