3D printed N scale siderods?

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Has anyone tried to print N scale steam locomotive side rod and valve gear pieces? If so, how long do they last?

I have a Con-Cor/Kato J3a Hudson that is missing several side rod and valve gear parts. I e-mailed Con-Cor support asking if they have any replacement parts for the Kato or Chinese J3a, but they never replied back. Aside from getting lucky and finding a parts engine at a train show, having these parts 3D printed may be the only way to go.

[learmoia]

PM coming.

(I've got one available to sell that would likely have the parts you need.)

[Mark5]

You might have better luck calling Con-Cor - thats what I had to do in the past.  (520) 721-8939

[JMaurer1]

Calling Concor is just about the only way to get a response from them. They have a surprising number of spares but unless they are asked to go look for something, they won't. I guess I could ask them to go look for the veranda turbines that they have been promising for YEARS and YEARS, but I probably won't pay their asking price even if they had them...

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Thanks for the info! learmoia, I will reply to your PM. I will also try giving Con-Cor a call. The Hudson I have runs well, but without the side rods and valve gear it looks like a steam-shaped diesel running down the tracks!

My original question still stands, but now from an academic point of view. I wonder if 3D printing will make for viable replacement side rods and valve gear, especially for old, discontinued models like the Con-Cor J3a. I'm mainly concerned that they will wear out prematurely.

[peteski]

Thanks for the info! learmoia, I will reply to your PM. I will also try giving Con-Cor a call. The Hudson I have runs well, but without the side rods and valve gear it looks like a steam-shaped diesel running down the tracks!

My original question still stands, but now from an academic point of view. I wonder if 3D printing will make for viable replacement side rods and valve gear, especially for old, discontinued models like the Con-Cor J3a. I'm mainly concerned that they will wear out prematurely.

To me the main problem would be appearance. I suspect that to make them robust enough, they would have to be much thicker than the usual metal parts.  That would make the model look clunky and toy-like.  Some of the older Con-Cor models (your Hudson is probably one of them) had plastic siderods and those never looked right to me.  If I owned one of those and really wanted to use it, I would probably look into making new siderods out of stainless steel (whicih is what they are made of on some locos). Or make them by hand from a sheet of nickel silver like Max did for his scratchbuilt loco.

[propmeup1]

I used a new #11 blade and skimmed them all down a tad. Looks much better.