BCER Tram Car

thingiverse

When I was 71, my dad received a 3D printer and quickly learned to 3D model using SketchUp. A massive train enthusiast, he decided to combine his two new passions by modeling one of his favorite subjects - trains! Specifically, he chose to create a tram car from the BCER (British Columbia Electric Railway). He started with the wheels and trucks, achieving immediate success. The initial project was meant as a learning experience and proof-of-concept, but my dad couldn't resist taking it further, adding more parts and details until he had modeled and printed two complete tram cars and a nearby train station that resembles his neighborhood. He even created track for the trams to run on. With the help of photos and rough sketches from online sources, my dad pieced together the design, filling in gaps with his own creativity. This original tram model is one of his finest works. If you explore my profile, you'll find files for the station he designed as well. Warning: Disclaimer Ahead While this isn't a complex model per se, it does require some skill and patience due to its numerous parts and lack of build instructions. You'll need to invest time figuring out how everything fits together. I've included images from my build process that should aid in understanding the assembly. Although I haven't built this myself, I'm happy to help answer any questions you may have about it. You don't necessarily need to paint the parts; printing them in different colors will yield a similar effect. The pictures show the color scheme of each part. Smaller details like window frames benefit from a 0.2mm nozzle for optimal results.