Train Car Pipe Load

thingiverse

This is an HO-scale pipe load for a flat (or perhaps other type) of car. There is a "hidden compartment" that can accommodate as many as six 0.25 ounce wheel weights. The pipes are 40 scale-feet (5.5 inches) long and approximately 20 scale inches in diameter. The "dunnage" is 3D-printed, but the pipes themselves are painted 0.25 inch nominal diameter drinking straws. The center and end pieces are printed separately because the supports were bound within the part when it was printed as a single piece. After painting, two end pieces are glued to the center section, which includes bond pads for the purpose. I used CA, "super," glue, for this. The parts were painted so that the portions not intended to be seen remain dark, so that they are hidden within the shadows among the pipes. Some care was taken to avoid painting the surfaces that would be glued together, though this may not have been necessary. The drinking straws were painted and cut to lengths of 5.5 inches and 1.4 inches. The shorter "false" pipes are in-line with the weight compartment. The false pipes are glued to the 3D-printed part (I used PVA, "white," glue), as is the pipe above the weight compartment and the top-most tier of pipes. The other pipes "snap" into place. If making this part again, I would slightly increase the size of the holes for the side pipes.