N Scale Railcar Float Apron/Slip

thingiverse

Got a railcar float but no transfer point? This apron will get it done like a boss! This is a apron for railcar floats. The apron is made for my float design also on Thingiverse but any float with a deck height of 10mm and two tracks spaced 25mm apart center to center will work. Much of the design is a remix of this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4902597 In addition to the prints, you will need: -N Scale Rail (code 80 recommended) -1mm styrene rod (For axels on hoist wheels) -Fine chain or wire for the hoist cabling. (I used several strands of fine wire spun together in a electric drill) Some of the prints are very fine and really push what a 0.4 nozzle PLA/FDM printer can do. The below tips will help. -Make sure you know your printer and slicer settings well and have them dialed in for fine prints for your particular printer. -Make sure build plate is level and you have good adhesion practices, so corners do not raise off the build plate. -Use a quality made PLA brand. -STLs print best at first layer height of 0.20 mm and each layer after at 0.10 mm. -Print slowly to avoid vibrations. All my speed settings are no faster than 30 mm/second. -Details are fine and some parts are thin, be careful during cleanup and handling not to break anything. -Print the spikes in the end color you'll want them to be on your layout as paint will interfere with insertion. In my case I printed them in yellow.