Rapid Transit Holmes posted:Once, again, I've proven that I'm not very bright or perceptive. Exhaustive, exhausting web searches finally revealed a Lionel foursome of UP equipment which included a "blunt end obs"! This set (plus 2 add-on cars) was advertised in Lionel's 2015, Volume 2 catalog right above the MILW cars that I drooled over and now own. The catalog artwork is so poor that you'd never guess that the last car was an obs, unless you had foreknowledge. Lionel is now in HOT WATER with a number of OGRers thanks to their apparent "misrepresentation" of the feedwater system on their UP 838. You couldn't prove it by me but it is another example of the need for clarity and accuracy.
Thanks to a subsequent lack of judgement, I now own those six cars and have a cast plastic blunt obs end which I'd like to have copied:
Since 3D Printing is far beyond me and, based on other comments (above), very expensive, I am studying the feasibility of having copies cast in aluminum. I know that sand castings can be very fine and there are a number of outfits that advertise their services on the web. I'll start working the phones this week, however, I am wondering if any of you have had any experience in this area and can offer advice in this regard?
I'm also wondering if there are standard versions of Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Grey that are guaranteed to match Lionel rolling stock?
Holmes, We’re you able the make a 3D copy or cast of this Union Pacific flat end piece?
