Vintage Tomy Train Latch Piece

thingiverse

Prototype model of a replacement part for vintage Tomy toy trains. These trains have a switching forward/reverse mechanism and this latches using a spring and this plastic piece. This piece can become lost or broken in old trains, so I've made up this model for people to try out. I haven't yet tried it myself but the model is as accurate as I could get to an original part. Without this part the trains won't stay in forward or reverse gear and the gear teeth could be damaged. I will be trying to print on my resin printer when I have the chance, I highly doubt that this could be printed on a FDM printer but I'd be happy to be proven wrong. Resin parts may not be able to stand up to the metal part constantly rubbing on it but I suppose that depends on how often your train changes direction. If you don't have a spring, it's 2mm. I might produce a part that locks the train in forward or reverse without requiring the spring. The trains can be used perfectly fine without changing direction, this is usually done by manually flipping up a section in the track.