Large Scale Central

Railgon Scratchbuild

Modeling
#1

Here’s one of my latest projects…It’s pretty much a straight forward styrene scratchbuild…piece by piece, bit by bit. I made some scale drawings to work from but decided I needed to use standard styrene strips so I used the closest sizes I could from Evergreen and Plastruct. The drawings helped in making decals. The rivets and grabiron eyelets (NBW) are Tichy Train Group parts. The grabs are all bent by hand. If the part is white then it’s scratchbuilt. The brakewheel is from USA Trains Centerflow hopper car (called the parts dept and bought a few). The handbrake housing is from Prescision Scale. The trucks are also from USA Trains centerflow hopper…it’s thier 100 ton modern roller bearing die-cast trucks…great for adding a lot of weight. If need be I’ll glue a sheet of steel to the floor inside but so far it seems to track pretty well without it. Enjoy![:D]

Here’s some pictures after I had built it but before it was painted.

#2

Wow,
Beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
Ralph

#3

Brian, very good job!
Ron

#4

Very nice. Thanks for posting it over here. Some of us don’t get out much :smiley:

#5
Jon Radder said:
Very nice. Thanks for posting it over here. Some of us don't get out much :D
I don't think they would want or tolerate me anywhere else! :) Nice build Brian!
#6

Pretty sweet…

Jon.

#7

Beautiful! Thanks for posting.

Where do you get the Tichy detail parts?

#8

Thanks guys,

Ray,

You can go to Tichys site:

http://www.tichytraingroup.com/index.php

or I usually order from Internet Trains:

http://tinyurl.com/ya3cc86

Just ignore the scale reference and look at the sizes described…then use what’s appropriate for your application.

I hope this helps,
Brian

#9

Nice neat work, I’m sorta sloppy. You make a jig to bend all that wire?

#10

Jerry, Yes I made my own jigs. I’ll try to explain with some pictures. This picture shows both jigs (I use that term loosely…more like Primitive Pete tools) I’m using a paper clip (also in the picture) for this demonstration since I don’t need to bend up an extra brass piece just yet. Usually I use .028 brass rod. In the picture the clear piece (acrylic) is for the first bends and the grey one is for the secondary (turn down) bends. The white strip attached to the grey piece is .03 plastic placed the distance down (depth) from the top that is required for the second bend. After you establish the sizes you’ll need for your application cut them to meet your requirements.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/190100142_C570A0A96612A873328B5CA21D25697E.jpg)

This picture shows the paper clip bent around the acrylic jig. Don’t try to bend both legs at once. Do it one leg at a time. Hold it in place with your thumb.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/290100142_061EF6284518910A4F07A0BEBC31376E.jpg)

Once that bend is done then that finishes some of the grabs. But for the others with the turn down bend you need the next jig. Here I’m putting it in the vice…lining up the top of the jig with the top of the vice.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/390100142_2BDCD4FC655D64D51CBB9018859531AC.jpg)

Now feed the grab iron into the slot.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/980100142_1DCBE38E5D1AE72ED8C1712E6183055E.jpg)

Press down on both legs (to keep them from creeping up) as you push them over.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/780100142_8778D6D5215FEB39F65DF99F5187E946.jpg)

Tah-Dah! A finished grab that will always be the same width as the next one and the same depth of down-turn also.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/680100142_8B334BDB358C554B1DA12D31FA6D4129.jpg)

Here’s a picture of my Railgon gondola drying after the primer has been applied. Notice the 2 grabs on the side are the one bend type while the end grabs are the double bend type.

(http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee_files/photo_albums/4/8/0/480100142/880100142_513EB4A31F05B92691223A4B7779929A.jpg)

Jerry, Does this help? Hopefully this will help you with that Rotary you’re making. Brian

#11

Nice simple jigs to get the job done easily with consistent results. Good work.

Jon.

#12

Wow Brian, that is cool and a great explanation/pix! Thanks! I will use that for the rotary, need a LOT of them.
So, you just glue the castings next to where you drill/insert the railing?

#13

Thanks guys,

Jerry, Yes I mounted the grab irons first then glued the NBWs against the grab.

Good luck on that Rotary…I saw the prototype pics and you do have a lot of grabs to do!

Regards,
Brian