H0 torpedo car creusot-loire (cockerill 15-17) 1980s-2003

• UPDATE - had decals made for this model, plus artwork dxf has been added. Rules as usual: send me a pic of your built and painted model and your adress and I'll send you a set of 1:87 decals for free!

Cockerill ordered these 3 torpedo cars in the 1970's to add to their fleet of Junkerath torpedos. Though the shape is completely different, dimensions are pretty much identical, it was even possible to swap ladles with the junkerath cars if needed (though this didn't happen much)
Apart from the usual runs between the liege basin blast furnaces and the chertal steel plant these cars seem to have made it to charleroi occasionally.

This model depicts the cars after the protective gratings on the ladle were removed (I found only one pic showing these, so I guess those didn't last that long) and before the lid contraption got added in 2003.
Note: these cars were of course all a little different, because belgium. Cars 15 and 17 had elevated platforms next to the ladle hole, 16 had low platforms. 15 had a weird connector of some kind bolted to the front of the house. Decide which car you want to make before printing, I included parts to model these individual cars correctly,

This model may not be for novice modellers, it's fairly complicated. That said, if the print is decent it should not pose serious trouble, I built 2 already and edited some parts to improve fitment where necessary. It will even go through 360mm-curves quite smoothly, though that seems pretty much the limit.

parts needed:
16 x point-bearing H0 axles wheel diameter 10.4mm axle length 24.5mm
6 x M2 bolt 5mm
2 x M2 bolt 8mm
2 x M2 nut
couplers (kadee 18 or hook and loop)
0.4mm metal wire for railings etc

printing:
before printing, decide which car number you want to build and select the correct parts.

I printed my models on a phrozen sonic mini 8k using grey aqua resin (relatively brittle, but bogies didn't break when inserting the axles)
print orientations I used:
chassis: flat
bogies: slightly tilted (open end raised a bit)
big tube like ladle parts: standing upright (you can remove support remains on the ends relatibely easy by "pepper-grindering" them against each other)
house and ladle supports: slight angle

assembly:
put the wheels in the bogies and test-run them (also through curves and switches)
assemble the chassis, see pics
Note the part names: M means Motor end, that's the chassis the motor house sits on. R means Roller end, that's the other one. The chassis are very similar but identical, the motor end one has a shorter walkway in the middle and an extra platform (and different railings of course)
Then assemble the ladle. Note alignment holes and notches and keep track of motor end and roller end. Fix seams with putty and sanding and then add air pipes to the bottom.
Then assemble the ladle supports. if possible, don't glue this, for easier painting later etc. The motor end support has the house bolted on top so can always be disassembled. Now bolt the ladle supports on both chassis and do some test running!
When the car runs well, add the railings. See pics how I soldered them or where to fit the printed railings. Also add the other final bits, number plates, connection box on top of the house etc
You can add some debris around the ladle hole using some sand and wood glue, see pic

painting:
chassis: black
walkways and railings: light grey
brake wheels: yellow or red
position arrows on house and ladle: white
ladle: rust (flat black, misted with flat brown)
house: light turquoise (revell 301 with a bit of 350 and 360)

good luck!
cheers,
Floris

PS: as usual, posting a make or some other feedback when you build this would be highly appreciated!