I work alongside people who love model trains, whereas I prefer to work on boats. The only solution: Design a boat train! This is a concept of a diesel shunting locomotive that takes marine design cues. It's got a bow, a winch, lifeboat markings, clearview screens and vent pipes...all the things to make it look like it belongs in the ocean.
It's designed around a cheap chassis that I found on Aliexpress (labelled 80006, photo included). You can stick whatever you want under there, but it's intended to have three axles (hence the three side panels). The original side-skirts were done with photo-etching, but I have included printable ones here, the locomotive body will need a bit of trimming to make them fit. I've included the outlines anyway in case someone is feeling adventurous with a laser cutter or plotter.
Colour-wise, it's intended to be in orange to match the design of free-fall lifeboats, but since it's not even real, feel free to go wild.
It'll need a couple of brake hoses and hooks added for the full effect, but these are pretty widely available addons. I've also been reliably informed that the NEM coupler slots are at the correct height for Kadee Couplers.
This was printed on the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, and painted with Humbrol enamels. I don't really recommend using an FDM printer for this, but if you're feeling daring (or scaling it up!) I'd be keen to see the results.
Many thanks go to my colleague Mr. Dilz, whose input on things train-related helped this to look plausible, and also for his excellent work photographing it on his home train layout.
You should check out his work here, and also download and make some of it!
https://www.thingiverse.com/lebassin/designs
If you do make this locomotive, do please post a make or send me some photos - I'd love to see them!
| Buffer.stl | 1.5MB | |
| Chassis.stl | 39.2MB | |
| Clearview_Screen.stl | 171.1KB | |
| Exhaust_Pipe.stl | 1.6MB | |
| Headlamp.stl | 365.7KB | |
| Horn.stl | 729.2KB | |
| Railings_Windows_and_Skirts.dxf | 239.0KB | |
| Railing_Windows_and_Skirts.pdf | 24.8KB | |
| Skirt_L.stl | 484.8KB | |
| Skirt_R.stl | 478.2KB | |
| Vent_Tube.stl | 294.9KB | |
| Winch.stl | 2.2MB | |
| Winch_Table.stl | 111.3KB |
