Vintage - Frary Diesel - HOn30 again

[roughneck]

Cuzzin' David,

Very neat thread! This is fun to follow along. That looks like it's going to be a really neat little engine when you're finished with it.

My only experience working with brass like this has been the two fire escapes I put together while building the Hotel for the Cambridge Crossings build. My only advice from that - I find if I keep what little hair I have left cut really, really short I can't get a good grip on it when trying to pull it out.

Thanks I think I'll buzz it tonight before I continue

CD

[roughneck]

I am really glad you are posting your progress. I have a bunch of etched kits and parts that I need to get after and have been too chicken to try them out yet. I used to be pretty good with a micro torch and silver solder of small medical bits way back when, but I don't have access to the jewelers equipment to do that anymore. I have to tackle with a soldering gun and irons, assuming I can get them hot enough to keep the heat in the brass bits localized.

Your work is looking pretty good to me!! Keep it going, you are almost there.

...and I don't even see any seared fingerprints on the brass!!

Thanks I'm struggling with HO scale have fun with N

CD

[roughneck]

Before going any further, here are some of the tools I used. Not all recommended but they work for me.

Some of the tools

tools1.JPG (43.95 KiB) Viewed 274 times

tools2.JPG (45.29 KiB) Viewed 273 times

CD

[roughneck]

Next was attaching the walkway to the base of the hood. This is when the wood form/jig made for the inside of the hood came in handy. It allowed me to put pressure on the hood and hold the walkway in position while applying the heat and solder. It was amazing to find what you can do with two hands while trying to use three different items Sorry no picture, was too busy.

walkway-hood.JPG (55.11 KiB) Viewed 272 times

I tried different approaches when attaching the cab and hood. Again I needed a jig to hold the hood and cab in position and still be able to apply pressure, heat and solder. The wood was cut to fit between the cab steps and support the cab and hood. Notice the groove cut to accept the grille that extends below the hood sides.

positioning-jig.JPG (44.41 KiB) Viewed 272 times

Using the wood jig, clamps and the small vise, everything was held in position for the heat, solder and a damp cloth. It looked like a one arm paperhanger.

holding-jig.JPG (54.49 KiB) Viewed 272 times

More to follow
Cuzzin David

[roughneck]

The cab/hood assembly needs some file work but before that cutting the plastic walkway on the donor mech was next. Dave suggests trim a small amount at a time or the whole frame could fall apart.

motor-plastic2.JPG (57.15 KiB) Viewed 271 times

I trimmed too much, it will need some structual pieces added later.

motor-plastic.JPG (55.5 KiB) Viewed 271 times

Still working on the cab roof

Cuzzin David

[Night Train]

David,
Nobody said it was going to be easy. Especially if you're never tried etched brass before.

The soldering tweezers and the low-temp melt solder really speed things up, and once you try the soldering tweezers, like they say, you'll never go back.

I bent the cab roof over a broom handle and carefully straightened it to fit the contour of the cab sides. This was more difficult than the instructions stated.

You're doing a terrific job. I can't wait to see it finished.

[roughneck]

David,
Nobody said it was going to be easy. Especially if you're never tried etched brass before.

The soldering tweezers and the low-temp melt solder really speed things up, and once you try the soldering tweezers, like they say, you'll never go back.

I bent the cab roof over a broom handle and carefully straightened it to fit the contour of the cab sides. This was more difficult than the instructions stated.

You're doing a terrific job. I can't wait to see it finished.

This is my first etched brass kit I have two more, a porter and a forney so there is a learning curve.

I checked the price on the soldering tweezers- $240.00 so I'll struggle with what I know and have - for now. Any extra money is being spent on a mig welder for some 1:1 projects

Thanks for the encouragement. I did get the cab roof attached and will post pics soon

CD

[rebel]

David,
Nobody said it was going to be easy. Especially if you're never tried etched brass before.

The soldering tweezers and the low-temp melt solder really speed things up, and once you try the soldering tweezers, like they say, you'll never go back.

I bent the cab roof over a broom handle and carefully straightened it to fit the contour of the cab sides. This was more difficult than the instructions stated.

You're doing a terrific job. I can't wait to see it finished.

This is my first etched brass kit I have two more, a porter and a forney so there is a learning curve.

I checked the price on the soldering tweezers- $240.00 so I'll struggle with what I know and have - for now. Any extra money is being spent on a mig welder for some 1:1 projects

Thanks for the encouragement. I did get the cab roof attached and will post pics soon

CD

Set on e-bay with a day to go, only at $20 so far!

[roughneck]

CD

Set on e-bay with a day to go, only at $20 so far![/quote]

Thankx will check it out

CD

[Delaware&NorthernRR]

David,
I am impressed. This is coming along really well. I like the way you made some simple fixtures to hold the parts in alignment for soldering.