A number of small companies and consortiums have been producing 3D printed freight cars over the last several years. Many of the models have reflected post-WW2 prototypes but that has started to change.
Here’s what I have heard about recently.
Lines West announced 3D print production of a Western Pacific single-sheathed box car and a stock car in HO scale. The box car prototypes were built by Pullman in 1916. A couple of different versions and decal sets are available to cover the service life of these cars. It’s great to see early lettering available for these box car models.
The WP modified a bunch of these Pullman box cars as stock cars. A few versions are now available to cover years for K and AB brake component usage. Lines West is listing a pair of neat early 1920s Nickel Plate Road double-sheathed automobile box cars as coming soon. The WP and NKP models will also be printed in O and S scaled.
Smokey Mountain Model Works has announced a 3D printed, O scale Nickel Plate Road stock car. These reflect 1924 prototypes and will be available as single and double deck versions.
Twenty Models have been releasing a number of models following Canadian Pacific prototypes. They have produced a few versions of a couple models to reflect details over different eras. Black Cat Publishing is the main dealer for the Twenty Models line.
Yuma Car & Foundry has released a couple more Chesapeake & Ohio box car models. They added 36-foot box cars, automobile box cars, and ventilated box cars using a similar design in 1923. All three are now being produced by 3D Central. Decals for the box and auto cars should be available soon. I hear a neat reefer is coming along soon.
It was five years ago when Zenith Model Works introduced a line of HO scale 3D printed freight car trucks that followed prototypes of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. They were featured on the blog at that time. They followed with several freight cars and decal sets for 1890s and early Oughts prototypes. Their Pressed Steel Car Company hopper bottom gondola is in the image just above.
3DP Trains produces the Zenith line, as well as products for quite a few vendors. In reviewing the different company product lines, many models and detail parts are listed that fit late 19th Century and early 20th Century decades. The products are available in several scales and represent standard and narrow gauge prototypes.
Forbes Train Models produces an interesting mix of models with a few representing pre-1930 prototypes. They focus on Illinois area railroads, but there are a couple of neat Philadelphia & Reading gondolas and an early Pennsy wood hopper in their line.
Dry Creek Models produces an interesting Southern Pacific ballast gondola. The 1911 prototypes were also bought by Pacific Electric, Union Pacific, and the Oregon Short Line.
This brings my awareness of 3D printed HO scale freight cars full circle. I knew of some 3D parts printing for use as resin casting masters, but not a full printed car. I recall first reading about designing and producing 3D printed freight car models on Robert Bowdidge’s Vasona Branch blog. It seemed like an incredible leap at that time. Now it’s becoming commonplace.
This is not a comprehensive list as it’s a challenge to find all of the companies producing parts or full freight car kits for pre-1930 prototypes. Use the comment section to post a note and a web link for any 3D print freight car companies that I missed. Remember, models of earlier prototypes are the focus. There’s also at least one company that put their efforts on hold due to burnout.
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