Jerry B44 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Never had much luck with those tools, but you might be on the right track. I'd probably go to the local sign shp and get some vinyl in that color and cut some strips, or have them cut them. I think you are probably right on using your own car molds to cast your own rather than modify, but might factor in you are more used to them and this was new, so next time might go easier? Probably cheaper to use your own molds though. Quandry for sure! You wore me out reading abut all the work you were doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 I will know if the striping tool will work in a few minutes. I will definitely find out if the sectioned car is straight or not, that might cause some problems. I am convinced that starting from scratch from my molds is probably twice as easy as redoing the MTH ones. I wore you out?, I am almost done. I found out that the blue paint match is real close after color sanding with 800 and getting rid of the ridge of the paint. Also the blue that MTH uses is a satin, so my gloss didn't look right, but after color sanding and then using rubbing compound brings the color to almost match. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Hope it works. You use that Tru Color paint, or mix your own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 No, I had to mix my own, blue, gray and yellow. Here is the result. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamPower4ever Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Man, that is nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 Thank you steam power, my contraption on the mill worked after getting used to the setup, had to do one side over, but it is good now. Will never do a kit bash again, whew what a lot of work. From now on I will just use my own molds. For one thing, I won't have to match paints, make parts, stretch the roof, grind the welds on the roof. All I have to do now is fit the interior, lights, move one truck, paint the roof and a few other things, and it is done. Thanks again for your welcomed encouragement. Bob. I will attempt to put a youtube video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRFNopKcBuQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Now for the really big deal, windows. I am going to try to make some aluminum frames, with luck I can make them look good. The silver frame in one of the pictures is paint, and I don't like it, so that's why I am going to try aluminum frames. Here are some pics. of the almost done car. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Cars are coming out real nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 Thanks Sean, coming from you, that is a compliment. Well off to the metal surplus store to see if I can get some aluminum to cut for the window frames. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Metal duct tape could work also, it's shiny and has adhesive on the back. I use it a lot on my trains. Get the Nashua brand, one in Walmart is half as thick as the Nashua and tears easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 Thanks, but if this machining doesn't work out, I will certainly entertain that idea, sounds like a good one. I hadn't thought of that. I just bought 50 bucks worth of aluminum and several cutting tools, so I hope it works out. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Wow! Looking great! Several years ago there was a multi-issue article in GR about stretching the MTH passenger cars. For window frames and gaskets that guy used some different brands of Devcon tape...he also had access to a laser cutter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 Where can I find that article? Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 Here is my first window frame out of aluminum.. It will look better when I polish them and get the glass in them. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman4449 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Bob your work has just been outstanding, very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blid Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 What a coincidence. I have two issues of Garden Railways and one of them, June 2007, contains an article “Converting MTH Coaches to Full-length cars: Part 1†by Jack Verducci on page 91. I hope this helps.Blid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 I wondered what happened to you Rayman4449, how have you been doing? Thanks for your compliment, I added two more pictures with the window frames after I polished the frame and what a difference. Well I am all tooled up to make the rest of the frames. Blid, thank you, I was beginning to think that was a wives tale, imagine someone else as twisted as I am for attempting such a project. It is turning out OK though, and I think it will look OK when I get the windows in. Thanks for identifying the issue with the MTH stretch, I will try to find it some where, thanks again, Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamPower4ever Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks for identifying the issue with the MTH stretch, I will try to find it some where, thanks again, Bob. Here ya go: https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/garden-railroading/magazines/back-issues/GRW070601__Garden-Railways-June-2007 https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/garden-railroading/magazines/back-issues/grw070801__Garden-Railways-August-2007 Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks SteamPower4ever, I just ordered them. I want to see how Jack Verducci did it., How do you like my window frames? I made my frame holder out of wood and while the frame came out OK, tomorrow I am making a more substantial holder because I was getting too much chattering out of the cutter. The wood seems to want to vibrate and resonate. This time I'm making the holder out of aluminum, I'm sure I can get rid of the chatter. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamPower4ever Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 The frames are gorgeous, Bob. Very real looking. Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 Thank you. I am trying to figure out now how to simulate blinds. Haven't figured it out yet. Any ideas would be appreciated. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 I found a picture of some blinds and just glued it to the back of the frame, but they don't look like train blinds. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I think with the nice window frame and the nice blinds that your there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 I think I have found the perfect material for blinds. I bought a roll of white aluminum flashing for roofs. I can cut it on a paper cutter. I am working on a jig for positioning while gluing. I think I will have three positions, all the way down see through, 1/3 down folded, and all the way down shut. If this works out, I think it will look nice, lot better than printed on a piece of paper. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.a4fb2273837361b3bbaa7a1d8a4c8996.png){kind=logo}
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.