3D-printed Auxillary Water Tender

Randy Griggs always wanted a modern UP Auxiliary Water Tender behind his Lionel/Flyer #3985 Challenger. Randy's son, Scott, designed the 3D CAD drawings necessary to print a model of it on their former "East Louisville Shops" on Shapeways. Randy installed a pair of used American Flyer three-axle trucks with couplers on each end. He then added a brake cylinder to the trucks and highlighted the "holes" in the sideframe castings to look more like holes all the way through. These trucks are very similar to the actual, prototype ones used by the UP. Next, Randy added the top handrail and ladder top handholds using small cotter pins and wire, and, finally, added the underbody brake details. He made the red decals and printed the U.S. flag on card stock and mounted it to the side, just as in the prototype. The 3D print didn't include the pipe filling nipples on each, lower corner, so he added those as well. Randy is an AF modeler, so he added a leftover pair of A.C. Gilbert AF trucks with couplers to his model. It represents the UP #809 "Jim Adams" tender. The print cost around $200 to $250 to make; follow the link above to have one printed for you.

Tender in Action video #1
Tender in Action video #2