Miniature Tools

[Art Rafael]

Thanks Oily.

It's been a week of errors and do-overs.
I decided to work on the frame and could find no acceptable preformed members anywhere.
Anybody know where small Brass (or for that matter - steel)  "I"  "H"  "T" or channel beams can be found.
Finding none, I had no choice but to try to fabricate something and settled on 1/4 inch "T" beams for strength and adaptability.





It looks crude, and it was darn difficult to create. 
1/16 X 1/4 inch flat brass stock was angle cut, laid out flat in form and the joints silver soldered.
Then another flat brass stock was angle cut and laid out on edge to perfectly fit the previous member.
The two were mated, wired together tightly to hold the proper fit and shape and silver soldered along the entire length
to produce a strong structurally sound united frame piece.





Then bracing was fashioned and bolted in place with double 1-72 1/4 inch brass bolts.
Again, drilling perfectly spaced 1/16 inch holes (and so many of them) was challenging.
On my bench top can be seen other braces that will be strategically located and bolted on.
the rear axle and wheels were also installed








Ralph

[turnnut]

Hi Ralph,  looks like you have been busy.  looking good, but before you go any further,
it looks like the angle frame lip are both facing the same way, 1 inside & 1 outside, or
am I seeing things ?
Frank 

[Chillylulu]

Hi Ralph,  looks like you have been busy.  looking good, but before you go any further,
it looks like the angle frame lip are both facing the same way, 1 inside & 1 outside, or
am I seeing things ?
Frank

T shape?

[Chillylulu]

I think brass shapes (angle and u-shapes can be found where they make strained glass.  i think I saw some on a rack with the lead came.

Chilly

[Lewill2]

Art, your sense of design and scale are amazing, looks like another great miniature coming along great.

[rusty]

>"I"  "H"  "T" or channel beams can be found.
Also the model train folks used to have that stuff, there are still people who hand build brass locomotives..

Bigger shapes can be found in Muntz metal, small shapes are hard except for the model stuff, which you are gonnay pay dearly for..

[Art Rafael]

Hi, Frank.  Yes, I've been busy, and progress seems so slow - especially when every part has to be fabricated from scratch employing flat stock.
It just seems that everything I need does not exist, and it all has to be hand made.
But actually, there is where the fun is.  It's kinda like building your own erector set one piece at a time but with greater precision and with tighter tolerances.

Chilly is correct; the frame members are "T" shape, and a lip extends both inside and outside on each member.

I did find some of that stained glass angle and channel brass, but it is just too thin and flimsy for this "industrial" application.

Thanks Les.  It is coming together - slowly - since I'm designing it as it goes along with one part built to fit the previous and the subsequent part to fit the last, etc.
But I do have a picture in mind and some drawings  to work from, if not blue prints, on my desk pad to give a sense of scale.
And I am learning to appreciate the importance of sequencing; some operations must be done first to make subsequent operations less difficult or even possible.

Thanks, Rusty.  I have scavenged all the model and train sites and rummaged through all the hobby stores and metal places that I could find on the net and found none,
but I am fortunate to have found assortments of tiny bolts and nuts.

[OilyRascal]

There are 1" beams:

http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/hobby-shop/hobby-products-tools-paints-wood-metal-plastic-hobby-supplies/architectural-scale-model-building-supplies/all-scales-structural-engineer-design-supplies/all-scales-structural-beams-truss-columns.html

[Art Rafael]

Thanks Oily.  They (Oak Ridge) carry round brass stock and brass bolts & nuts, but their "I" "H" etc. beams are all plastic. 
I'm still looking for a brass supplier to finish this project and for the next.

Ralph

[Lewill2]

Art, Just in case you haven't seen these suppliers yet.

http://www.specialshapes.com/brassshapes.html

http://www.hobbylinc.com/brass-hobby-and-craft-metal-tubing-sheets-strips-wire-rods

Don't forget to check out McMaster Carr they might have something too.

[john k]

Denver has to have some big model and hobby shops that carry scale building material, I would think.   There is a large chain, art supply store here that has the same, plus scale lumber for architects, unfortunately not in Colo.   Last time I was there I saw brass copper and aluminum tubing in squares, rounds and other shapes,  up to almost 1/2 in.  Grader looking good from here. 

[turnnut]

hi Ralph,  I was glad to hear that I was wrong about the rails, you are the Master.

I am not sure if you are interested in material from the U.K. but here is another site to check,
they also list some of the suppliers, you might want to copy their names and google them.

www.wonderlandmodel.com/model-tools-and-materials

good luck, Frank

[OilyRascal]

Art, Just in case you haven't seen these suppliers yet.

http://www.specialshapes.com/brassshapes.html

http://www.hobbylinc.com/brass-hobby-and-craft-metal-tubing-sheets-strips-wire-rods

Don't forget to check out McMaster Carr they might have something too.

http://www.specialshapes.com/Beams.html

Brass I-Beams  1/4" H x 1/8" W (and smaller)

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, guys.   With some such help I'll get this grader done, though it will be a while.  This project is testing me thoroughly.   Ralph

[Art Rafael]

The front truck is about done.   Ralph