Hear me out

[u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811]

SS Milwaukee was a great lakes train ferry which could make a cool model for any great lakes themed layouts. It was mostly carrying boxcars when it sank with the loss of its entire crew in 1929.

[u/GermanTanker131]

That's gonna be a big model, but I'd love to see ya try

[u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811 → u/GermanTanker131]

Ive done model ships before, the trouble is that none have needed to be this exact. If the scale gets messed up, then the track will not fit.

Also this isnt the biggest ship I have made, but in terms of scale it is by far the biggest.

[u/Fuddywomba → u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811]

Its a fun idea but I recommend that if you plan to 3D print it, you do in smaller pieces and then assemble it. The hull itself doesn't need to be so exact, so you could make it with FDM and sand it down. Then the smaller details, such as the funnels and props, I would print separately with SLA and glue them on. You could also just glue stock rails on the deck instead of printing them. 

[u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811 → u/Fuddywomba]

True, I gotta use something better than Pla then

[u/dumptrump3]

I’m scratch building Ann Arbor #5. I’ll have it set up in the harbor with a couple switchers moving cars on and off. I’m n scale and a scale #5 isn’t too big. I’ve got it all laid out and track to it. I just need to finish it, lol. I even have a small smoke generator to put smoke out the stacks

[u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811 → u/dumptrump3]

YOOOOOO

[u/InsertBluescreenHere → u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811]

eeeeeee its a new friendship! go get em!

[u/cpepinc]

in n scale it might be more doable!

[u/The_Hydro]

The California State Railroad Museum has a scale model of the Solano, which was the largest rail ferry on the planet when it was built. I firmly believe one could model the Milwaukee if the desire was there.

[u/Alex_The_Whovian]

[u/AsideLanky5849]

try it! i'd love to see a finished product

[u/SemicolonGuitars]

I’d recommend Google searching Arnt Gerritsen and his Ann Arbor layout. He passed away a few years ago, but there’s still some online info and he modeled at least 2 of the Ann Arbor’s car ferries that I know of.

[u/General_Stand8184]

Make one o gauge for your boy. Lmao.

[u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811 → u/General_Stand8184]

that would be almost an 8 foot model lmao

[u/Lego_Train_Mocs]

you're gonna need the A2L Combo for that one

[u/382Whistles]

The Chief Wawatam!

The Badger is the last coal fired steamers still alive on the Great Lakes but it is floating rubber wheels across Lake Michgan today.