jhz563 posted:Jamie Thompson posted:Then I drill all the holes required (In hindsight this should have been done before cutting out. (Also note extra river detail added on a whim using an auto punch.)
Then Using a Jewlers saw and small files I cut out the slots for the coupler. I tried a different complicated method this time and went very pear shaped. So don’t be like me and keep it simple Sam! Next it’s off to the vice to bend the metal sided in to place.
I highly recommend using a small bending brake to get nice clean bends. As you can see in the pics the corners end up rounded in a vice.
I am only very new to working with tinplate so any help and suggestions are more than appreciated.
To be continued...
Looks like you are doing great to me.
I checked out the glitter houses site. Between that and this thread your methods are pretty clear, although I am still not 100% sure I am following you on the wheels/axles.
I am trying to learn to due some tinplate work myself, and am probably going to take on build a small brake soon.
Could you post a picture of the jewelers saw and some of the files you are using? My interest so far has been to make my front pilot and coupler for my mth 263e loco so I can double head and run longer tinplate trains. I am hoping to make a design I can repeat and maybe even make available to others.
Thanks for the encouragement JHZ563!
Your pilot and coupler are coming along very well indeed! I believe they will be very popular if you make the available to everyone else as planned. There’s nothing like being able to double head loco’s with a centipede of wagons behind.
As per your question about the axles, the spacer is placed in front of the wheel to stop the wheel rubbing on the body work in corners. Usually I would cut a piece of tube and simply slide it on to the axle but in this case the only tube I ha was smaller. I had to cut a slot down the middle of the tube and using a flat blade screw driver widen the slot thudding making the inside diameter wider so it could slide on to the axles.
Here are pictures of the Jewlers saw and the nibbles pliers I use.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any more questions!