Model Railroad Parts

c Model railroading is one of my many hobbies, and 3D printing allows me to make tools and scale model parts

Here are some of the model parts I've designed and printed, clockwise from the top:

55-gallon steel drum, open and closed top
Track rail-spacing gauge
Water tank spout
Window and door

This photo shows a stand used to run locomotives for testing and break-in. Four ball bearings support two wheels on one axle.

The stand rests on powered track, and wires inside holes printed into the sides bring the power to the ball bearings for pickup by the locomotive.

This photo shows the wires sticking out of the holes, but ultimately each is folded down and soldered to a lug under the mounting screw, which conducts the power to the roller.

I have two locomotives (link opens in new window; close it to return here). One is a three-truck "Shay" that has six axles, and thus needs six of these stands. The second, a two-truck "Climax" with four axles, needs only four stands.

Updated May 4, 2025