[WIP] Wascosa Shimmns 4-axle tarp wagon

[idlemarvel]

To add some more wagons to my German theme layout I have started designing a Shimmns wagon in Wascosa colours:

This is based on this prototype but shrunk considerably.

I may extend the length a little if only to get some space between the letters!  I'm also working on adding a footstep and yellow grabrail at one end.

I've also had a go at a partially open one:

Not got around to building it yet, another one for the list.

[Trekkie99]

Nice work with the letters. A extra stud or two would go a long way for the proportions. Kinda got a chibi look rn.

[Feuer Zug]

The lettering is well done. The design works well too. Like @Trekkie99, the wagons do have a distorted look to them. I might go from 24 studs long to 28, but if they are sized for the rest of your rolling stock, then all is good.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

The wagon is nice and I like the image with the visible steel coil.
The blue and orange contrast is beautiful too.
As already said I would also suggest a longer wagon of at least 4 studs

[zephyr1934]

The color and look do a good job capturing the prototype.

 

On 11/7/2023 at 11:23 AM, idlemarvel said:

I may extend the length a little if only to get some space between the letters! 

If you did not include the lettering I think the length is fine (in line with Lego City train dimensions but more realistic looking model). But with the lettering too many of the characters run together, definitely needs 4 spaces to separate the letters, maybe 6. If you do not plan on having an interior you could probably get away with half stud spacings.

[Trekkie99]

On 11/8/2023 at 9:28 AM, Feuer Zug said:

But if they are sized for the rest of your rolling stock, then all is good.

Yes. Definitely this :-)

[idlemarvel]

Version 2.  I've made it 4 studs longer (increased from 24 to 28 studs long) and added yellow grab rails.  Looks better IMHO.

 

[zephyr1934]

1 hour ago, idlemarvel said:

Looks better IMHO.

Yes, with the added spacing the lettering looks a lot better

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

15 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

 Looks better IMHO.

 

Oh yes, it looks reeealy better! 

[Duq]

That's a nice car! With the extra length it definitely looks better, without losing its 6-wide City vibe.

[ivanlan9]

Yup, very nice.  Are you going to make instructions available?  I hope so, I'd buy them immediately.

It's a very cool car, and I'm amazed you got the lettering on there.  Looks terrific.

That said, if you make instructions then I'd build a version without the lettering, leave off the buffers & add some knuckle couplers.

[Trekkie99]

52 minutes ago, ivanlan9 said:

Are you going to make instructions available?  

I bet you could reverse engineer the model.

[idlemarvel]

2 hours ago, ivanlan9 said:

Yup, very nice.  Are you going to make instructions available?  I hope so, I'd buy them immediately.

It's a very cool car, and I'm amazed you got the lettering on there.  Looks terrific.

That said, if you make instructions then I'd build a version without the lettering, leave off the buffers & add some knuckle couplers.

Thanks.  Happy to share the instructions if I can create them, as LDD is a bit fickle about producing them.  I'm not at home ATM so it will be a few days before I can try.  Failing that I can share the LDD model.

[ivanlan9]

I'll take what I can get.

[Feuer Zug]

The 4 stud extension really makes the wagon work now. The lettering is distinct and it will still feel proper in a City style layout.

[idlemarvel]

I have managed to create some instructions and parts list from the LDD model.  Not sure what the best way is to share them.  Rebrickable?  I have an account but only just joined so I don't know how long that process is.  FYI the instructions are in HTML and the parts list is an XL spreadsheet.  Thanks for any advice.

[Trekkie99]

18 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

I have managed to create some instructions and parts list from the LDD model.  Not sure what the best way is to share them.  Rebrickable?  I have an account but only just joined so I don't know how long that process is.  FYI the instructions are in HTML and the parts list is an XL spreadsheet.  Thanks for any advice.

Bricksafe is a pretty great place to host Lego images and files.

Can you export the model as a ldr file from LDD? Stud.io has a pretty good instruction generator which a ldr file can be imported into. I'd be glad to do it for you.

[idlemarvel]

Okay thanks @Trekkie99

I have created a Bricksafe page with downloads that include the exported ldr file.  Feel free to use that to create instructions using stud.io.

https://bricksafe.com/pages/idlemarvel/moc-smimmns-4-axle-tarp-wagon

The other downloads include the LDD model and a zip file of the HTML instructions generated by LDD.  

Edit: NB I have now checked whether the all the parts are available in the colours chosen, in particular the orange and dark/earth blue ones, and there are a lot that are not available.  Hold off downloading the instructions for now unless you are building in more common colours.

Okay now I have checked all the colour/part combos and all are available and not rare.

Edited November 15, 2023 by idlemarvel
update

[idlemarvel]

Slight problem with my colour scheme - a rather essential piece is not available in orange

Slope, Curved 3 x 1 x 2 with Hollow Stud

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=33243#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

No problem in DB Cargo livery (red) but this piece was never made in orange.  Quick rethink required.

I have an alternative solution which might even be better as no studs on top (but more pieces)

Using

Slope, Curved 2 x 1 x 1 1/3 with Recessed Stud https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6091#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

and 

Arch 1 x 3 x 2 Curved Top https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6005#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

 

[Man with a hat]

Ah, nice and the longer version does look better indeed.

[idlemarvel]

I've now finished with the design, here is version 3.

This is one now on Bricksafe (link above).  I've had to make loads of revisions and compromises, in order to allow for the parts availability in the chosen colours, particularly the orange and yellow.  No 2 x 2 Panels, no 1 x 1 Brick with clips, no 2 x 14 plates etc.   Also some parts were available but rare, in some cases only appearing in a few sets, some more redesign there.  I guess this is just an example of the kind of process the real Lego designers go through, to come up with a set of elements that are available and not invent new ones unless absolutely necessary. 

Anyway, I'm pretty confident this could now be built, although at a cost (€100?).

Alternative colour schemes could use the version 2 design, for example DB Cargo which is basically all red, and would be much cheaper.

[Feuer Zug]

Redesigning for available (within a price point) pieces is always an issue when using rarer colours. In this case, the final product still looks good and appears to accomplish what you want it to. Maybe build 1 in the Wascosa livery, then do the others in the red DB Cargo option?