Etched handrails for Intermountain locos

[RAILCAT]

Is there an etched fret of handrails for the Intermountain very fragile/brittle
ones.

N scale SD40-2W
N scale SD45T-2
N scale SD40T-2

I am aware of the parts from Gold Medal Models but nothing is a direct one piece etching.

[craigolio1]

I'm not aware of any but if you get enough people together it would make a custom run possible.  I'd get two for the SD40-2w.

Craig

[Scottl]

Ed and Gary were working on this for some Kato units.  I'm quite willing to take on the artwork for etching if I could get the dimensions.  My interests would be a variety of modern units from Kato, FVM, IM and Atlas.  They are all variants of the same idea, so once one is done, the others should not be too bad.  I'm happy to share the artwork with interested folk.

[Denver Road Doug]

I'd be in for one or two SD40-2W's and probably two to four SD40-2's.   Depends on how good the SD40-2's turn out.

[Catt]

I have some ATLAS GEs I'd like to get etched rails for. Plus a set for a Canadian Dash-9 with the Canadian cab.

[ryan_wilkerson]

I'd like to try any of those mentioned, if someone takes on the project. The IM handrails on their SD units would all benefit.

[bobdobbs]

IM should order a few thousand and distribute to all us buyers of their glasslike delicate ones....

[RAILCAT]

Ed and Gary were working on this for some Kato units.  I'm quite willing to take on the artwork for etching if I could get the dimensions.  My interests would be a variety of modern units from Kato, FVM, IM and Atlas.  They are all variants of the same idea, so once one is done, the others should not be too bad.  I'm happy to share the artwork with interested folk.

Ok, how do we do this?  A photo of the Intermountain ones with dimensions overlayed?
Will that work.

I emailed Intermountain for replacements to my broken ones so should get some pristine ones to photograph,
no reply though as yet.

Give me some feedback on material brass, nickel silver? and thickness.

PPD in Scotland offer a very good etching service so having them made is not a problem.
I have used them in the past.

[Scottl]

My approach would be to start with dimensions from a scan of a plastic set.  IM might be cooperative and send you the dimensions if you ask and indicate the project is non-commercial.  I would then sketch it up in Inkscape (open source graphics- you can get a free copy) and then the file could be distributed to those interested.  A group order with multiple addresses might be possible if PPD is willing, and would save the overhead costs of the first etching.  PPD has been excellent in my experience.

I will defer to others in terms of the appropriate material.  Stainless is strong but does not take paint very well.  I have stainless railing etches from Kaslo and Briggs that are very nice and quite strong in practice, and seem to take paint well.  Baking the paint on might help- Craig has had some success with this of late.  I think phosphor bronze is also an option.

I've been interested in doing this for my own fleet for some time, so this might be the push to make it happen.  Again, I think Ed has a Kato 9-44 or AC4400 already done up and there is a thread here on it.  He had some clever ideas about a base sill to make everything less fragile and to make even installation possible.  I think he got distracted with O scale... 

[ednadolski]

Again, I think Ed has a Kato 9-44 or AC4400 already done up and there is a thread here on it.  He had some clever ideas about a base sill to make everything less fragile and to make even installation possible.  I think he got distracted with O scale... 

The thread is here.  I've been adding some scratchbuilt proto-specific details to the model and it is almost ready (again!) for the paint shop.  Hope to have some more pics soon.  (Yes I am still working on the P:48 Geep -- it's just about ready for weathering) 

I do have some other etchings in the works, based on my previous effort.  I have updated the GE pilots and also made some EMD ones.  Importantly, note that these pilots are made to accommodate the LEZ coupler, since that needs a smaller opening than for standard N couplers.  I draw the etching based upon scans of the model imported into the 2D CAD program and scaled to the correct size.   Currently I am doing some Kato and FVM GEs, plus some EMD SD70x type units. (I only have one IM, an SD45-2, so that is lower on my priority list.)

Just to point out a few things based on the OP: first, these are not "one piece", you have to form the handrails from wire and solder them into place. Still that is a lot easier than working with the individual GMM parts.  Second, while these are reasonably sturdy for their size, don't expect them to be equal or more durable than factory parts.  The metal is very thin by nature, so heavy-handedness will sooner or later lead to an undesirable outcome.  But if you care enough about your models to do this kind of work in the first place, then reasonable handling should not be a concern.

Ed

[craigolio1]

As Scott pointed out, I do like the phosphor bronze. It has a spring to it so when bent (a little ) it goes back to it's intended shape and it takes paint well. However it is softer than stainless so if the parts are too small it may not be a good choice.

I have SD40-2w handrails I could send to whomever to measure for the artwork. However, I don't think copies should be made. I think they should be made to match a prototype. In my case that's a CN unit. Whether that works for others remains to be seen. That's something that should be sorted out too.

Craig