Roundhouse 0-6-0 vs DCC/Sound

[sailormatlac]

I started modelling the tender. After four hours, I've done the generic main tender shell plus detailled version of water hatch and coal bunker extension. I need to add a plate to the bunker extension bracing attaching it to the deck.

So far, it's going quite fine, no more different than scratchbuilding. I decided to draw everything at 1/87 to take in account every dimensionnal limitation of 3D printing. 0.2mm (0.008") tolerance for small details is quite enough for this purpose. I feel like drawing the tender real size would have been a technical error. I prefer to adapt the model right now than afterward. I'm following Lynn Wescott old articles about steam locomotive. It's better to understand what you make.

Here's a quick snapshot of the overall progress.



I had a lot of fun making the water hatch. I'll try to make the most detail possible to save on brass casting.



Rivets location was set by overlaping a rectified picture of the prototype. Makes life easier! And cost less than Archer's rivets. ;-)

I'm actually thinking about entirely replacing the Bachmann shell (boiler and cab) with a new one that would fit the drive. It may sound crazy, but I feel like I would have more control over the finish product. The Bachmann USRA shell would need a lots of brass casting and splicing too. Cost wise, it's better to design everything from scratch and save on brass as much as possible.

Matt