I'm new in this forum and I wanted to exchange some experience with the experts among you on how to scratch-build metallic train models made of copper, brass, steel, aluminum, etc.
On the attached photos you see the bodyshell and underframe of a hi-nose hood diesel locomotive, which is one of my very first challenging experimental project without bending machine and without any other tooling machinery.
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I've made a few cars...but none lately...
http://www.littleglitterhouses...ingTinTrainCars.aspx
Howard...florida...USA...
I've made a few cars...but none lately...
http://www.littleglitterhouses...ingTinTrainCars.aspx
Howard...florida...USA...
A small dill press with clamps or a vice to hold the material would probably help with your hole drilling problem.
Bill
A center punch mark may also help since most drills are not actually pointed on the end and will "walk" before they bite into a the material.
btw, that is a nice little diesel you are working on. It would look great on a pair of Marx E unit diesel trucks!
I posted a scratch tinplate (well, brass) 0-6-0 on the 3-rail scale forum. I have zero problems drilling .020 brass with decent, sharp drills. A center-pop is essential. For me, so is a magnifier lamp. I use the inexpensive Harbor Freight small cast iron drill press - I own four of them installed in various places.
I'm new in this forum and I wanted to exchange some experience with the experts among you on how to scratch-build metallic train models made of copper, brass, steel, aluminum, etc.
On the attached photos you see the bodyshell and underframe of a hi-nose hood diesel locomotive, which is one of my very first challenging experimental project without bending machine and without any other tooling machinery.
Very cool 
A year or so ago I mentioned why someone hasn't made a tinplate modern diesel....well I guess someone has !
Very cool diesel! I haven't scratchbuilt any tinplate, although I do the occasional repair and kitbashing projects. As far as making holes in tinplate, I would recommend this punch from Grizzly.
This raises a question I've been wondering about for a while. Does anybody know of a punch to make the slots for the tabs that hold tinplate together? There are lots of round punches around, or you can use a drill, but I've never seen one to make the slots.
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btw, that is a nice little diesel you are working on. It would look great on a pair of Marx E unit diesel trucks!
on the subject of punching window openings in tinplate and aluminum...it can be done with simple tools...wood chisel, hardwood block (with end grain up) and hammer...(probably won't want to use you good woodworking chisel though)...a block of plumber's lead can be used in place of the hardwood...
howard...florida...USA...
Old school way to punch slots. Practice on scrap tin first. The die is the jaws of vise. The punch is the sharpened screwdriver tip. A hammer drives the punch. The trick is to line up the position of the slot location over the space between the jaws. I'm sure a jig to align the punch could be made. But I never made one.
howard...florida...USA...
on the subject of punching window openings in tinplate and aluminum...it can be done with simple tools...
You might want to check this out....
http://www.littleglitterhouses...ingTinTrainCars.aspx
This is a great site with a lot of information...it includes how to videos
Heres another building I never quite finished..the entrance to a Walgreen's store. The printing is paper and brick, windows etc are found at the "glitter house" site whose link I posted. The paper is coated with a semi-gloss sealer to give it that tin look.
Something I made a few years ago - check http://www.tinplatetimes.com/M...01694/DuthieIVES.htm
Colin, I remember your article. That was some fine work you did there! It is a great representation. Great job!
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