malc-c
Member
- Joined
- 1 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 990
Hi Chaps,
I thought now would be a good time to mention my involvement in a project that started almost ten years ago.
A few moths ago a good friend messaged me asking if I had any CAD experience, mainly as he knew I've designed 4 layer PCBs for an electronics project. Having explained I've not used a CAD application before, he laid his cards on the table and asked if I could help him out. It seems that a decade ago he and a friend, in conjunction with the N Gauge Forum, started a project to model the Cowans Sheldon 75 ton crane, with his friend doing the CAD work as that was what he did as a day job. However he retired a few months back and gave up doing CAD both professionally and as part of the hobby. By this time the crane was 95% complete, but the remaining 5% was critical to turning the lumps of material into a rolling crane. Hence why my friend turned to me in a bid to at least try and complete the model and make it available to all those who have expressed an interest over on the N Gauge Forum.
First task was to download and install FreeCAD. First impression was panic... the learning curve was going to be steep! - Then we stumbled on another issue. For personal reasons we couldn't get hold of the original FreeCAD files, but the parts were available as STL files. So I had to learn how to convert an STL into a range of solid components, which could then be modified. Anyway, over the course of the following weeks the small tweaks to the model were made (such as modifying the frames of all wagons to accept brass bearings), and my friend sent the files off to have a couple of test prints made.
A week or so later I received a parcel in the post. Inside there was a complete set of parts for me to assemble, including 10 metal wheel sets, and a nice etch fret with some fine detailed parts. Now up to this point my model making had been a few Airfix kits I made up as a kid some 50 years ago, and more recently, a few box van kits from the N Gauge Society, both of which came with instructions. Not to be put off I started with one of the match trucks as it was the simplest to assemble. Brass wheel bearings were glued in place, and the two halves pushed together, made simple by the design which employs a dowel and pocket arrangement.
Eventually I had a model that was 99% complete. A few areas were highlighted that needed a final tweak, which halted taking the model further, and the CAD was altered to do the final draft of the design. I didn't have any fine thread so had to use what I had available, and I wasn't really happy with this, but it would do for now.
RailTec had been drafted in to produce the transfers at an early stage in the project, however I discovered a small oversight which we are hoping will be resolved in a few weeks, so the transfers will be available for any version of the crane, be that the steam powered or diesel. However this didn't prevent me form giving the crane a test run on my layout (which hadn't seen a train run on it for several months !). The crane was extremely free running, and negotiated the tight curves and points with ease.
It had been decided form the onset that this was never going to be offered as a complete kit. The printed 3D parts would be available in two mediums, with the higher definitions option available through 3DR Designs on Shapeways. The more robust version and the etch fret would be available from my friend, but anyone wanting one of these excellent models will still need to source the transfers form RailTec and the metal wheel sets themselves. No details of pricing yet, but we hope to have that available once we've confirmed the last test build all goes together, and the updated transfers are ready. I'll update this thread as I know more
I thought now would be a good time to mention my involvement in a project that started almost ten years ago.
A few moths ago a good friend messaged me asking if I had any CAD experience, mainly as he knew I've designed 4 layer PCBs for an electronics project. Having explained I've not used a CAD application before, he laid his cards on the table and asked if I could help him out. It seems that a decade ago he and a friend, in conjunction with the N Gauge Forum, started a project to model the Cowans Sheldon 75 ton crane, with his friend doing the CAD work as that was what he did as a day job. However he retired a few months back and gave up doing CAD both professionally and as part of the hobby. By this time the crane was 95% complete, but the remaining 5% was critical to turning the lumps of material into a rolling crane. Hence why my friend turned to me in a bid to at least try and complete the model and make it available to all those who have expressed an interest over on the N Gauge Forum.
First task was to download and install FreeCAD. First impression was panic... the learning curve was going to be steep! - Then we stumbled on another issue. For personal reasons we couldn't get hold of the original FreeCAD files, but the parts were available as STL files. So I had to learn how to convert an STL into a range of solid components, which could then be modified. Anyway, over the course of the following weeks the small tweaks to the model were made (such as modifying the frames of all wagons to accept brass bearings), and my friend sent the files off to have a couple of test prints made.
A week or so later I received a parcel in the post. Inside there was a complete set of parts for me to assemble, including 10 metal wheel sets, and a nice etch fret with some fine detailed parts. Now up to this point my model making had been a few Airfix kits I made up as a kid some 50 years ago, and more recently, a few box van kits from the N Gauge Society, both of which came with instructions. Not to be put off I started with one of the match trucks as it was the simplest to assemble. Brass wheel bearings were glued in place, and the two halves pushed together, made simple by the design which employs a dowel and pocket arrangement.
Eventually I had a model that was 99% complete. A few areas were highlighted that needed a final tweak, which halted taking the model further, and the CAD was altered to do the final draft of the design. I didn't have any fine thread so had to use what I had available, and I wasn't really happy with this, but it would do for now.
RailTec had been drafted in to produce the transfers at an early stage in the project, however I discovered a small oversight which we are hoping will be resolved in a few weeks, so the transfers will be available for any version of the crane, be that the steam powered or diesel. However this didn't prevent me form giving the crane a test run on my layout (which hadn't seen a train run on it for several months !). The crane was extremely free running, and negotiated the tight curves and points with ease.
It had been decided form the onset that this was never going to be offered as a complete kit. The printed 3D parts would be available in two mediums, with the higher definitions option available through 3DR Designs on Shapeways. The more robust version and the etch fret would be available from my friend, but anyone wanting one of these excellent models will still need to source the transfers form RailTec and the metal wheel sets themselves. No details of pricing yet, but we hope to have that available once we've confirmed the last test build all goes together, and the updated transfers are ready. I'll update this thread as I know more
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