Westlake Publishing Forums

This is my first posting on this forum, actually my first on any forum.

I built this from an On3 Backwoods Miniatures Ford Rail Truck kit.  If built according to the instructions, which are very helpful, only the front truck and cab would be removable.  To make it easier to paint and repair, I also made the following removable: the crane, truck bed, motor, rear axle, intermediate gear shaft, cab seat, and the box on the bed.  The box is scratch built and houses a speaker and Tsunami decoder.

The box is brass to help dissipate decoder heat.  The decoder's heat sink is strapped directly to the inside top of the box, which is a 1/16 inch piece of brass sheet soldered to the wood grained outer brass sheet.  The top is kept in place by the 1/16 inch piece of brass being a light press fit against the box sides.  

The front truck was designed, like a Shay locomotive truck, to be rigid on one side and flexible on the other.  I made both sides flexible.

This brass and white metal model is soldered and screwed together.  No glue was used.  This was my first experience soldering white metal.  I had heard that it is difficult to solder, and found little in print about how to handle it.  But, I discovered that it is very easy to solder with the correct equipment, solder, flux, and a little practice, even easier than brass.

Welcome to the forum, Linn. Beautiful job on the truck ... and the images. -- Russ

Welcome!
What a great model using a...... (well I'll be PC) "kit"
You did an outstanding job and the refinements are a great idea.
I look forward to seeing it in paint!

Please tell us more about soldering the white metal!
-may be in a separate thread.
i always believed it would just melt.
I guess it is all about the temperature.

-Marty

Welcome! Yes, beautiful construction for sure!

Yes, beautiful, look forward to seeing it in paint.

Welcome aboard! Great work on that rail truck!

Thank you all for the kind words.
Linn

I implemented lab-dads comment by posting some thoughts in the "Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and Tools" folder under "Soldering White Metal".

Linn