Supplier for 1.5 scale steam locomotive number plates?

[Yak18pilot]

Good morning,
Does anyone know a good supplier of custom brass locomotive smokebox number plates for 1.5" scale?
I've tried contacting Fisher Detail Foundry but they don't seem to be in business anymore.
Thanks in advance!

[Tank245]

Contact Black Hills Designs. They did the builders plates for my mogul and they turned out wonderful.
https://www.blackhillsdesigns.biz/
kirkwelding@sbcglobal.net

[hoppercar]

Black hills designs, is the best game in town now !!!

[amadlinger]

Hi Yak18pilot,

Just as a point of reference, I've had great success with designing a plate in 3D CAD based on prototype plates and then having them 3D printed and cast in bronze via Shapeways, who handles the entire process - all you have to do is upload the CAD file and they send you the casting. I use AutoCAD but Fusion360 or other free software is readily available. Attached is a builder's plate I made for my 2-8-0, and customized the date and serial number to match the exact locomotive I am building.

Sincerely,
Adam

[makinsmoke]

Adam,
For someone with absolutely no CAD experience, but a willingness to learn, I’d sure like to hear details on the process. And maybe a sidebar on how to start learning CAD?

Brian

[SPSteam2491]

Brian,
I'm in the process of writing an article for good tips and tricks to have more success when using CAD programs, specifically ones that can make 3D models. But some of the best resources out there now for learning CAD is Youtube. You can search any CAD system and watch someone point and click on a screen and show what happens. Within an day, you can learn how to draw simple shapes which will cover 75% of parts you need to model (rectangles & circles). The remaining 25% of parts requires some additional learning for more complex shapes but once you learn the basics, those become much easier to understand and complete.

Regardless of the system you choose, the best way to learn is to practice on it, make mistakes, and learn.

[rmac]

Regardless of the system you choose, the best way to learn is to practice on it, make mistakes, and learn.

Yup. I also agree that YouTube can be very helpful.

Then once you've got your feet wet, I suggest that you take some moderately complicated parts that you have already designed and/or built and model them in whatever CAD program you choose. By doing that, you can forget about the design (since it's already done) and concentrate on learning the software.

The other good thing about working from your own real examples is that it will likely force you to figure out parts of the CAD program that you wouldn't explore otherwise if you were just messing with simple exercises from somebody else's brain.

-- Russell Mac

[joe.joseph]

While taking some CAD classes at a local Community College the instructor directed us to Linked in Learning. It's free through a public library. Just need a library card account to log in and use. Many, many topics there.

[amadlinger]

@makinsmoke: Brian, I created a new thread in the Live Steam forum with an explanation of my process, for posterity if nothing else. I wholeheartedly agree with John that there is a tremendous amount of helpful CAD tutorial videos on YouTube that are worthwhile to watch, and encourage you to just dive in and start doing it as Russell is spot on with his advice to work on what *you* want to work on. I find that it is all much easier *done* than *said*, once you figure it out it comes as second nature.

Hopefully this helps!

Sincerely,
Adam