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Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 5:00 am
by GAP
I am printing one of these at the moment it is a success I plan to build a rake of them to be pulled behind a scratchbuild Garret style loco I have half completed.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5220654/files

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 6:32 am
by philipy
Some nice detail in that picture, hope yours is coming out similarly?

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 8:11 am
by ge_rik
Those files indeed do look well detailed. Interested to see that the hopper is a single file. I'll be interested to see how that prints.

Rik

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 11:32 am
by GAP
I have printed one but did not follow the instructions and printed it right way up with supports.
It has turned out fantastically so much so that I am printing one as per instructions and that is progressing well, the plank and rivet/bolt detail is superb.
I am bashing a couple of Stainz and a Newquida loco into a Garret type loco with the idea of making a coal train.

A YouTube video of the finished items posted by the designer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm9RHt4U7BE

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2023 9:32 am
by GAP
Printing is well underway I nearly have one fully done.
The Hopper is huge most likely why it's in one file.

Can I ask for this thread to be moved out of the files thread and into the 3D printing discussion thread as I will document progress.

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2023 10:19 am
by ge_rik
GAP wrote: Sun Apr 09, 2023 9:32 am Can I ask for this thread to be moved out of the files thread and into the 3D printing discussion thread as I will document progress.
Done!

Rik

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:49 pm
by GAP
Coincidentally last night I watched a train journey from Newcastle Aust in the Hunter Valley to Brisbane taken by Micheal Portillo and one of the pictures he showed was this one of hoppers being unloaded onto ships at the wharf.
They used to crane the hopper off the chassis to over the ships hold to empty them; this is mentioned in the description.
I am now considering not gluing the hopper to the chassis and the crane would make an interesting subject in a coal mine scene.

Historical pictures
Coal Loading.jpg
Coal Loading.jpg (108.36 KiB) Viewed 4521 times
Coal Loading 1.jpg
Coal Loading 1.jpg (68.93 KiB) Viewed 4503 times

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 7:29 am
by GAP
I spent the afternoon assembling the hopper wagon so here are some pictures.

Printed using PLA+, I plan to print the rest using Grey with black wheels, buffers and brake assembly.

I chose grey because I have seen one of these outside a colliery in the Hunter Valley and it was painted grey.
Side View.JPG
Side View.JPG (103.71 KiB) Viewed 4497 times
Oblique View.JPG
Oblique View.JPG (98.46 KiB) Viewed 4497 times
Brake Assembly.JPG
Brake Assembly.JPG (106.06 KiB) Viewed 4497 times
Chassis.JPG
Chassis.JPG (93.94 KiB) Viewed 4497 times

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 8:56 am
by ge_rik
Fascinating stuff, Graeme. I always assumed those hoppers were emptied from the base, as with Snailbeach hoppers. Interesting to see the hoppers being detached from their chassis for unloading.

Great looking model. How many will you have in the rake?

Rik

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 11:16 pm
by GAP
ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 11, 2023 8:56 am Fascinating stuff, Graeme. I always assumed those hoppers were emptied from the base, as with Snailbeach hoppers. Interesting to see the hoppers being detached from their chassis for unloading.

Great looking model. How many will you have in the rake?

Rik
I'm thinking about 5-10 plus depending on the length of a coal mine siding that is swirling in my mind.
I'm going to attempt a brake van body to put on a chassis the chassis using my limiter Tinkercad skills.
I think the chassis will make a good base for any number of wagon types perhaps I could make some bodies that can be swapped out to make other rakes.

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 10:30 pm
by GAP
GAP wrote: Tue Apr 11, 2023 11:16 pm
ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 11, 2023 8:56 am Fascinating stuff, Graeme. I always assumed those hoppers were emptied from the base, as with Snailbeach hoppers. Interesting to see the hoppers being detached from their chassis for unloading.

Great looking model. How many will you have in the rake?

Rik
I'm thinking about 5-10 plus depending on the length of a coal mine siding that is swirling in my mind.
I'm going to attempt a brake van body to put on a chassis the chassis using my limiter Tinkercad skills.
I think the chassis will make a good base for any number of wagon types perhaps I could make some bodies that can be swapped out to make other rakes.
Inspiration hit me at 3am; why try to make my own brake van when I could just use the GVT one in 3D print files.
How high are the models 15mm and 16mm, not sure of the scale of the hopper wagon?
The hopper wagon measures 100mm in height and the tender end of the garrett is 130mm with the lower tank part measuring 110mm so only 10mm higher than the hopper.
Pictures of the 2 together to give some relationship of size
P1070295.JPG
P1070295.JPG (100.84 KiB) Viewed 4423 times

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:54 am
by GTB
GAP wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 10:30 pm Inspiration hit me at 3am; why try to make my own brake van when I could just use the GVT one in 3D print files.
How high are the models 15mm and 16mm, not sure of the scale of the hopper wagon?
The designer helpfully describes the non-air hopper model as G gauge......... :roll:

It's a standard gauge prototype, so presumably the model is one of the Gauge 1 scales used on 45mm gauge track. Either 10mm/ft (1:30), or 3/8"/ft (1:32). In SM45 scale it is probably about the size of the dinky little coal hoppers the QR used during the steam era.

Note, the hoppers were only lifted out for loading ships in Newcastle and the practice stopped in the '50s. Coal staithes were used further up-river at Hexham for loading coastal ships and the use of cranes for loading ships was slowly phased out in favour of belt loaders. At the mines, coal was loaded by dumping it from the screens directly into the hoppers from above.

Regards,
Graeme

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:47 pm
by GAP
I have successfully printed and assembled my first coal hopper.
This was atrial run to find any pitfalls with the assembly.
The hopper body too nearly 24 hours to print, the chassis components took over 2 hours and the wheel, brake assembly, buffers and couplers took 1.5 hours.
A long time to print but the end result is worth it.
Wagon Oblique View.JPG
Wagon Oblique View.JPG (92.69 KiB) Viewed 4350 times
Wagon Side View.JPG
Wagon Side View.JPG (94.83 KiB) Viewed 4350 times
My blog page has more pictures and some details.
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... opper.html

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2023 7:03 am
by ge_rik
It does look good, Graeme. Worth the wait.

Rik

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2023 8:37 am
by GAP
I just noticed that even the small print defects, which are not readily visible when looking at the model appear but show up in pictures,look like there are warped boards and do not detract from the model at all.
I am very happy with the 2 I have now printed (one awaiting assembly).

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:40 am
by Tropic Blunder
Original Hopper was drawn by Daryl Atkinson who posted through the drawing process on the "garden railways Australia" facebook group. heres what he had to say about the scale :D
Snipping.PNG
Snipping.PNG (448.95 KiB) Viewed 4274 times

Re: Coal Hopper from the Hunter Valley Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2023 10:50 pm
by GAP
Tropic Blunder wrote: Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:40 am Original Hopper was drawn by Daryl Atkinson who posted through the drawing process on the "garden railways Australia" facebook group. heres what he had to say about the scale :D Snipping.PNG
I would like to pass on my congratulation on a magnificent job of designing and drawing the hopper, it is a true work of art.
I might have to join the group if they will have me, just need a facebook account.