GE MATE HO and N Scale 3D Printable 3D print model

Double-ended GE MATE. Included are printable STL files as well as a Sketchup file in both HO 1/87 scale and N 1/160 scale. The Sketchup files are water tight, print ready, and can be edited and rescaled. Note that the scaling in the Sketchup files is ten times larger than the scale size due to Sketchup performing poorly at tiny scales. Included is a three part HO shell in case you're using a small resin printer (length is 7.8 inches or 20 cm). Resin printing is highly recommended, especially at N scale due to so many fine details and prototype accurate thin parts.

Once printed, all you need to complete the model are couplers, old HO Athearn blue box dummy Blomberg trucks if you want it unpowered (atlas trucks in N scale), and handrails (holes are provided for Utah Pacific 87 GE stanchions HO scale). Depending on if you want to pair this with an Athearn or Atlas U36B, you may need to raise the ride height slightly using something like styrene as shims between the trucks and bolsters. These MATEs were used by Seaboard Coast Line, paired with a GE U36B. They were mostly used for Bone Valley (near Tampa, Florida) operations. They were used from the 70s (SCL) until the early 90s (CSX). MATEs differ from ordinary slugs in three ways: their 65,413 to 67,588 pounds of added tractive effort surpasses that of most slugs, they were designed to operate at road speeds (they are equipped with Blomberg trucks with GE 752 traction motors), and they also served as fuel tenders. Each MATE carried 3250 gallons of fuel that the modified U36B can draw on while under way. These remain the only road slugs constructed by a major builder. The first 10 MATE's (originally SCL #3200-3209, later SBD #5200-5209) were single ended, and could only take power from the mother at one end. The second batch (SCL #3210-3224, SBD #5210-5224) were double ended, and could take power from either end, or in a third mode of operation, could be placed between two mothers and draw power from both. The double-ended MATE's have headlights and numberboards at both ends, the single-ended MATE's have a headlight and numberboards at one end only. This model is double ended.