Prairie Schooner - Fixed F. Axle - Pioneer Covered Wagon (without the bonnet) ~1/15th Scale

UPDATE:     I made a version 2 of this design with a pivoting front axle, and a few other changes. It's a lot more fun to play with. :D

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I needed a covered wagon for an object lesson, and didn't want to decorate a shoebox, as one source suggested. So, I did a little research and found approximate dimensions of a covered wagon, and designed this model, which is about 1/15th the scale of an average “Prairie Schooner” style wagon commonly used by pioneers migrating to the western frontier of North America in the 1800s. The photos are somewhat deceptive, making the model look smaller than it actually is. For reference, the tongue of this wagon model (the arm that comes out of the front of the wagon, on which the oxen would be attached) prints diagonally on a 250 x 250mm print bed. The full length of the assembled model is ~406 mm or ~16 inches. I designed it to this scale because I wanted a fairly large model, but which could be printed on many different 3D print beds (especially mine). I happened to have various brownish colored PLA filaments, so I printed some of the components with different shades of brown. The model can be printed without any supports.

PRINT LIST:

• 1 - Carriage

• 1 - Under Carriage

• 1 - Tongue

• 2 - Wheels - Front

• 2 - Wheels - Rear

• 4 - Hub Caps

• 5 - Bonnet Bows

ADDITIONAL PARTS:

• 8 - 4mm x 16mm self-tapping screws  (purchase)

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The Under Carriage has a post that is centered over the front axle. The purpose of this post is to hold the Tongue in place when the Carriage and Under Carriage are screwed together, and to allow the tongue to pivot or rotate on the post.

2. Place the eyelet of the Tongue on the center post of the Under Carriage.

3. The Carriage and Under Carriage print in the correct orientation relative to each other; the Carriage footrest is at the front of the wagon. Position the Under Carriage (with the tongue still in place), so that its four screw holes are aligned with the four screw holes in the Carriage bed. (See photos for screw locations/holes)

4. Using 4 screws, and while holding the Tongue in place, attach the Under Carriage to the Carriage by screwing from the bed of the Carriage, down through the Carriage floor, and into the corresponding receiving holes in the Under Carriage.

5. The Wheels - Front & Rear print with the outside faces facing up on the print bed. The Wheels and Hub Caps have corresponding beveled edges that act as a bearings or sorts. Place the Carriage assembly on its side, resting on the opposing axle faces. Place a Hub Cap into a Wheel and align them with an axle screw receiving hole (making sure that your are placing the larger Wheels - Rear on the rear axle, and Front on the front axle). While holding the Wheel and Hub Cap in place against the axle face, with the screw holes aligned, screw in one screw into the center of the Hub Cap and into the axle, securing the Wheel to the axle. Positioning the parts this way helps the screw to go in fairly straight. There is no need to over-tighten the screw, but it should be tightened snuggly. The Wheel should spin ~freely. If not, there may be some printing debris that needs to be cleaned/sanded, or the screw may have been screwed in crooked or with too much force.

6. Repeat the previous step for the rest of the Wheels.

7. Insert the 5 Bonnet Bows into the receiving sockets on the sides of the Carriage. The bottom forked tips of the Bonnet Bows are designed to straddle the sides of the Carriage, with the outside forks fitting in the outside sockets on the Carriage side walls, and the inside forks fitting down the channels on the inside Carriage walls.

NOTES:

• This model was designed to look somewhat realistic, but it was not designed to be a scale replica. It was designed using generalized measurements and photos of wagons. Actual wagons have many additional parts and mechanisms that were not needed to be included in this model.

• I did not need a ‘bonnet’ - the traditional canvas covering for weather protection – so I didn't design one. If I do make a bonnet sometime, it will likely be made of a cloth material, not 3D printed. However, I did design in hitching posts that protrude out of the bottom sides of the bonnet bows, where a bonnet can be attached.

• This design has a fixed front axle. It does not pivot like an actual wagon. Unlike real wagons, the Tongue is merely cosmetic and is not connected to the front axle in a way that would change the angle of the front wheels – pivoting the Tongue will not turn or steer the front wheels. As a play toy, it would be more satisfying if the front axle/wheels pivoted.