US NAVY HELIUM CAR

Interesting and interested as well.  How much of the end details do you think you will be able to capture?

Underbody on these cars was specialized - that sort of a double AB brake system due to weight considerations - so a "regular" car base might not be correct.

In any case, most interested.

That sure looks better than my scratch/kit-built one:

I have absolutely no idea of its provenance as it was gotten for me at an unremembered train show, but for the ten dollar asking price, I was not quibling about the "small stuff"

I, too, may have an interest in one.

I've got 3 very short flat cars that I've always wanted to turn into truncated helium cars so like MWB I'm interested to see what you come up with Alan.

Add me to the interested list.  You may be on to something.

Alan:

With all the interest in your He car project, any that you build for sale will quickly float away off your workbench to their new homes !!!

🎈

If you make extras, I’d take a couple.

joe

this will need to be printed in two pieces, for the full size model.

So if you can give me dimension of the short flat cars I can build them for you.

I'm using the Hawk Model Co.  U.S.N. Helium Car drawings at 1/4" scale as a basis for the model.

Hawk was and is a now defunct Chicago Company that made a Helium Car wood kit. I have the kit.

Alan

this is the scale drawing from Hawk

I was wondering if Dave's was the Hawk version when I saw it!

@AlanRail posted:

this is the scale drawing from Hawk

Looks very familiar - was one on eBay not that long ago.  I'd wager that the Pecos brass one is wee bit more accurate.

Might have the end ladder flipped in your CAD drawing?

In any case, the brass model is very heavy so a 3D printed one would be most welcome!

Id be interested in one of these at well.  I've been looking for one for a while but rarely see them and then when they do pop up they go for way more money than reasonable.  let me know if you are interested in making another!

Bill

I noticed the needed flip.

Still a work in progress

Will these He cars need extra weights to keep them firmly of the rails ???

😆🎈

using this much resin should be heavy enough,,  but i wont know for sure until printed and assembled. 

before I start any of my models I do a lot of research.  I look at existing models usually in brass and any photos of actual cars or engines.

There are several models, and each is a bit different. But I found a copy of the drawings for the Hawk and Ambroid model kits that provide dimensions. There were several 0-scale models on the Bay so I am using photos of those as well.

After all that, I like the basic Ambroid version and will modify the design to reflect the other researched drawings and photos.

this version has nice double end doors on the left end and a man-door on the right end.

It shows an open framework for the bottom with the braking system as threaded above.

This is fairly easy model to design and print.

@AlanRail posted:

After all that, I like the basic Ambroid version and will modify the design to reflect the other researched drawings and photos.

this version has nice double end doors on the left end and a man-door on the right end.

It shows an open framework for the bottom with the braking system as threaded above.

Yes, I agree - the basic Ambroid version is workable.  It's the one that I was looking at a few years ago.

This is fairly easy model to design and print.

That's good to know!

This is amazing @AlanRail ! I am very interested in one of these cars. If you plan to sell some when your design is all done, please let me know.

Or, if you feel so inclined to share a .stl file when completed, I would love to be able to print my own (however, it might be a while as I am currently trying to rebuild my printer...)


Bryce

HERE IS THE REVISED(in progress) version based more on the Ambroid model but my other research as well

the under carriage is revised from the initial model above; the doors "may" open depends on the print.

the DUAL braking system piping and linkages will be there, Not sure if I can make the tanks removable but I can make a rack for them to sit separately as an additional item,

i appreciate the interest. Not sure WHY I have always found this model to be neat!