With the price of track being what it is, and cost of materials, and so forth, I have decided it is in my best interest to change scales to something smaller. The whole battery vs. track-power debate is getting me down too. I think I’m going to settle for wooden track, and elbow grease to run trains.
Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if there were a prototypical example of what you’re considering.
There is always this kind of prototype - logging shay railroad wooden rails (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
I like the couplers (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Yea, the couplers are attractive.
That’s really cool Burl! I’m betting that your kid wanted a train like “Daddy”… Cast resin? Reminds me of a blog post about a HO modeler that built a Brio layout with his kids to test out his operational scheme for the HO railroad in progress. In doing so, he discovered quite a few changes that needed to take place prior to laying track on the HO layout.
Craig: yes. He’s a train nut… almost to the point of burning me out on trains. Every time he comes in my office, he points to the corn syrup tank car on my shelf and says “trains!”. Since he’s got some Thomas stuff, I thought I’d try scaling down my drawings and 3d printing them. I ordered the patterns in alumide (since it has a gritty texture, I’m hoping it will hold paint well) and I cast them in resin. This is going to be one of his Christmas presents. I was trying to keep it a surprise, even to my wife, but she noticed the track on my desk today after I took these photos, so she knows I’m up to something. I can’t hide anything from the woman, but I wouldn’t tell her what I was doing with it. She (hopefully) doesn’t know about this forum, so maybe it will still be a surprise.
That’s a one of a kind gift! My toddler is just getting into wooden toys, and when we go over to Grandma’s he likes to play with the Brio’s… I’m sure you’re little guy will treasure this for a long time!
Ya gotta trade out those plastic wheels for wood ones!
Two thumbs up Burl !! That is very cool. You do some nice work.
Really neat project, and I’m impressed that you did that with 3D printing. I’m doing a lot of that myself these days!
I am sure you have seen these,
http://www.shop.woodentrain.com/CSX-Diesel-Engine-100074.ht
not enough detail?
JKS
Burl you never fail to amaze. But I am with John gotta do the wood wheels. But very very cool.
I take it your son is Eli?
Double post
Why do you guys think the wooden wheels are better? I had a devil of a time finding the plastic ones. So much so, I thought about having my own made in brass.
Because the old wooden track cars with the magnets had wood wheels at least mine did
I like the wooden ones better because the tread was rounded and ran in the round grooves better. Of course I’m thinking the grooves haven’t changed.
6 years ago I was setting up the tracks for the family’s tykes.
John
I’ve noticed a difference between the wood wheels of the old Biro and the plastic of the new Biro… The old certainly feels like it has less resistance… For what it’s worth…
