end steps

andrewnummelin
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end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:39 pm

Does anyone supply steps for the ends of 19th century coaches? I've looked through the lists of various specialist suppliers but I did not notice anything. With a couple of rakes of coaches under construction I do not really fancy making around 70 of the fiddly things by hand!
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Regards,

Andrew Nummelin

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jon price
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Re: end steps

Postby jon price » Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:59 pm

not too much work to cut brass strip?
Connah's Quay Workshop threads: viewforum.php?f=125

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steamraiser
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Re: end steps

Postby steamraiser » Mon Mar 02, 2020 9:43 am

If you have some good drawings and photos(?) why not approach one of the etched kit producers to see if they will produce a set of etches for you.

Gordon A

andrewnummelin
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Re: end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:18 pm

Thanks guys.
I'm pretty confident that I would never be able to cut enough individual steps consistently by hand before deciding to take up a different hobby. So I think it will be a case of drawing them up and waiting until I can put enough (different) items on one sheet to make it worthwhile having a one off etch done.
Regards,

Andrew Nummelin

Daddyman
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Re: end steps

Postby Daddyman » Fri Mar 06, 2020 6:42 am

Have you thought about making a master, moulding it and casting them in resin? You might have a high failure rate at the actual casting stage, and they'd be fragile in life, but it should be possible - I've cast down to 10 thou before, albeit for parts which will not be knocked.

CornCrake
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Re: end steps

Postby CornCrake » Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:35 am

Just thought that I would mention that It looks to me as if the drawing and the photograph do not correspond.
The drawing shows a semi-circular vertical part of the footstep whereas the photo looks more rectangular with rounded corners.
Steve

andrewnummelin
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Re: end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:58 am

CornCrake wrote:Just thought that I would mention that It looks to me as if the drawing and the photograph do not correspond.
The drawing shows a semi-circular vertical part of the footstep whereas the photo looks more rectangular with rounded corners.
Steve

Correct. They are different designs for 2 different sets of coaches, one will be scratch built (eventually) and the other is for a rake under construction from etched parts.
Regards,

Andrew Nummelin

andrewnummelin
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Re: end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:01 am

Daddyman wrote:Have you thought about making a master, moulding it and casting them in resin? You might have a high failure rate at the actual casting stage, and they'd be fragile in life, but it should be possible - I've cast down to 10 thou before, albeit for parts which will not be knocked.

Thanks for the suggestion: I had not thought of this option. Fragility would make one design impracticable but for another it might just be OK.
Regards,

Andrew Nummelin

billbedford

Re: end steps

Postby billbedford » Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:36 am

andrewnummelin wrote:Thanks guys.
I'm pretty confident that I would never be able to cut enough individual steps consistently by hand before deciding to take up a different hobby. So I think it will be a case of drawing them up and waiting until I can put enough (different) items on one sheet to make it worthwhile having a one off etch done.


If you use thin brass strip which is correct for the width, you should be able to make the steps by scoring and breaking the brass. You can put a second, lighter, score to give you the position of the flange.

Daddyman
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Re: end steps

Postby Daddyman » Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:52 pm

Couple of photos here of a cast of an RTR backhead. Note in particular the thin shelf above the firehole door. (The regulator, by the way, is a separate fitting.)

20200306_164456.jpg

20200306_164416.jpg


I would use Bill Bedford's suggestion to produce 5 or so masters, and then cast them all at once, so that you're not wasting resin by mixing up the minimum amount just to cast 1 step. I can give you pointers on casting in resin if you want to go down this route - and if that's not teaching grandmother to suck eggs!
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andrewnummelin
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Re: end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Sun Mar 08, 2020 2:04 pm

billbedford wrote:
andrewnummelin wrote:Thanks guys.
I'm pretty confident that I would never be able to cut enough individual steps consistently by hand before deciding to take up a different hobby. So I think it will be a case of drawing them up and waiting until I can put enough (different) items on one sheet to make it worthwhile having a one off etch done.


If you use thin brass strip which is correct for the width, you should be able to make the steps by scoring and breaking the brass. You can put a second, lighter, score to give you the position of the flange.

A good suggestion, but there's still the fiddle of making and soldering on the bracket to support the step (unless one cheats and does not having them standing clear of the body).
Regards,

Andrew Nummelin

andrewnummelin
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Re: end steps

Postby andrewnummelin » Sun Mar 08, 2020 2:10 pm

Daddyman wrote:Couple of photos here of a cast of an RTR backhead. Note in particular the thin shelf above the firehole door. (The regulator, by the way, is a separate fitting.)

20200306_164456.jpg
20200306_164416.jpg

I would use Bill Bedford's suggestion to produce 5 or so masters, and then cast them all at once, so that you're not wasting resin by mixing up the minimum amount just to cast 1 step. I can give you pointers on casting in resin if you want to go down this route - and if that's not teaching grandmother to suck eggs!

A very nice piece of work.
Regards,

Andrew Nummelin


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