These plywood sheathed CP vans are favourites. I loved working on models of these and these designs remain personal favourites from the store I used to run on Shapeways. I could not be more proud of this design–I really love it.
The model is based on blueprints from the CP SIG with only a subtle edit so this shell simply clips onto one of N scale’s oldest and, I think, most popular caboose models: the Santa Fe style steel end cupola caboose. Just about every manufacturer has made these since the dawn of N scale and I have owned the copies from Atlas (the new ones with knuckle couplers and the old ones with truck-mounted Rapido-style couplers), Minitrix, Aurora, AHM, Life Like, and so on. I like those too and have used them to model those ex-Santa Fe cabooses the Grand Trunk operated.
I am so completely excited to share that these cabooses are now back in production and that production will now be available through miniprints.ca. Working with Bernard has been absolutely the most positive experience I could imagine and I could not be more proud of this collaboration. I have samples of this caboose here, based on the miniprints.ca production and the quality is superb. The parts are crisp and clean–none of those print layer lines just a clean, paint-ready, shell.
Moving production of these cars to miniprints.ca is exactly what needed to happen to this. Thank you Bernard.
The photos shown in this post were shared with me from a friend in the hobby who has painted up some simply stunning versions based on the original Shapeways production. I can still remember the first time I saw his versions and how surreal it was–they are exactly everything I dreamed these cars could be and his finishing skills completely eclipse my own.
You can see the miniprints.ca listing for these cars here on their website: CP Plywood Sheathed Van Shell – Miniprints
I’ve had so much fun working with Bernard and I am so proud of what the finished product looks like it’s rekindled some interest in this kind of work and I’ve promised a few variations on this car–that artwork should be ready by the end of the month.
Categories: 3d printing, CP Rail
Prince Street 
Those are fantastic. Congratulations on the new business arrangement with miniprints.com
I’m really pleased with these and it’s worth mentioning again just how much I enjoyed collaborating with Bernard on the work.
Chris