Union Station Products introduce 3D printed Core Kits

[thomasjmdavis]

As far as I know, San Juan never had more than a few "full" core kits (or none, which is what they had several years ago when I bought some of the roof-end-floor sprues from them 6 months after they acquired ALM).  The tooling for the detail sprue was busted before San Juan bought (or merged, or however it was structured) ALM.  All San Juan had to sell were the sprue with the floor, roof and ends. 

You can still get what is essentially an ALM core kit by buying a Des Plaines Hobbies car kit (if they still have any in stock- I think they still have all the parts, but haven't put packaged any kits in a year or two).  Their kits include a full core kit, plus sides and window material. The complete kits go for less from Des Plaines than the ALM kits have been going for on eBay.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Quite possible, but they never respond to emails. I asked back in 2018 numerous times and never got a response. I got the few I have off ebay or other sources. And seeing the prices they still fetch on ebay seems to indicate they aren't still purchasable from San Juan.

I bought some a few months ago, I had to call them.

When I spoke to them in Denver, they mentioned they had found a case full of the core kits

[thomasjmdavis]

I bought some a few months ago, I had to call them.

When I spoke to them in Denver, they mentioned they had found a case full of the core kits

I'll ask, since a lot of folks are looking for them- are the ones you purchased (and that they have a case of) "full" core kits (including the detail sprue with all the underbody parts) or full core kits with trucks, or just the roof-end-floor sprue (the last being what San Juan was selling a few years ago, when I bought some from them)?

I'm glad, in a way, that I don't have any outstanding orders with them. At the top of their webpage it says:

If you are experiencing shipping issues at checkout, please double check your address. If the problem persists, please email us and we will follow up with you.

But at the bottom of the page, under contact information, there is no email address.  Just a phone number.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I'll ask, since a lot of folks are looking for them- are the ones you purchased (and that they have a case of) "full" core kits (including the detail sprue with all the underbody parts) or full core kits with trucks, or just the roof-end-floor sprue (the last being what San Juan was selling a few years ago, when I bought some from them)?

Full core kits, they asked if I wanted trucks or not, I ordered without.

[thomasjmdavis]

Full core kits, they asked if I wanted trucks or not, I ordered without.

Thank you for the response.  Good to know.  I think I personally have enough to cover my projects, but now there is a place to send folks who are looking for them.

[nickelplate759]

USP is doing 3 different versions of N scale core kits, ACF, PS and Budd, each with a plain floor or generic floor. Cost is $14.99 a kit.

Pullman Standard
https://unionstationproducts.com/core-kits/union-station-products-s-amp-o-scale-core-kits/-ck03-n-scale-pullman-standard-core-kit

Budd
https://unionstationproducts.com/core-kits/union-station-products-s-amp-o-scale-core-kits/-ck04-n-scale-budd-fluted-roof-core-kit

ACF
https://unionstationproducts.com/core-kits/union-station-products-s-amp-o-scale-core-kits/-ck05-n-scale-acf-riveted-roof-core-kit

Each are printed in black resin.

Decent price for these since the ALM kits are getting tougher and tougher to find.

Union Station no longer lists these kits - too bad, as I was just about to order one.   Anyone know what happened?

[thomasjmdavis]

Union Station no longer lists these kits - too bad, as I was just about to order one.   Anyone know what happened?

I would suggest contacting him directly.

I did try one of the USP Budd cores. I ended up using the roof and ends, but the floor was not stiff enough to work for me, so I used an ALM underframe left over from another project. Had some initial issues with a "kink" (a sharp bend of about 5 degrees ) in the roof, but resolved that by dropping the roof into a pan of hot (180 Fahrenheit m/l) water and the kink came right out.

[nickelplate759]

I just heard back from Mr. Meeks at Union Station.
He said they had to reconstruct their web site recently and new products (like the core kits) were accidentally omitted.
They're all back now:  https://unionstationproducts.com/core-kits/american-limited-models-n-scale-core-kit/

[nickelplate759]

I would suggest contacting him directly.

I did try one of the USP Budd cores. I ended up using the roof and ends, but the floor was not stiff enough to work for me, so I used an ALM underframe left over from another project. Had some initial issues with a "kink" (a sharp bend of about 5 degrees ) in the roof, but resolved that by dropping the roof into a pan of hot (180 Fahrenheit m/l) water and the kink came right out.

I ordered a set.  TRhe floor is indeed pretty wobbly, but I suspect that if I glue it to a piece of brass it'll be fine.
I'm more concerned about the roofs.   They look OK but are a little wonky, and the curvature is inconsistent (and too shallow) from one end to the other.     Any clues as to how to fix that?      Even if I put them in hot water, I need to somehow get them to the right shape.

[chessie system fan]

That's why I design my 3D floors to be 2mm and my body shells to be 1.5mm thick.  So far, no problems.  I'm guessing the floors and the roofs are 1mm thick?

[thomasjmdavis]

I ordered a set.  TRhe floor is indeed pretty wobbly, but I suspect that if I glue it to a piece of brass it'll be fine.
I'm more concerned about the roofs.   They look OK but are a little wonky, and the curvature is inconsistent (and too shallow) from one end to the other.     Any clues as to how to fix that?      Even if I put them in hot water, I need to somehow get them to the right shape.

All I can report is my own experience. I should have mentioned that that the floor I had was the "plain" floor with no underbody parts (I have lots of left over ALM underbody parts).  As to the roof, when I put mine in the hot water, I used a large pot, the roof "bend" came right out on its own, and the roof conformed to the flat bottom of the pot. I didn't need to do anything to get it to take the right shape- it went into shape within seconds of hitting the water. I just let the water cool and took it out and let it dry.  Will this work for you? No guarantees, but it did work for me.