Hi Just a simple question (as if) What thickness would you recommend to make the Loco chassis frames, for both 4mm/ft and 7mm/ft. I suppose for completeness and to be BBC friendly other scales could also have suggestions. And also the preferred material Paul
When I started my Andrew Barclay build in O scale I bought some brass strip from Eileens Emporium, it was a long time ago but I think it was about half a mil' thick. Dunno what that is in thou's but it is quite stiff and easy to file and cut. Some after market frame kits such as Comet in 4mm use thinner but that is probably due to the etching process, Premier components frame kits in O scale being milled are much thicker but usually don't need much work beyond assembly as they are so accurate. I wish someone would bring out bogie frame kits for 4mm diesel rtr models. I have a couple of older models, a 45 and a 25 that I could detail to make them more accurate but the bogies are pretty dire. Someone makes them in EM and P4 so why not OO? Sorry for hijacking your thread Paul. Cheer's, Pete.
Hi Paul, Kit wise preferred material is Nickel Silver but that said a lot of scratch builders make frames from PCB. Thickness would really depend on how complex the frames are. The more complex with lightening holes etc. then I would suggest 0.7mm but you might get away with 0.5mm if doing something simpler. The optimum way would be to laminate two thinner 0.25mm sheets to get extra rigidity without making them over thick. But that would mean cutting out 4 of the same which you could do by soldering 4 sheets together and then cutting/drilling them all at once for consistency.
Cheers Guys Placed an order on evilbay for 3 sheets of 200 x 100 x 0.5 mm Brass sheet £3.79 per sheet with free postage - I will have to wait until next year as the proprietor in on his hols. The 200 x 100 will fit nicely on to my mini cnc, so I can try and create a pair of frames. The possible target for this - either a Highland Railway 0-4-4T Drummond Passenger Tank or if i'm really brave a Jones Goods 4-6-0 Paul
As always - just mirrored, unless its an outside frame then there are four ...... oh you want another kit to build, if I send you a piccy in a box, I'll probably have a decade or so to worry about the metal work Paul
I have an early Model Loco/DJH Rebuilt Merchant Navy kit to start shortly, and that has mainframes of 'battleship proportions' as I understand it, compared to more modern offerings. Only had a cursory look at it, but the loco frames are pretty hefty (0.9mm), and not keen on the screwed frame separators either, so I may look at making my own soldered in ones from sheet brass. Incidentally, although the kit is complete with wheels, I need a Portescap motor/gearbox for it, so rather than look for an alternative, if anyone has a Portescap 'surplus to requirements, then please let me know! Keith.
