Bolsters

[SteveG]

Does anyone know where I could find drawings of the various pre-SUF bolsters used by the C&S? I'm particularly interested in the double-plate bolsters used in the St Charles cars and the older inherited equipment, as well as the later ASF and BAC cast bolsters for the wood-framed cars.  I'm looking to do some CAD models for 3-D printing, and the drawings I've seen in the Narrow Gauge Pictorial  Vol VIII  back matter and the Harry Brunk drawing of the C&S coal cars are as good as I've found so far, but they leave a lot to the imagination.

Thanks for any pointers to a source for this info!

Steve Guty

[Al Pomeroy]

Steve,
There were drawings of both by Derrell in the Outdoor modeler Magazine a few years back in Feb/March 1995. I only have photo copies myself. the plate bolster I believe is identical to D&RGW ones, the B.AC. one is unlike anything else. As I work in 1:20.3 I was able to get an un cataloged copy from Bob Hartford of the BAC one for my needs, but when they run out I will 3d print myself.

Al P.

[SteveG]

Great, thanks! I'll start looking for a copy of that issue--not seeing one currently on eBay, but I'm sure one will surface, and I even have a vague recollection that I have some old copies of that magazine buried somewhere in my magazine pile.
Thanks for the speedy and helpful reply!

Steve Guty

[Al Pomeroy]

Steve, what scale are you working in?

[SteveG]

Hi Al.
I'm working in HOn3, but the beauty of 3-D printing is that you can scale up or down a solid model pretty easily in the prep software, at least for smaller parts--there'd be an issue with inappropriate wall thicknesses on larger things like car bodies, but it shouldn't be a problem on something the size of a bolster between, say, On3, Sn3, or HOn3.
BTW, I did find a set of 1995 Outdoor Railroader back issues on eBay.
Steve

[Al Pomeroy]

Steve,
Glad you were able to find those issues. as far as 3d cad I know all the in's and outs as I worked with solid works professionally for many years and still have versions up to 2016, as well as one of the most state of the art SLA desktop printers here A Formlabs form 2 machine. much better quality than shape ways by a mile.

Al P.

[SteveG]

Very cool! I'm working with TurboCAD, have access to a FormLab 1+, as well as some laser cutters, at the maker garage at work, and am just setting up a Wanhao Duplicator 7 at home.

[SteveG]

Just a quick update, first attempt at a solid model of an ASF bolster based on the two photos in the article and probable similarities to the later Betttendorf castings which were friendlier to 9" sills:

Haven't added truss rod supports, or bolt holes in the side sill pads, just trying to get the basic geometry right first.

[Mike McKenzie]

Okay, so this is SUF related, but it is about 3d. This is a model of the underframe of D&RGW cable and tie car 07407 built from C&S 7104/RGS 7407 stock car after it was wrecked on Marshall Pass. The model has the side and end sills that it had as 07407. Technically the 3d model is of the Grandt Line SUF for a stalled On3 project, however I plan to build the car in Sn3 using a PBL stock car SUF as a base. 3d software used is Carrara Pro 8.5, which will probably never see a new version. I may have to switch to another 3d package someday.




Mike

[Mike Trent]

Thanks, Mike.

Among various things I picked up along the way as I have been filling out the bones of a sparse roster of C&S rolling stock is an SUF boxcar hybrid which consists of a Grandt underframe under, believe it or not, a San Juan type 2 body.

I have two Grandt underframes and two San Juan bodys, and your 3D drawing is inspiring me to get those to boxcars out and finish them.

First, I want to finish a type 2 Cinder Car.

It's time for another installment of "What's on YOUR workbench" now that we are coming out of the Dog Days of Summer.    

[snapped_bolt]

   SUF.... how about a version with stake pockets on those transverse beams? Gotta be a way to do those...


     Cheers

        Stan

[SteveG]

Still having issues with an inexpensive (yes, you only get what you pay for) SLA 3D printer, but did have a friend do a couple crude proof-of-concept filament prints.

The ASF bolstered frame with 12" sidesills:



and the early version of the B3C tender body (to replace late and intermediate version on a couple moguls I have:



I figured I'd want to see them in concrete (more properly, plastic) form before adding further detail like the queenposts, bolts, rivets, and so on.

Steve Guty
Lakeway, TX