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HO Scale 3D Printed Kits Available - Great Northern GS Gondolas 75500 Series

Corey Bonsall
 

Finally have the kits finished!  The Great Northern Railway Historical Society approached me some time ago about some modifications to the HO Scale 40ft GS Gondolas I had been making, and these are the end results.
Early (as built in 1937) and Late (1952 rebuilt) body variants, each with the option:

  • Hi Fidelity - wire grab drill points and no brake components
  • Fleet Builder - solid grab irons and printed brake gear components

Kits include:

  • 3D printed body
  • Lead sill weight
  • Tichy #3045 stirrup steps
  • Styrene couple pocket covers (pockets sized for Kadee Whisker Couplers)
  • 2-56 screws for couplers and truck bolsters.
  • Fleet Builder kits include Kadee Ajax brakewheels
  • Instruction Sheet

Modeler will provide:

  • Truckframes (cast or "Bettendorf" style with spring planks)
  • Wheelsets
  • Paint
  • Grab Irons (Only for Hi Fidelity - sized for Tichy 18")
  • Decals (Tichy #10472 for As-Built, #10471 for Rebuilt, or GNRHS is working to provide another option)
  • Brake Details (Only for Hi-Fidelity - has only underbody brake mounts)
  • Couplers

The folks over at the GNRHS recommended these references for the instructions:
 
  •      GNRHS Reference Sheet 364, Dec 2010, GN General Service Gondolas, Staffan Ehnbom
  •      www.gn-npjointarchive.org for Cordell Newby & George Werkema files
  •      Great Northern Equipment Color Pictorial, Book Two – Freight Cars, Scott Thompson

Single kits for $37.50 / Double Kits for $70 + shipping

Contact me (coreybonsall@...) with the number of kits desired, early or late variant, Hi Fidelity or Fleet Builder option, and ZIP code for a Paypal invoice, once ready to ship.

Or check out https://www.ebay.com/usr/bonsallscalecarshops to buy through Ebay

GN 75500 Early FleetBuilder Notes.JPG

GN 75500 Late FleetBuilder Notes.JPG

GN 75500 Early FleetBuilder Kit.jpg

Gn 75500 Late HiFi Kit.jpg

GN 75500 FleetBuilder Bottom.jpg

GN 75500 HiFi Body Bottom.jpg

GN 75500 FleetBuilder EarlyLate Ends.jpg

GN 75500 HiFi EarlyLate Ends.jpg

Jeff Helm
 

I just received my kits yesterday, one each of the early and late hi-fidelity versions, and I am very pleased with the initial look of the printed parts.  These are my first 3D printed freight cars, and I would compare the bodies favorably with the better resin castings.

Corey has done us a great service bringing out some less common but signature GN gondolas that have never been offered before in any form.
--
Cheers

Jeff Helm
The Olympic Peninsula Branch
https://olympicpeninsulabranch.blogspot.com/
Brian Stokes
 

I love how tech is creating innovations like this! 

Any chance of an N scale version?

Brian

--
Brian Stokes
North Point Street in Proto:48
Brad Andonian
 

Corey,

I do not see a full email address to reach you.   I would like to get a pair of the peaked end kits.

thanks,
brad andonian 
Dave Wetterstroem
 

3d printing is a whole new world. If something isn't available and you are willing to learn to design, you can have it and then share it with friends that share your interest. 
I really like the term fleet builder for those that want a 2 evening project to get a bunch of cars done vs those that want to have a highly detailed version that might take a week to finish. 

Well Done

 

Dave
Tim O'Connor
 


3-D sure is ! With moon rockets (and other industrial items) now being 3-D printed (!!!) one wonders if
printed HO scale steam locomotives will soon be possible. :-)

On 3/25/2023 11:11 AM, Dave Wetterstroem wrote:

3d printing is a whole new world. If something isn't available and you are willing to learn to design, you can have it and then share it with friends that share your interest. 
I really like the term fleet builder for those that want a 2 evening project to get a bunch of cars done vs those that want to have a highly detailed version that might take a week to finish. 

Well Done

Dave


--
Tim O'Connor
Sterling, Massachusetts
Dave Wetterstroem
 

Tim, it is already being done. Dan Shepard from Australia has been working on a C&O H7 2-8-8-2. It is on par to the latest brass models. He is doing it as a labor of love because I am sure he has more hours at $1 an hour than what it would cost to purchase a top of the line brass one. I have also seen several N-scale shells for converting existing movements to other prototypes. Another gentleman has done an On3 shay for the Mann's Creek Railway. The resolution on the latest round of printers now allows for prints that are on par with injection molded parts. 

Dave
Bruce Smith
 

I'll add some additional 3D printed steam locos. Apogee Locomotive Works offers a variety of 3D printed locomotive shells including a Panama Canal 0-6-0 and several flavors of fireless engines.

Regards,
Bruce
Bruce Smith
Auburn, AL

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Dave Wetterstroem <framemakers@...>
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2023 10:53 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
Subject: [EXT] Re: [RealSTMFC] HO Scale 3D Printed Kits Available - Great Northern GS Gondolas 75500 Series
 
CAUTION: Email Originated Outside of Auburn.

Tim, it is already being done. Dan Shepard from Australia has been working on a C&O H7 2-8-8-2. It is on par to the latest brass models. He is doing it as a labor of love because I am sure he has more hours at $1 an hour than what it would cost to purchase a top of the line brass one. I have also seen several N-scale shells for converting existing movements to other prototypes. Another gentleman has done an On3 shay for the Mann's Creek Railway. The resolution on the latest round of printers now allows for prints that are on par with injection molded parts. 

Dave
Tim O'Connor
 


A few years ago Jason (Owl Mountain) had his 3-D printed 'alligator' cylinder guides (or whatever
they are called) for his SP 2-8-0 on display at the RPM in St Louis -- they were made in shiny metal
and looked as good as any I've ever seen on a brass model. I wonder what the manufacturer's print
cost would be to make a whole locomotive body (not counting all the R&D investment).

On 3/25/2023 11:53 AM, Dave Wetterstroem wrote:

Tim, it is already being done. Dan Shepard from Australia has been working on a C&O H7 2-8-8-2. It is on par to the latest brass models. He is doing it as a labor of love because I am sure he has more hours at $1 an hour than what it would cost to purchase a top of the line brass one. I have also seen several N-scale shells for converting existing movements to other prototypes. Another gentleman has done an On3 shay for the Mann's Creek Railway. The resolution on the latest round of printers now allows for prints that are on par with injection molded parts. 

Dave


--
Tim O'Connor
Sterling, Massachusetts
Schuyler Larrabee
 

Checked the ORIGINAL eBay listing, which showed the instruction sheet open, and revealed the address:

coreybonsall@...

 

“Fleet building” might be attractive in savings of time, but at $42.50 per each . . .

 

Schuyler

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Brad Andonian
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2023 10:41 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] HO Scale 3D Printed Kits Available - Great Northern GS Gondolas 75500 Series

 

Corey,

I do not see a full email address to reach you.   I would like to get a pair of the peaked end kits.

thanks,
brad andonian 

Tony Thompson
 

Schuyler Larrabee wrote:

Checked the ORIGINAL eBay listing, which showed the instruction sheet open, and revealed the address:
 
“Fleet building” might be attractive in savings of time, but at $42.50 per each . . .

Checked the price of such cars in brass lately, Schuyler?

Tony Thompson
Schuyler Larrabee
 

Point taken, Tony, even Rapido cars that one would want in large multiples . . .

 

Schuyler

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Tony Thompson
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2023 5:01 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] HO Scale 3D Printed Kits Available - Great Northern GS Gondolas 75500 Series

 

Schuyler Larrabee wrote:

 

Checked the ORIGINAL eBay listing, which showed the instruction sheet open, and revealed the address:

 

“Fleet building” might be attractive in savings of time, but at $42.50 per each . . .

 

Checked the price of such cars in brass lately, Schuyler?

 

Tony Thompson

 

 



 

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