The next project… maybe… With the cost of aristo and USAT passenger cars really up there I’m thinking about making my own. I’m no rivet counter and the 5 foot rule is good enough for me so these don’t need to be over the top fancy plus the proto is pretty simple.
My diesel engines are painted in the local colours of the Cape Cod Central and besides a trash train they haul passenger sight seeing and dinner trains etc… I already built 5 covered hoppers that look pretty good for the trash now I need passenger cars. The real cars are pretty basic and flat on the sides and I’m working on getting my head around how to fashion the ends but the curved roof is what is stumping me.
I once made a short coach 15" and used a piece of styrene for the roof but was never happy with the way it bent to form the curve. In retrospect the styrene may have been a bit thick. These cars will be at least 26" long and I plan to make 3 of them. That is alot of roof.
Another problem is the proto doesn’t have a lip at the edge, the sides go right up and right into the curve of the roof.
What sort of material can I use to make a nice gentle curve for my roofs? I don’t need to get fancy and taper the ends like a duckbill.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Todd
Todd,
You can buy 4 x 8 sheets of styrene, but I’m sure you don’t want to mess with that.
Evergreen styrene comes in 12 x 24" sheets, so if you want less cuts and no joints, I’d consider 24" length.
A gentle curved roof like used on some LGB Euro cars was prototypical on some USA short lines.
for bending stirene make a form, lay the sirene on it and use your wife’s (hot) hairdryer.
Todd
Do you have a router table?
I used 1/8" clear plastic. Made a wood form, with the curve I wanted. Used pine, some balsa on top, easy to sand to shape. Put the plastic on the form, put it in the oven, once it sagged down I used some oven mitts to hold it down as it cooled. Then tape off the window area and spray it.
4X8 sheets of styrene arent too bad to have shipped I bought three of them at .040 a month or so ago…shipping was only $25 or so…they just roll em up and stick 'em in a box…problem was finding where to store them til I use them flat here in The Bartwerks…
I’m back and glad to read some interesting ideas posted here.
I didn’t know you could get styrene in a 4x8 that is interesting.
I do have a router table but how can that help??
With my other shorty passenger car I shaped the styrene roof over the body by using a heat gun but it took alot to heat it to bend and keep it that way. I’m not happy with the result.
Jerry do tell me more. Were you able to make your entire roof and sides from one piece? That would be terrific if possible then I would just need to make the ends and attach it to a floor. Any photos of the process and of course the finished product?
Todd
Todd Haskins said:I'm guessing the idea would be to make the entire roof from a solid piece of wood. Ralph
I do have a router table but how can that help??
Todd,
Heating the styrene (very carefully after doing some test pieces) in an oven and bending it over a form - large diameter tubing as used for sewer lines comes to mind - should do the trick. The problem with the heat gun is that you can’t get the whole piece to the same temp all at once.
I have some of the RhB compound roofs on my list, the plan is to do them on the CNC router, either in wood or laminated styrene.
Todd Haskins said:
I do have a router table but how can that help??
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Locomotives/Superliners/Oct2010039-1.jpg)
one doesn’t need a router for that. a board and two battens nailed to it do the job as well. at least, that is, what i found out, when i made this car.
