21 Nov UPDATE: TrinkleTrains 5 Bay Ortners on Test Train in Colorado!

Rick, looking good! 

Dan Weinhold

Looking Good!

Awesome!

Thanks for the kind words guys!! These cars are going to be painted in the CSDU "Colorado Springs Department of Utilities" Lightning Bolt scheme. Then a batch in SDEX "Swindell Dressler" and finally some Mineral brown ATSF Santa Fe cars! Thank you for sharing your thoughts as we go along modeling together guys!

Fantastic Rick! 

Great looking cars Rick, you have created a model that has been the standard for rail coal transportation since the 1970s. There were thousands of these cars in the coal fields of Wyoming that traveled across the United States. While they carried different reporting marks for various companies I'm looking forward to seeing your finished and lettered models. Keep up the great work, Best Regards: Gene 

I liked the pipe train in the videos. great stuff. Roo.

Thanks Nighttrain!

You really can't realize the size and scale impact of these 5 bay Ortners until you have then in a train before you!  These were the last of the large steel fleets, the battleships of the rails, if you will, in their time...can't wait to get some paint and graphics on them with custom decals!  I will share as I go!

Rick Trinkle

Roo posted:

I liked the pipe train in the videos. great stuff. Roo.

Roo,

Those are plastic tubes cut to length, painted, wrapped with twine and simulated clamps added.  I hold the loads down with 3M putty.  Cars are Atlas O straight outta the box. Not hard at all.

Rick

I wish that Joint Line forum was on here... didn't that venue get hacked?

Great looking coal cars! 

jpv in France

Those look awesome! Who made the test car? 

jpv69 posted:

Great looking coal cars! 

jpv in France

Thank you jpv!

jpv69 posted:

Great looking coal cars! 

jpv in France

Thank you jpv, ebbert, erik!

Nighttrain posted:

Great looking cars Rick, you have created a model that has been the standard for rail coal transportation since the 1970s. There were thousands of these cars in the coal fields of Wyoming that traveled across the United States. While they carried different reporting marks for various companies I'm looking forward to seeing your finished and lettered models. Keep up the great work, Best Regards: Gene 

Thank you Gene! You are so right!  These cars set the scale standard on my layout now for unit coal drags...they really convey the weight and volume of modern coal hoppers.  At almost a foot in actual length, they build into a long realistic coal train fast!  I'm enjoying them.

colorado hirailer posted:

I wish that Joint Line forum was on here... didn't that venue get hacked?

There is a Facebook group: Colorado Joint Line Modelers that's active.

Latest TrinkleTrains moves in making the 5 Bay Ortner Coal Cars: 

Decals for CSDU Rio Grande, SP, UP customer, Colorado Springs Department of Utilities.. SDEX Rio Grande, BN, BNSF customer, Swindell-Dressler and ATSF Santa Fe NEXT! 

Detail parts builds and downselects. 

Evolution of an end cage sill.  3D print prototype (green), coarse dimensional build scratched, better scaled and realistic shape, and final.

Evolution of the Ortner signature Dump Tank: Lead casting with clear tubing...getting feel/scale, 3D Print from Ortner plans, some unravel, heavy brass bash/scratch tubed from same plans...happiness!

Slope sheets, vaiants in works per plans/proto photos.  Some cars had guide fluting, some did not, others had different panels counts/ configurations.  Test metal slope sheet in black.

WABCO brake resevoir, early study piece, 3D printed proto, brass final with Ortner mounting bracket.

Tanks for the memories...early study pieces, build attempts.

Eatly brake actuator...Actual actuator in white...combo 3D print/scratch.

Final test fits with actual end cage assemblies!

Masters take time to make but kits build themselves! (They're Fun!)

Accurate and fine work for all these detail parts! 

For the 3D parts: do you make them from resine, PLA, ABS?

jpv in France

Thanks Jpv!

The 3D parts are all made with ABS for durability.  I will be changing over to PLA in the new year for workability though.  ABS requires alot of specific working parameters (heat bed, sticking issues. curling, layer adhesion, post processing etc,) that PLA does not.

you set the state of the art higher for me with every post, Rick. I look forward to your projects. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks, Rick, for your answer!

jpv in France

Nice Rick,  so good to see you continuing to work on your trains 

Its been continuous production Erik!

See you and the guys on Dec 8th!

Rick, Just continued incredible work!  Will be some awesome cars and sweet train when complete!   Looking to jump in on the AF II, AFIII and RD4 cars as you progress.  Are you taking any orders yet?

Nice Rick, real nice! 

Thank you for the kind words Erik and Mike!   Mike please see the Colorado Joint Line Modeler's group on FB for more info on my projects, or call me anytime to discuss O Scale: 1-719-465-4354.