The PNG Short Passenger Car RPO 

I mentioned in one of the updates that I wouldn't have to re-invent the wheel for the combine and RPO and that I needed to work out sliding doors for both cars and design up windows with bars for the RPO. I drew those up several weeks ago and got them uploaded to Shapeways for printing. My first though was to have 4 printed in their PA-12 plastic to use on my car as a test. In the end, I had 4 printed in plastic and 2 printed in steel. I'll need a total of 6 printed in steel for masters in a single mold. While the short RPO will only have 2 windows on each side, 4 total, the Jackson & Sharpe version on next years agenda will need 6, 3 on each side.

I've received the first batch today and I think they turned out OK.

The 4 plastic are on the top and the 2 steel on the bottom. The bottoms of the steel appear to be warped a tad but it's the camera doing that. All the sides are straight.

I made a change to the window cavity on these for a single piece of the .060" Lexon. That verses an upper and a lower window. As you've all found by now is that the laser bonds the blue protective film to the Lexon making peeling it off a pain. Not my favorite part of placing the windows either.

These windows are stand alone and not incased by the number board above and trim board below. So a simple glue in procedure.

This is the front of the window and you can see the upper window segment, like the coach windows, is above the lower segment.

This is the backside or inside of the window frame. The pocket for the "glass" is for a single plate covering top and bottom. Again, the top edge which is out of focus looks warped. It's not. It's my camera. Sorry about that.

Once I get the combine finished and all laser CAD locked down, I'll get the RPO going. Getting closer!!        Phil

10-20-2019

I drew up the side of RPO in CAD so we could all get an idea of what it'll look like.

Wider door on the right is the baggage section and left door and windows and the Railway Post Office section. I still need to draw up in 3D the bar across the RPO door which is used for the mailbag pickup.             Phil

November 3, 2019

Hopefully, I'll have this one finished by the end of the week.        Phil

11-21-2019 Update

I have the RPO mostly finished. Enough for a picture.

Now I need to write instructions and get a parts list for me to use during the construction so I can keep track of what parts go in the box.

PNG-014 RPO Kit inst Color.pdf