Interlocking

My first major project in 3D modelling with an end goal of printing has been to model up the SECR / SR van to diagram 1427, from the Southern Wagons Vol. 4 book

Compromises are required for anything other than dead-scale, and a way I have managed this with my SR Dia 1427 van is to create a set of dummy wheels with a silhouette profile and correct over-face and B2B measurements – this helps ensure that cutouts in the frame are in the correct place, and the brake shoes won’t end up rubbing.

There is a need to transition from a pure representation of a prototype to something that can be manufactured (i.e. printed), and here is what the chassis of my SR Dia. 1427 van looks like:

The body of the van is substantially complete, shown here in brown primer:

One of the more difficult components was the brake lever, since it bends and twists in all three axis, but with an extrude and intersect I got it working. Each side of the braking system is a single piece, including the brake handle and guide – the W-iron and rod hangers are attached to a plate which is inserted up into the recess of the floor.

Time will tell if this is a sensible choice or not! The completed model is shown here in a render:

The finished model is shown below (I’ve just noticed bottom of the roof has sheared off!)