The Home Machinist!

The LA area is not real user friendly for a cast iron foundry. We have one here in Modesto that moved up here from the LA area. They were able to get cheaper electric power for their big electric arc furnace and have fewer air compliance problems. Moving out of the valley into the hills where restri...

The issue of the pilot truck wheels flanges tearing up the cylinder covers of this design of locomotive has been around for many years. Although the Southern Pacific Atlantic and Pacific locomotives were used as the starting point for this model, apparently somewhere in the design process, things we...

Trainman,

I have used Bondo in the past but the idea of a softer filler material is most interesting. Where do you find the TRU CARV material?

I have a pattern to finish building and it sounds like the answer I have been looking for.

Keep up the good pattern presentations.

Robert

Here is the image that should have been with my last post. A big thank you to Harold V. who resized it to meet the new site specs and sent it back to me so it could be posted. The image is probably 2-3 times larger than the part I have made. The strips are only .250 wide and the door is 1.218 wide u...

Many years ago, I had a student in one of my woodshop classes at the university. He was good with wood and with guns. He was starting into gunsmithing as a serious hobby and wanted to build a cane gun. I informed him that such a project was against the rules but he could build the wooden cane as a s...

As LL pointed out, there was a lubrication line in the middle of the cylinder that contained a choke and stop valve. The sliding door allowed for easy access as needed to that piece of plumbing. Some roads used a door of this Alco style. Some roads used other styles and many of Berkshires used no do...

In regards to neglected details on the USRA Mikado, I have been including some nifty items while I rebuild my Mikado into a Southern Pacific MK-9. One of the most visible points of detail on this and many engines is the cylinder jacket sliding inspection doors. I have seen this detail on HO and O sc...

Thank you Living Legend for the detailed information on the first RRSC mikado. I must not have the first one. My engine has a cast smokebox door that was filled with micro craters at all the cast on bolt heads. By milling carefully I was able to remove the micro-moonscape look and replace the cast h...

In regards to the RRSC Heavy Mikado. The locomotive was drawn up with all the details and presented to Chet for production cost estimates. The cost for production as first drawn was prohibitive and it was un-detailed to make a rather generic but nice looking engine. Much of the detail was left up to...

Thanks you for the tip on the kiln wash. This is the answer I was looking for for a long time. I figured someone out there had the answer. I have already ordered the powdered kiln wash form a supplier on eBay and await the deliveryy For those of you experienced with application of this material, is ...

I need a simple formula for an inexpensive, easy to find materials, for a pouring ladle wash coating. For years I used a plain metal ladle but it is now time to up grade and improve my act.

Does anyone have something that will work even it will only last for a few pours?

Thanks,

Robert

Silver soldering is an art form for some. Follow all the basic rules and the job will be done well most of the time. The articles by Kozo Hiraoka in Live Steam and in his many different books on geared locomotives give many nice tips on the fine art of silver soldering. Like anything else in this ho...