Neil Carleton uses 3D printing to make replacement gears

          The Samhongsa gas electric combine Neil Carleton bought needed gear replacements.            

By Neil Carleton

This article originally appeared in The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC.

I bought a brass Samhongsa gas electric combine from the estate of Morgan Turney. It was sold as “needing work” but it was such a well made model that I had to buy it. On the track it would go about 3 inches and stop, when reversed, 3 inches back.

The model has one powered truck with a universal connected to the motor. When disconnected the motor ran smoothly with no issues. On removal of the bottom cover plate and opening the gear tower I found three plastic gears meshing to brass gears. On close inspection, all three were cracked, and they jammed when the crack rolled around. The gears are quite small and two different sized axels. 

NorthWest Shortline has hundreds of replacement gears and some they recommended, but would not let me send the damaged ones to make sure. Each new gear was over US$30 and not easily returnable. A friend who is not an active model railroader wondered if 3-D printing was a solution.

I contacted Darrell Brownlee, who has printed some vehicles and some other items for me. He said he knew what to do, so I got the cracked gears to him. In short order he returned new gears, with lots of spares. I fit them in and they worked! 

Then I realized I could not tighten the gear tower sufficiently to remove some gear slop when going forward, causing excess noise.

It appeared that the machine screws were bottoming out so I spoke to Darrell and with the measurements I sent him, he was able to print extremely small washers. The washers were various thicknesses but the winner was two about the thickness of paper.

Gas electric now runs smoothly in both directions. Next step is to add DCC and then paint and decal the model.

Close up of the gear tower with the nylon gears removed.

The original nylon gears, which were cracked.

The 3D printed replacement gears and washers made by Darrell Brownleee.

 

It's Clinic Carnival time at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club

Come one, come all to the WMRC’s annual clinic carnival and Christmas hot dog banquet! Please note that we’re having our meeting on Friday, December 5, a week earlier than usual.

We have an exciting roster of some of Winnipeg’s best modellers sharing their skills this year, including Murray Brown, who’ll show you how to make your own decals, and Fred Headon, who’ll show you how to apply them. John Bate will have a simple 3D CAD program running, capable of producing the files needed to drive 3D printers. People can see how this part of 3D printing is done, and try it for themselves. Darrell Brownlee will show you how to complete the task using 3D printing. 

While you’re soaking in on all of these great modelling hints, feast on gourmet air fried hot dogs prepared by our own master chef Mark McLennan, along with pop, chips, donuts and cookies!

The fun begins at 7:30PM on Friday, December 5 in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. We’ll he having our usual model and photo display, as well as the 50-50 draw. Don’t forget to bring a tin for the bin! Every donation helps the less fortunate. 

 

The 2025 CPKC Holiday Train returns to Manitoba

The 2025 CPKC Holiday Train is coming to Manitoba, raising food, money and awareness for local food banks and food pantry organizations. Food banks will be at each stop to accept food and money donations. Performers this year are Jade Eagleson and Teigen Gayse. 

On Wednesday, December 3 they’ll make their first stop in the province at 7:00PM in Whitemouth at the Whitemouth Hotel on Railway Avenue. At 9:15PM they’ll be in Winnipeg at Panet Road and Molson Street.

On Friday, December 5 they’ll be in Portage La Prairie at 11:30AM at the CP Station, 309 1st Street, N.W. They’ll stop in Neepawa at 2:30PM on Railway Street between Mountain Avenue and Currie Avenue. Then at 4:00PM they’ll be in Minnedosa at 30 2nd Avenue, NW. Their last stop in the province will be in Shoal Lake, North Railway Avenue at 7:15PM.