I have some questions regarding using rapid prototyping printers to make a HO scale locomotive shell. What I would like to produce would be the car body of a PRR E-44 electric from the walkways up only. The existing Bachman E-33 would provide the frame/drive walkway section and handrails. The only difference between the two locomotives walkway down is the  number of steps leading up to walkway . The E-33 has 3 the E-44 has 4. The E-44 also had dummy mu receptacles on the end handrails .Some minor underbody details are different but these can easily be changed.

I test ran two new Kato SD40s for the first time.  Both make a squealing sound, especially in reverse.  The sound reminds me of what the locos here where I work sound like going through a curve and a turnout.  I tried lubricating the gears in the trucks with Labelle 106 oil.

Looking for advice on what I should try next.

Thanks in advance, 

Keith

For those who love the ultimate in realism here is a short video of custom aftermarket syncronized smoke units we fit to customers locomotives. Its all run off a loksound dcc sound decoder which makes the smoke output infinately adjustable in timing,duration,density and volume.

Can anyone suggest a few youtube videos that showcase the bumps and clunks of switching without a grade crossing signal bell clanging in the background?

Ideally there would be very little locomotive noise in the video, I'm just looking for some nice examples of the different sounds modern railcars make as they are coming together and apart during normal switching operations.

- Bill