Ride Trains has released a series of resin 3-D printed passenger equipment in HOn3 and soon in Sn3. I discovered and obtained some kits at the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver last summer from the young couple making their debut. Offered are many variations of Rio Grande passenger equipment such as open-platform coaches with bullnose or duckbill roofs or a vestibuled version; baggage cars including the modern version with Delco generator and both short and long RPO cars, all priced at $29.00 each. A series of different parlor cars are $31.00 and the C&S coach, combine and short combine #20 are $32.00 each. If that were not enough, several of the original Jackson and Sharpe 1871 four-wheel cars are $10.00 each. Check their website for details and pricing.
All the kits are similar in construction. An exquisite one-piece body includes end railings if appropriate and roof details. The separate underbody piece has basic brake detail. They form the bulk of the car. Correct separate brake wheels, interiors for the passenger sections, truck frames and window acetate are also included. Instructions are basic and more of a tip sheet. My body had spacer bars in the bottom which I snipped to fit the interior details castings. Assembly consists of painting the parts, installing the window glass and interior pieces, and threading non-provided truss rod material through the pre-drilled floor holes and over the cast-in turnbuckles, then adding the floor.
The truck frames need Kadee, or other 26-inch wheelsets added and are fastened to the body either by tapping the hole and using screws or with the provided metal snap piece that is pushed into the mounting hole, reminiscent of the old Central Valley Models trucks. No couplers are provided though Kadee HOn3 #714 or the recommended Kadee N #2015 couplers will work. That is all that is needed though you may wish to add acetate to the clerestory frames and grab irons. I was very impressed with the quality and simplicity of this line. I urge you to check out Ride Trains despite the unusual name and I will be ordering more kits.
—Charlie Getz.
Ride Trains
3234 Meadow Loop Bay
West Valley City, UT 84128
(801) 819-2187
