Trinkle Trains 5 Bay Ortner Cars - CSDU

Rick...It was good talking to you!  We look forward to your progress on these very nice cars.  I know right now you are making these only for yourself but if in the future you decide to make them available to others, OGR will be happy to help you in any marketing needs.

 

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Alan,

We had a great talk today and one that I believe to be productive for all on all accounts. You showed me that OGR offers a wide range of options in sponsorship. Options that I certainly will consider if this modeling endeavor turns into something different in the future. My current efforts are personal and developmental in nature only and should not be misconstrued as a business - Thanks for recalling my initial post statement that  "I am the only customer for my cars". -  Building these cars is somewhat monumental at times and I wonder why...especially 50 cars per train...but then I finish a portion of the build...I step back and I know why...this is what I want...this is my slice of the hobby! ...to produce that which isn't produced for me by the big manufacturers.  Thanks to the OGR forum I can share the build of my cars as they move toward complete coal trains for my Denver Division and eventual Colorado Joint Line Layout.

Thanks again Alan, and Thanks for the opportunities to share OGR! : )

Thanks for the compliment Frank...I'm only doing so well because I want the cars so bad! The mother of invention is necessity. 

Not cutting any corners....

Ok, actually....cutting a few hundred corners! : )

 

Soooo much snow in the Rockies...

Hitting the "Slopes" (Slope Sheets) in Colorado! : )

 

Two thumbs up Rick!

It's very cool to see your work in progress. I agree with Erik

Thanks Erik and Mike!

Sharing Early, Coarse, Test Track runs of the 3D printed ends.  Hardware and software have changed since these proposed ends were the norm.

These ARE NOT the prototype or the production ends...those are in works

separately.  Its amazing how far this has come in the last decade...heck the last 3 months!

Don't worry... the ends of these cars will be spot on in the "End".

: )

Today's Refinement Run of Newer "A End" in works through 3D Isometric views.

More prototypical "U" Channels, "L" angles, tighter dimensions for

grab iron adds, digital dimples for drill positioning, 4mm lip sized to end reporting marks...multiple brake housing platform positions, lovin it!  the list goes on...so does production! 

: )

Success! and a Weighty Issue...

 

The Last details were added to the bottom of the 25 Car CSDU Demo Set tonight.

The remaining panels get installed tomorrow.

 

Weight of the project (at the final 50 cars) may push me into Radial Roller bearing installations using my retooled lathe and arbor presses.

Lionel 3 bay die cast cars weigh in at 2.5 lbs.  These 5 bay cars (fully plated) will probably weigh in at 2.25 lbs.  2.25 X 50 cars = a 112.5 lb train without coal loads!

 

This train has the potential to push on the head end power (on my final layout) as it crests the hump of the Joint Line's slice of the Continental Divide at Palmer Lake!

 

Anyone know how to make O Scale Dynamic Breaks!?! LOL  : ) 

 

Left to Right...

Left and Right Exterior Slope Sheet End Panels.

: )

 

Final Panel Assembly on the cars going on tonight.

1st shots are of original cast sides and casting tints.

 

 

2nd shots are of clamped rollouts with nice painted steel panels.

 

 

Tomorrow will see new software/hardware drops on 3D BotFarm

Trial runs contingent on how bots take to the upgrades.

 

No matter what you want...If you want it? Build it Yourself in O Scale...this scale was made for the Kitbasher/Scratchbuilder!

: )

 

Rick Trinkle beautiful craftsmanship. what an amazing statement you posted "that if you want it build it yourself" terrific idea!!!!

Rick ---->stupendous work!!!

Thank you 69nickeycamaro and Erik!

: )

Been awhile since I've sent an update...3D printers are providing multiple challenges...

New main boards, new interface boards, new end stop sensors...and new wiring throughout have been keeping me busy.

On the bright side the CAD files are complete and ready for printing.

New hopeful print date is end of the month.

Photos of cars with new ends will then follow at that time.

 

Hard at Work....

 

 

Wire Tracing...Motherboard Upgrade Replacement...

 

 

 End Stop and Interface Board Wiring...Upgrade and Replacement...

 

Test Run of Gantry Assembly...Plate leveling and End Stop checkout.

Fun?  Yes some...not as much fun as working on the actual cars themselves...but a key enabler for Trinkle-Trains and the 2015 car run!

Uh Oh!

I see nothing !!!

 

I see'em. Doesn't look fun.

 

Nice to see you working again Rick!

Thanks, guys...like I said some fun....Been working constant on this over the last 2 months...just not posting as this is not the 3D printing users group but OGR! : )  But I did want to provide an update as too how "derailed" I am by this tech shift. : ) 

 

Meanwhile, the cars await their end pieces....

 

If you build them, they will be in demand. I could stand a set of at least 30 lettered JHMX for the coal cars that we pulled into Alabama Power's West Jefferson steam plant on the BNSF coming out of the Powder River basin. 

Good Day Rick,

 

In the future, will you be offering any of the 5 Bay Ortner Cars for sale? 2016?

 

Regards,

Frank

 

Frank and Nighttrain,

You guys....I will consider offering some kits sometime in the future...like you proposed Frank its years off...This effort right here and now could never be costed in time/materials to make it worth while for either the modeler (me) OR the intended receiver (you or anyone).  To repeat my discussions with OGR, in fairness to OGR's great offering of digital space here...this posted thread and any others I do are just great opportunities for me to share my personal modeling efforts to build exceptional cars. Once I've conquered 3D printing; expect to see more of this tech in my cars.   I'm equally excited for my next 25 car set of Autoflood IIs in BNSF Green and Tuscan Brown.  This cut of cars will be made with real aluminum sheet panels...just like the factory painted/sealed steel sheet panels on these Ortner cars. 

 

25 SDEX Ortner 5 Bays in SDEX (Swindell-Dressler) will be co-run at the same time (5 of them have already begun the production) requiring infrastructure upgrades to run 2 production car sets at the same time!  This all assuming I can tame the cost, schedule and performance beasts that haunt a production run...but I'm confident! : )

 

Meanwhile, Here's a proto shot of the original Colorado Springs Department of Utilities (CSDU) Ortner cars that have now been sold off to an east-coast run... JTSX are their new reporting marks...JTSX is one of the reporting marks for Joseph Transportation, formerly the The David J. Joseph Company. 

 

 

The original CSDU cars are my favorite former Craig Branch - Moffatt- Joint Line D&RGW train!  These cars served 2 Power Plants here in my Hometown of Colorado Springs:  The Martin Drake Plant downtown and the Ray Nixon Power Plant.  I built an N-Scale model of the Martin Drake facility when I was in N-Scale and it functioned!  A Whole 50 car train could be prototypically unloaded and the Smoke Stacks and Cooling towers worked (3 towers with 8 throttle able cooling fans each running through a baffle box attached to a DJ fog machine- It ruled!) I will get a few shots of it and post here.  It was purchased and is still on display at a local Model Train Hobby Shop here in the springs.

 

 

 

The Ray Nixon Power Plant is South of Colorado Springs co-located with the Fort Carson Army Post.  The Balloon Track, Load out, and Coal Train can be seen in the image below (if you squint). : )

 

 

 

An update on the Trinkle-Trains 5 Bay Ortner Coal Car Project.

A lot has happened this summer with Trinkle-Trains Ortner Coal Car advancements.

 

The Colorado Springs Department of Utilities (CSDU) Version (for D&RGW/SP/UP Trains)is getting its final metal panel tweaks and refinement runs are ongoing of 3D printed A & B car ends.

 

 

The Swindell-Dressler Corporation (SDEX) version (for BN/ATSF/BNSF Trains) core car bodies are all done, all pro-paint black steel panels have arrived, were cut and delivered to the machine shop under palletized load, which now enables our new bulk precision cutting process-(really pops out useable parts in a quick way). 

 

 

 

All cars are undergoing (100+ part process per the CSDU cars you've seen) under carriage detailing to ensure they are ready for their panels in a synchronized fashion (@ mid to late Aug).

 

 

I can't wait for the paint, decal, wx and finish portion of this project as that will feel a lot more like modeling vice researching, managing, and manufacturing.  : )

Will keep you updated of course!

Rick Trinkle  

 

 

 

 

Rick, Looking awesome!  Looking forward to a nice long CSDU train!   When do we place an order?

I also look forward to seeing this wonderful train of amazement run!!

They look great.