Prairie Locomotive Works 29 Ton GE Box Cab User manual

Prairie Locomotive Works, LLC’s
“29 Ton GE Box Cab”in On30
Thank you for your purchase of our 3d Printed Superstructure Kit for the “29 Ton
GE Box Cab.”This is a fictional locomotive based on our research into the 35 Ton
models sent to Panama, but optimized for operation with On30 Sized Trains.
To build this kit you will require:
- Bachmann HO Scale S-4 Locomotive (Sound Value, DCC, or DC)
- 29 Ton Box Cab Body printed in Shapeways “Versatile Plastic”
- 29 Ton Box Cab Frame printed in Shapeways “Versatile Plastic”

The following tools and materials are helpful:
- #2-56 x .5 Inch Screws (10)
- #50 Drill Bit
- 3/32”Drill Bit
- Various fine sand papers down to 600 grit
- Music or Brass wire for hand rails
Assembly Instructions
1) Cleaning and drilling out holes. Between the two pieces there are 10 pre
made holes. There are 8 holes in the Frame, that should be drilled out with a
#50 drill. The two in the pilot are for the couplers, two in the deck line up
with the holes in the Bachmann S-4, and four in the side frames with line up
the holes in body. The Body has four holes, which should also be drilled out
with the #50 drill bit. You can either file or use a drill big to clean the
coupler slots.
2) Finishing the parts: The Versatile Plastic from Shapeways is a nylon
powder with is sintered together with lasers to achieve the desired shape. It
is strong, and somewhat flexible, but shows the grain of the layering process
from which it was created. We recommend you paint both parts with an
automotive “Filling Primer,”we used the one sold by Duplicolor. This will
fill in the gaps, though two coats with sanding in between may be required.
During this process the holes printed for the handrails will fill with powder
and close up. Keep them open with a small drill or pick to preserve their
location (marked in green on the exploded drawing). Work into the higher
sandpaper numbers, we recommend a final wet sanding with 600 grit before
the last top coat.
3) Bend and insert the wire hand rails. There are four pieces on each end.
Trim and glue in place.
4) Remove the case from the Bachmann S-4: There is a screw on each end that
both holds the coupler and body to the metal frame.

5) Assemble and join the body and frame. Drill the four corner holes in the
frame to 3/32, and then drive a #2-56 screw through into the body. Once the
screw is started, turn until snug, and then back a half a turn before
continuing (you are threading the hole in the body as you do this). Join this
assembly to the Bachmann mechanism, by repeating this process with #2-56
screws though the holes for the coupler and case. These will extend slightly
through the deck when they are full seated. There will be a gap on each of
the mechanism to allow sound to escape if so equipped.
6) Coupler installation: The 3-d Printed frame as two options for couplers, the
lower being the standard HO Height, and NMRA On30 standard, the upper
is for an S or On3 style coupler at the On3 Height. The Bachmann coupler
is similar to the Kadee 148 “wisker”type coupler. Insert the coupler into the
slot and ensure it pivots freely. Then drive a #2-56 screw through the
openings to hold the coupler in place on each end.
Your locomotive is now ready for use!
We welcome your feedback and comments at www.prairielocoworks.com