Diaphragms for Pullman cars

[rbrown7713]

The Fine Art Models pullmans have the full width diaphragms and they are too difficult to repair  so I am making the traditional ones to replace them. I have also found out if these are to be operational, meaning, actually in contact with each other, it is better to leave the center door section in them so that when going around a curve they slide past one another instead of getting jammed.  Here is the start of them, more pictures to come. I used a cutter on the cnc mill to make them. Bob.

[Screwy Nick]

For those of us who don't have a CNC mill, this forum dating back to 2 April 2014. It describes diaphragms designed and made by Simon Duhamel.  Also suggests material used to make them and how to.   the link:     https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiHnOuVsuLuAhVfFlkFHbHuAuQQFjAAegQIAxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gscaletrainforum.com%2Findex.php%3F%2Ftopic%2F225-passenger-car-diaphragms%2F&usg=AOvVaw2uwe_f5tSsO52DooMMq7hF

[rbrown7713]

Here is one of the diaphragms that will go on the FAM cars. Note the smooth shiny surface, makes for easy sliding around corners.  Lots of work still to do. Bob.

[rbrown7713]

I am posting this tutorial in this post also. Bob.

 

[Steve P]

Hi,

I have experimented with making diaphragms on my 3D printer.

A little info exists here, about half way down the page

and continues thru the 1st half of the next page.

 

Steve

 

[rbrown7713]

I am after the same thing. In contact diaphragms that flex and look scale.  I don't do 3d printers, so the flex part on my diaphragms are cloth and are flexible. On my Superliners, the diaphragms are rigid and mounted on coupler springs and work very well while still looking scale.  They are much easier to construct.  These cloth scale diaphragms are much more labor intensive but they do look good.  I am finishing up the mounting of the diaphragms and will post pictures shortly. Bob.

[Chuck]

I use USA Trains rubber diaphragms for $15.95 per pair.

 

https://charlesro-com.3dcartstores.com/store_R22-515.html 

[rbrown7713]

These Fine Art Model cars are very close coupled and require more scale diaphragms to work properly and this is what I am using. And these work as they should. One down four to go. Bob.

[Screwy Nick]

Chuck, I agree, I added them to several cars and they look great on curves.  Looks like they went up a couple of dollars since I bought mine, but well worth it.

[rbrown7713]

Here they are finished. Bob.

[rbrown7713]

This is the look that I am after. Bob.

[Sean]

Is it real or Memorex ... 

[rbrown7713]

Thanks Sean. Most of the looking real is attributed to the FAM cars, but I tried to make the diaphragms as real as I could.  The next test is to run them around curves, judging from the Superliner type diaphragms, these should do just fine. Bob.