Work in progress: Westinghouse boxcab electric

[Ray Dunakin]

Double-stunning!

[Hauk]

So what happened to number 1? 

Amazing work. Please keep posting.

A good question that has been unanswered for more than eleven years!
Work on number 1 has finally begun. It will start life as an engine dismantled for a main revision displayed in the workshop diorama described in the Shadowbox-thread

[Hauk]

For this third engine I decided to make some small improvments on the trucks, so I milled the holders for the spring hangers from solid brass instead of forming them from strips of brass.

But these buggers are small, just 1.6X2X2mm. The biggest problem with milling such parts are holding them firmly in place during the machining process.  For bigger parts i mostly use two-sided carpet tape for holding, but for thes parts the holding area is way to small.

So I started by soldering a 10X60mm piece of 1,6mm engravers brass to a 10X10 bar of brass. A brass bar like this soaks up a lot of heat, so i used a large propane torch for heating up the parts. For solder I used Carrs 179deg. solder cream.

The brass bar was then placed in a small machine vise.

First operatian was drilling the 0.8mm holes. This was done with a feed of 2mm/sec. The holes were "peck-drilled" 0,4mm at a time.
Then a 3-cutter 3mm flat endmill was used to mill the parts. Feed was 3mm/s, spindle speed "5" on the Kress motor  wich i guess is 25000 rpm. 

I used some spray-can machining oil that seems to make maching brass a little easier, even if most folks say that brass can be machined dry. 

There was a little burr on the parts, but it was easily sanded off with some grade 400 emery paper.





PS: As mentioned before, these parts are small, and in a flash of foresight I made 6 more holders than needed!

[finescalerr]

Adequate. -- Russ

[Bernhard]

Nice parts, Hauk. Well done!

Bernhard

[Hauk]

Thank you for all the kind words!

The posts in this thread will mostly be a rerun of a very old show, but I will try to include at least a nugget of some useful information in every post.

I must admit that I also have an egoistic reason for this as I often use my own forum posts for reference!

Here are two of the hanger fasteners in their proper location:

[Bill Gill]

Gosh, that looks good, Hauk.

[Hauk]

Gosh, that looks good, Hauk.

Thanks Bill!

One of the reasons I really enjoy building in metal is that the work Looks great even in the pre-paint stage.

In fact, I sometimes think models look better in bare metal than painted!

[Bernhard]

Yes, I feel the same way. Especially when the model consists of a combination of brass, nickel silver and steel, I think it's almost a shame to cover everything with paint.

Bernhard

[Hauk]

And you have some modellers that has concluded that it IS indeed a shame to cover all that delicious metal with paint.

The Italian master modeller Attorio Mari is one that comes to mind:



I have mentioned him on this forum before, but perhaps some of you have missed it:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCogNW6AeAyy9d9Q3PDnvyAA

[finescalerr]

A stunningly beautiful model. -- Russ

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow!

[Stuart]

It is always sooo inspiring to see the quality of fine workmanship that regularly appears on this forum. It gives me something to aspire to and work to achieve in my model work. Anyway, superior work Hauk.

[Barney]

Stuart you have summed it up with some great words -
Barney

[Hauk]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

I'm trying to improve my milling skills, so I make some parts on the router that I might not have bothered to make if I didn't need the practice.

Here are some cosmetic parts that will be completely hidden from view when the engine is assembled, they are just for showing off in the workshop diorama: