MTL Tankcar Platform

[TrainCat2]

So I don't pollute the lasts Weekend Update, a new thread. So I did a shrinky dink of the second photo from Bryan to determine the length of the platform. The width was made just slightly less than the MTL tank dia. The center hole will have about .015 after etching clearance of the hand holds molded into the stack. Now I will work on the remaining parts on the platform.

[peteski]

Nice!



Just to put things in perspective, this is what the end result will look like?
The railings, supports (with attachment points which will fit in holes drilled in the tank), and ladders will be included in the etching?

[TrainCat2]

Not really, Tankcar is not included.

[Curtis Kyger]

We've needed this product for a long time. 

[peteski]

Not really, Tankcar is not included.

Wise guy!   
But then again, in today's world such an exclaimer is not unexpected.

[TrainCat2]

Hey Pete, also ... some assembly is required.

Nearly there. I think this is one of my quickest designs.In the corners, you might be able to see "L" openings for the corner stanchions once bent. This will be etched from .005 stainless. INCLUDED Platform supports and the ladders should complete this project.

[peteski]

Ah, so the railing stanchions will slide into the corner openings (after the ends of the platform are bent down,  and then glued or soldered. That will work well as long as the parts are not under-etched (as it happens from time to time).  It would have been nice to have the platform and railings as a single foldable part, but then the platform edges would be too thin.

It will also be interesting to see how you handle the platform supports and ladders. Genius at work!

[garethashenden]

Could you make it out of nickel silver instead of stainless? Almost as strong but much easier to solder...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Could you make it out of nickel silver instead of stainless? Almost as strong but much easier to solder...

The handrails may be too delicate for NS. I ran into this problem when making my PD hopper kit. The resulting grabs were just to fragile to use and I needed to use bronze wire instead.

For SS metal, I prefer to use super glue. I find that the bond is really good with most etched metal parts and don't need the added step of soldering everything.

[peteski]

Generally I'm also worried about soldering stainless steel etchings.  Yet, I did manage to solder the stainless railings in Bob's Auto-Ramp model.  I think I turned the soldering iron temperature down, and used Tix (acidic) flux.  I should have made notes.  The solderability also likely depends on the type of the stainless steel alloy used for the etched parts.

[TrainCat2]

Done!   As for NS, the minimum thickness is .0098 and I will be using .005 SS. That means that I can make details as delicate as .0075 (1.5 metal thickness). Now I have to get quotes and figure which is better, US etcher or PPD. Surprisingly, the sheet sheet size at PPD 580mm x 890mm which is far bigger than the 18in x 24in I am used to. Should be interesting as which one will be cheaper on the unit cost. I'm going to go have dinner now.

[bbussey]

Should the stanchions be slightly triangular?  Wider at the bottom than at the railing?

[peteski]

I would have hoped that there was some sort of slots or other means of positively attaching the ladder to the platform. Hopefully the ladder is long enough to also install it in holes drilled in the tank's walkways.  Or maybe have the ladders as a single piece with the platform (since the edges are to be bent 90 degrees anyway.  I know, that would not be prototypical.

[peteski]

Should the stanchions be slightly triangular?  Wider at the bottom than at the railing?

Well, that is a photo of a N scale model scanned from a magazine article I swiped from the WUD thread, here is the other one:



The stanchions are probably just straight.  But the mounts look to be in slightly different locations.

[Chris333]

Surprisingly, the sheet sheet size at PPD 580mm x 890mm which is far bigger than the 18in x 24in I am used to.

Bigger? I haven't had PPD etch anything in a few years, but I remember their minimum size was pretty small. Did they change the min size?