Splicing Micro-Trains Passenger car roofs

[peteski]

I also have a small block of steel that is perfectly true, 1”x2”x6”. It’s perfect for filing off excess length of cut pieces and filing the pieces square with a Bastard file. You align the cut face of the part with one of the faces on the block, and file flat across the face of the block to get a true face on the part.

Interesting idea.  Somethgin like this?

[bbussey]

Mine is a solid block.

[dougnelson]

1. Cut pieces slightly oversize in a miter box if you have one.
2. Use a square sanding box (plastic box with an edge attached) and sand cut ends with an emery board until square and to correct length.
3. Glue together.  Rather than soften plastic with a strong glue, use reinforcing strips or rods to add strength.

[PiperguyUMD]

Success!!

I picked up the Zona thin kerf razor saw and miter box set off of Amazon to tackle this project. The right tool makes the job simple! This only took two cuts, the first to half the roof, the second, to sneak up on the correct length. Lucky for me the second was spot on. I checked for square, and assembled the two pieces using MEK. The fit was so good, I was able to use the shell and a few rubber bands to hold things in place while the plastic cured. I'll be coming back later to brace the inside of the roof with styrene.



Thanks everyone for the advice!! On to the next one!

[nickelplate759]

Nice job.

What's that shell?  3d printed, a resin casting?  Also, what prototype are you modeling?

[PiperguyUMD]

It’s 3D printed. The Western Maryland had a handful of 65’ RPOs that the got from Pullman in 1917. They saw out the end of passenger service on the 2 car locals between Cumberland and Elkins.

[thomasjmdavis]

It’s 3D printed. The Western Maryland had a handful of 65’ RPOs that the got from Pullman in 1917. They saw out the end of passenger service on the 2 car locals between Cumberland and Elkins.

Those are very nice prints - did you print them yourself, or are they commercially available?

[glakedylan]

very good job with the splice
looks precise and the spacing of the roof ribs is kept well

G

[PiperguyUMD]

@thomasjmdavis these are home brewed. I was pretty aggressive with the details that I put in sketchup. I was shocked to see some of the rivet and paneling details that printed. Some of them only a scale 1/2”! They are difficult to see now, but when it was getting it’s alcohol bath, they were all there. Hopefully primer and paint will bring them out again.