3D Printed Train (HO Scale)

Hello everyone, i am Niko and, in this instructables i will show you, how to make fully 3d printed HO scale railway system.

Idea was to create fully functional HO (1:87) scale train with 3d printed rails, locomotive and wagons. Rails are short enough to fit in any regular 3d printer. To create this model you are going to need a lot of nails, time and patience.

Locomotive was the hardest part. It is made out of many tiny parts that need to be assembled together. It has its own battery source and it is contorted by mobile phone.

Whole project is drawn in Fusion 360. If you need any files, send me a message on Instructables.

Step 1: Rails

Rails are printed in one part. You are going to need nails to connect rails together. I tried to avoid using nails, but this is impossible for now, because rails are very small, and there is no place to create "connectors".

Instructions and 3d objects are in files below.

Step 2: Railroad Switch

Instructions and 3d objects are in files below. There is "Right.rar" for right railroad switch and "Left.rar" for left railroad switch.

Step 3: Locomotive

Instructions and 3d objects are in files below.

Locomotive is controlled by phone with internet of things application. In future i am going to make remote station to control different trains.

For microelectronic i used NodeMcu, because it has integrated wifi module and it is working on 3,3V.

I put small 1s lipo battery in locomotive boiler.

I will add more pictures of electronic soon.

Step 4: Open Wagon

For now there is only one type of wagon, but you can easily moderate upper part and attach it to wagons mainframe.

Instructions and 3d objects are in files below.

Step 5: FlatBed Wagon

Use instructions for "OpenWagon".

Step 6: Conclusion

When you assemble a train is very fun to drive it around. This is a prototype because no one has done this before, so there is a lot of things that can be improved.

There is a lot of things that can be added, like new wagons, locomotives, signalization and everything can be connected in "internet of things" train network.

The good side of this project is, that you can draw your own wagons & locomotives and print them for small amount of money.

I hope you like it, if you have any question ask in comments, or send me a message on Instructables.

Comments

[malcolmpalmer.uk]

So, who else is patiently waiting for the electronics?

[malcolmpalmer.uk]

If you can tell me a) the battery type and voltage, b) the motor type and size, d) the ICU module, I'll sort out the electronics and programming myself.

[MichaelB70]

how do i do the electronics?

[justmeigor]

exactly the type of info i was looking for. I am planning to 3d scan some of my n tracks and rolling stock/locomotives up scale that to g track, 3d print and for use in the garden.
Electronics are going to be rc build and some cheap 12-18v cordless drills.
With some easy tinkering/hobbies with this u will have everything you need.
For smoother driving i would suggest print your rails upside down and put your wheels (oversized printed) in a small diy lathe.
To connect the rails you could create a "clip on" between the rails that covers the first two beams in the tracks.
Hope this was helpfull, good luck with your build and progress

[navjotsd]

Mein gott, this is awesome :D

[SebastienL48]

Any info on the electronics?

[wouw19]

wow Niko, much impressed by your work and would like to build it myself. Could you please add details about the electronics?

[wouw19]

just some pictures of the inner workings of the locomotive and details about what electronic parts you used would be great!

[Atag the coolest]

LOVE it i followed you (follow me)

[r2d2j2b203]

It would be cool if you expand on this with more locos and rolling stock