Finding a way to use two screws to pull down the cab has given me fits (and really slowed me down).
1. The motor comes almost all the way to the back wall- so not much room there.
2. I could place brass blocks in the cab sides--- but if I did that I wouldn't be able to deal with windows very well.
3. I could fill the whole cab with lead, but that would make the cab end too heavy-- plus I really want the cab to be open.
4. I could just leave it alone and have a gap. It's a Shapeways product. What can I say.
After thinking about this on and off for about two days, I found a compromise. Not perfect but sufficient.
I took the shell to the facet and held the front cab windows under hot water and then tried to carefully bend the shell a bit.
I was scared of course, but I made some progress in the end.
The gap is still there, but not as pronounced as it was.
The battery boxes look good (except under close macro shots), so the only remaining visual stumble is the steps. I'll probably fill that gap with styrene later before painting.
Here is the way it looks now.
Now comes the part I hate. But have to do it.
Making custom lead weights is time consuming and hard on the fingers.
But it had to be done.
Made a weight hidden in the top of the cab (roof).
I left angles (bottom side) for windows in the future.
Now to fill the battery boxes. Started with a car tire weight.
Needed two.
Here the weights are in place. The one on the right needs thinning some more. Don't want it to press on the motor and cause a bind.
The height of the rear weights is determined by the low windows in the rear.
Also made a weight for the nose. Goes almost to the roof.
Of course, had to make a groove for the fiber optics for the headlights.
Weight totals:
Nose - 10 grams
battery box - 4 grams each
cab roof - 3 grams
Thus, front added weight = 10 grams.
Rear added weight = 11 grams.
Since the motor is in the rear, I will probably mill out the styrene I added to the fuel tank and add weight there.
I should get 1 extra gram up front.
And that would be about as balanced as I could get it.
Total weight of the TP70 (so far) = 39 grams
(which if I remember correctly, is about the weight of an Atlas GP38/40).
Runs a tiny bit jerky under DCC low speed (I guess typical of critters).
But runs
fabulous under normal speed.
Here is the TP70 will all weights installed.
Open cab!
The battery box weights are about the level of the floor.
So I plan to add chairs, control stand and an engineer.
Need to add a styrene support for under the motor.
Then ready to move on to lights.
