Kadee Conversion - 3d printed pilots for MTH SD45

All my engines are up north. So they all get plows. Even the visitors!

I really like this one!  Definitely makes sense.  Most of my units would also get plows, so I'm with Joe here.  Possible to make mounting hole indentions on the inside of the pilot and provide a plow option for us northerners? 

Since all my diesels get fixed pilots, I cutoff the loop on the MTH trucks, especially on the SD45 it's a tight fit and I use the standard Kadee draft gear box and couplers. 

A couple other recommendations

SD40-2, MTH does not make this locomotive with scale wheels and a fixed pilot

SD70M-2/ACe , slightly different then your first SD9043MAC pilots

P42

Dash 8-40C and 40CW

 

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Do you ever plan to do one for a MTH U25

I've got lots of EMD GP and SD units that need solid pilots. I'm looking forward to seeing your results on this MTH SD45. I'm guessing the pilots for 38's, 40's and such will be very similar.

Also, have you ever considered printing in some of the metal materials they offer on Shapeways? That's what I was going to try with the test 3D pilots I've modeled.

Thanks for all you're doing for the 3RS side of the hobby, "Thor" We really appreciate it.

Mike DeBerg posted:

I really like this one!  Definitely makes sense.  Most of my units would also get plows, so I'm with Joe here.  Possible to make mounting hole indentions on the inside of the pilot and provide a plow option for us northerners? 

Since all my diesels get fixed pilots, I cutoff the loop on the MTH trucks, especially on the SD45 it's a tight fit and I use the standard Kadee draft gear box and couplers. 

A couple other recommendations

SD40-2, MTH does not make this locomotive with scale wheels and a fixed pilot

SD70M-2/ACe , slightly different then your first SD9043MAC pilots

P42

Dash 8-40C and 40CW

 

some of the newer MTH model pilots have holes already drilled and tapped that accept the side screws for mounting KDs. So like on my Genesis, all that was needed was a shim, and some mounting holes.

richtrow posted:

I've got lots of EMD GP and SD units that need solid pilots. I'm looking forward to seeing your results on this MTH SD45. I'm guessing the pilots for 38's, 40's and such will be very similar.

Also, have you ever considered printing in some of the metal materials they offer on Shapeways? That's what I was going to try with the test 3D pilots I've modeled.

Thanks for all you're doing for the 3RS side of the hobby, "Thor" We really appreciate it.

This is great and a needed improvement to some of the EMD style pilots on (slightly older) MTH models. They did improve the GE pilot details and I haven't seen that on some EMDs yet.

Joe, sure.  However, I really like the more to scale appearance of these pilots AND the extra details that are present.   For example, many of the MTH locomotives still have the older, thicker MU hoses and either no air hose or not well represented.   Also the MU hoses don't align to the holes in the snowplows very well, often you can only get 2 of the 3 MU hoses to line up without any modifications.

Yes Mike, That's what I was trying to say! 

Engineer-Joe posted:

All my engines are up north. So they all get plows. Even the visitors!

Mike DeBerg posted:

I really like this one!  Definitely makes sense.  Most of my units would also get plows, so I'm with Joe here.  Possible to make mounting hole indentions on the inside of the pilot and provide a plow option for us northerners? 

Noted. I'll see what I can do... 

MR-150 posted:

Do you ever plan to do one for a MTH U25

I can only do them for engines that I own, because I need to take detailed measurements of the chassis and body shell for everything to fit well. That one is not in my collection (yet...)

richtrow posted:

I've got lots of EMD GP and SD units that need solid pilots. I'm looking forward to seeing your results on this MTH SD45. I'm guessing the pilots for 38's, 40's and such will be very similar.

Also, have you ever considered printing in some of the metal materials they offer on Shapeways? That's what I was going to try with the test 3D pilots I've modeled.

Thanks for all you're doing for the 3RS side of the hobby, "Thor" We really appreciate it.

The sintered metals are cool, but don't have the resolution of the detail acrylic. For example, the steel has a minimum embossed feature size of 1.0 mm, vs. the acrylic at 0.1 mm.

 I poured some plastic pilots using various resins from Alumilite. They handle everything I throw at them and have never broke. So I expect the same from these. I won't know for sure until I get my hands on a set.

 I also use plastic KDs in both my G scale and O scale apps. They never break. I'd have to guess it's all in the quality of the plastics?

I got an all plastic G scale engine and a main air cable snapped off the second it touched something.

I'm really liking this one. Looks like you're going to be getting more money from me.

 

AGHRMatt posted:

I'm really liking this one. Looks like you're going to be getting more money from me.

 

Glad you like it, heh, but I don't put any markup on them. The cost is just what it takes for Shapeways to make them.

Just post pics when you're done.

 

Engineer-Joe posted:

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I rode in that unit for a day!

Boy! Did it rain!

Definitely agree about having to use the 743s. The SD24s have even less room to work with. MTH didn't even make a scale wheel version with fixed pilot. As for pilots the SD45 might work with the MTH SD40-2 and the GP40

I lost the link for these. I went to your page and didn't see them. Are they ready?

Hi Joe, I am still finalizing the design on these - working on adding an optional plow and hoses.

Will be a few weeks before the are ready.

Thank you!

If they have a remote chance of fitting a MTH GP38 I will jump in. Now if I can find someone that has a jig for handrails.

 

Here are some pics of the latest updates.

From the front:

With the optional plow and hose set. The hose retainers in the above pic will need to be removed to install the plow.

And from the rear:

I really like the additions and can't wait to test these out.  I have a WC SD45 and a BNSF SD45 ready for these immediately.   As I was thinking about these, one other idea came to mind is locating the full length handrail holes in the new pilots for the side and end railings.   Similar to having a locating hole on the backside, might be yet another helpful value add...

 

 

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http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr013.htm

I'm guessing that back when this was made, it had those steps sticking out from the pilot, that were outlawed? (something I heard).

Some of the roads that I see pictures of have the unused hose ends going into boxed steel on the bottom of the pilots where those steps would have been

(cut off?)

I'm just guessing but it appears that the pilots were modified and/or filled in differently? I see a more modern looking cut lever that is hinged at the outsides of the pilots.

Mike DeBerg posted:

I really like the additions and can't wait to test these out.  I have a WC SD45 and a BNSF SD45 ready for these immediately.   As I was thinking about these, one other idea came to mind is locating the full length handrail holes in the new pilots for the side and end railings.   Similar to having a locating hole on the backside, might be yet another helpful value add...

Hi Mike, there are 0.020" holes for locating the handrails:

Perfect, Although I think most end rails mount on the front side of the pilot?

Engineer-Joe posted:

I'm guessing that back when this was made, it had those steps sticking out from the pilot, that were outlawed? (something I heard).

Some of the roads that I see pictures of have the unused hose ends going into boxed steel on the bottom of the pilots where those steps would have been

(cut off?)

I'm just guessing but it appears that the pilots were modified and/or filled in differently? I see a more modern looking cut lever that is hinged at the outsides of the pilots.

Yeah, I saw a lot of variations in the pics I looked at. For example, here are a few with the step/pocket:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/628595

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/244196

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/100562

And then these without, which are representative of what I modeled the design after:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/618600

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/555456

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/413502

Mike DeBerg posted:

Perfect, Although I think most end rails mount on the front side of the pilot?

Yeah, I was just looking at that again, since you asked. Maybe I should reorient those holes so they go through the pilot front to rear, such that the handrail goes in with a 90 degree bend at the end. That might look a little better.

There may be clearance issues between the wire and the plow, as it it currently laid out, though. I will have to look at that.

Something along these lines, perhaps:

Looking good on the handrail mounting holes.

I’d love some for the MTH GP35 & GP40!

When can we order them from Shapeways?

Finalized the model and submitted it for print today! Will post details of fit check, etc. in a week or two.

thor73 posted:

Finalized the model and submitted it for print today! Will post details of fit check, etc. in a week or two.

Please provide links when you can!

Thanks!

I ordered the SD90MAC set and I really was waiting for this set too. I'm excited to see them in person. Thanks again for doing this for us!!

Well, you won't have to wait long, then! The parts for this one came in last week while I was out of town. I hope to fit check them this weekend, so I should be able to get them up on shapeways early next week.

Ok, got the fit check done this weekend, and it looks great. I made a couple minor tweaks to the model, but nothing that needs to be printed and checked again. This one is going to look really good on this model, I think.

Front and rear pilots on the body shell:

From the underside:

Coupler mounting boss needs to go away, even for the kadee 743:

Clearance between the pilot and the trucks is.... as intended. 

Stair details came out nice:

Shapeways pages are up for the complete set as well as the detail parts. Enjoy!

 

Fantastic!  Placed my order this morning!    I ordered an extra detail set as well to experiment with.

Plows available ?

Clem, Looked like he has a separate detail pack with the plow and the all the hoses and cut lever bars.  I did not see the plow separately.  

One thing I was thinking about which would be sweet is design some ditchlights both porch and pilot versions which accept SMD leds...

I ordered a set to see if they fit the GP35 and/or GP40s. They’re both non-powered Premier unit’s.

Hopefully they will!

(eventually they will get Lionel powered rear trucks, and perhaps cab interiors and full sound. Perhaps.)

thanks,

Mario