Back in October of 2015, I decided I wanted to find a way to reliably build an HOn30 8 ton (ish) Porter. Finding an inexpensive and reliable chassis for such a small locomotive isn’t easy, but I had settled on an Imon PU-101 chassis from Japan. They are available, and relatively inexpensive, between 50 and 70 dollars. Combined with the cost of the 3D printed parts, it’s by far the most economical solution to getting a small porter running. Recently, on “the” auction website, a Joe Works HOn30 porter kit went for almost $200, and I can say without a doubt that the Marsh Creek porter looks better, and costs less, without having to solder etched brass parts together.
The goal was always to make the PUP into a modular system of plug and play parts, allowing the modeler choices as to how they wanted theirs to look. The big name in On30 offers several different cab styles, headlights, and stacks for their critters, and I wanted to do the same in HOn30. With different options, model railroaders can run several of the same type of locomotive, with visual differences, or if you are a prototype modeler, you can pick and choose details to match your chosen industrial or short line.
Although it was designed for the Imon Chassis, the PUP body can be used with a Minitrains chassis with some modification. Chris Schmuck removed the flywheel from his Minitrains Forney chassis, and fit a PUP on top for SILKY SMOOTH operation. He also added a Super Capacitor to act as a storage battery for electricity keeping constant power to the motor over rough or dirty track. Check out this video of his PUP running!
The goal was always to make the PUP into a modular system of plug and play parts, allowing the modeler choices as to how they wanted theirs to look. The big name in On30 offers several different cab styles, headlights, and stacks for their critters, and I wanted to do the same in HOn30. With different options, model railroaders can run several of the same type of locomotive, with visual differences, or if you are a prototype modeler, you can pick and choose details to match your chosen industrial or short line.
Although it was designed for the Imon Chassis, the PUP body can be used with a Minitrains chassis with some modification. Chris Schmuck removed the flywheel from his Minitrains Forney chassis, and fit a PUP on top for SILKY SMOOTH operation. He also added a Super Capacitor to act as a storage battery for electricity keeping constant power to the motor over rough or dirty track. Check out this video of his PUP running!
Now let’s get to the meat and potatoes: (click on the picture to take you to the shapeways product page)
First up, is a vertical paneled cab:
First up, is a vertical paneled cab:
Some “Modern” Accessories
And a Side Tank!
As you can see, I've been busy! These options give modelers a much broader range of choices, thanks to some foresight on my part (yeah I won't break my arm patting myself on the back). When I first released the PUP, a lot of people were confused at why I would release the model as separate parts, rather than one fully printed body that could be dropped onto the chassis. THIS is why! It's a modular system!
I'm nowhere near done innovating and designing new products for HOn30, and there are plenty of opportunities to branch out into other scales as well.
So For now, Go Build Something Awesome!
I'm nowhere near done innovating and designing new products for HOn30, and there are plenty of opportunities to branch out into other scales as well.
So For now, Go Build Something Awesome!
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