N scale Model Train Centerbeam Flat Car 40' / 50' / 60' / 73' w/Wood and Covered Pallet Magnetic Loads for Micro-Trains Couplers

N scale Model Train Centerbeam Flat Car 40' / 50' / 60' / 73' w/Wood and Covered Pallet Magnetic Loads for Micro-Trains Couplers. I always wanted a Centerbeam Flatcar and when I came up with a way to make one I finally got one! My layout in a tiny 2'x4' space so I use 40' cars mostly. But the Centerbeam looks so much nicer full sized at 73' and even takes my 12' curve.

The loads are made to use magnets to hold on to both sides of the centerbeam. The freight car parts just fit with a friction ts and usually I'll put one end on the base then the centerbeam and then the other end. Finally the top goes on holding the car nicely together. The Micro-Trains couplers are mounted with either the smaller or larger pins depending on your printer's accuracy.

I like to make a variety of loads to keep the construct looking interesting. The loads labeled West Fraiser are intended to be printed with Z Hop and in order. #1 then #2 of the same series and size. Change filament colors between the two prints. Make sure to add them one at a time to the slicer to align the two objects. There are non printing alignment key boxes around the West Fraiser parts.

Here's a short video on the freight cars:
https://youtu.be/plHWHYVN1vw

I like to use a different color for the floor & sides of the car by doing a color change after the 2nd layer and again just before the frame on the bottom. Here is a video on dong the color change by layer here: https://youtu.be/maQcGIF4u0A I tend to make undersides silver or a brown as well using a 2nd color change command.
The basic Gcode is: {REPLACE "\nM117 Layer XXX, Z=" "\nM300 S2000 P100\nG91\nG1 X10 Y5 Z20\nM600 S500 P50\nG1 E-3.5 F1200\nG90\nM117 Layer XXX, Z="}; pause at layer, move head, play sound, change filament
Change BOTH the XXX to the layer after you want the color to stop on. Since it will execute at the beginning of the next layer.

One of the loads is made to look like a plastic wrapped lumber load common in the USA. To do this I used a Z Hop technique on the last or top layers. The main load file and the colored inlay file are two separate objects printed one after the other using a starting Gcode and Z hop. There is a non printing key frame around the two parts, and they should align when added one at a time to the slicer. If needed I've included the Gcodes from my CR10 V3 and using Simplify3D slicer. Print the #1 and then #2 in order. There is an automatic color change command at the end of the #1 file. Change the color and then start the #2 file. Here is a more detailed video on how to prepare and print a Z Hop to print multiple colors on the same layers on the top or last layers of the print using any 3D printer. https://youtu.be/0Y7Y2E6cqZw