3D CAD Clinic

Four modellers from the North Van NMRA group came by to enjoy a dry run of my clinic for the Railway Modellers’ Meet. It was a bit of an eye-opener! I had thought that I would offer the clinic in both OnShape and SketchUp, but fortunately, everyone chose OnShape; two hours is not enough time […]

Rods for 622

As I was starting to turn up the crank pins, I figured I’d better find out if they would fit through the holes in the rods. They don’t, but rather than keep dragging out the whole etched sheet, I parted them off. Then, thought I, well I may as well fold them over and solder […]

Finished with casting drivers

After a couple of do-overs, I’ve finished casting the drivers for 622. It has not been a fast process, but at least it works, and I believe it results in a reasonably good wheel. I really should have remastered the mold before starting, as every wheel needed a little carving to account for overzealous application […]

Etchings arrive

The package from PPD arrived today and like a ten-year-old freeing a puppy on his birthday, I couldn’t wait to rip open the package! And then cut, and then rip some more, for PPD don’t mess around when it comes to getting their product to you safely. The two sheets were wrapped in tissue, then […]

First driver is somewhat disappointing

After the engine truck wheels, you might think the drivers would be an assured success. But I tell you, the first little blighter was harder to settle than my kids on Christmas Eve. No sooner would I push it into the cavity than it would edge back up and ask for another glass of water. […]

Towards an audacious goal

The Railway Modellers’ Meet is coming up in less than two months. I’m actually the chair of the organizing committee, and I should know better than to set myself modelling goals before the meet. Especially if I am also delivering a 2-hour hands-on tutorial on 3D CAD. However, I’m going to put it in writing […]

Drivers on half-axles

Before mounting the drivers on their half-axles, I had to clean up their backs. This is a touchy task due to the Proto:87 flanges, which disappear in a heartbeat and a string of expletives if you’re not paying attention. The best approach was to face only up to the portion of the wheel formed by […]

Drill sharpener

Work is so much easier when your tools are sharp. Sharp tools cut faster and cooler. The lesser effort makes it easier to be precise. I’ve always known this, and yet, it has taken me several years to get around to installing a drill bit sharpener. I think this jig came from Lee Valley Tools, […]

A dark day

It was as I was reaching for the family Optivisor, a device hitherto used only for checking the kids’ hair for lice, merely to verify if I had put a jeweller’s saw blade in the right way around that I finally conceded defeat. It was time to finally admit the termination of youth. There was […]

Approach for spokes

I was beginning to despair this Wednesday as I worried away at a test wheel with files and Dremel. The 304 stainless is about as hard as the first batch of cookies I ever baked. As with those tooth-breakers, I felt I was probably wearing out my tools faster than I was shaping the spokes. […]