Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

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jscarmozza
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by jscarmozza »

I was originally thinking an 0-80 fastener in each corner, trying to keep it to scale, but I don't think I could do that successfully. Bill I'd never get to breaking the tap off in the hole, I'd break the drill bit trying to drill the hole with a hand held drill. That's why I was asking for alternatives, I don't want to screw this up.
I painted the plate and tried to rub the paint off of the raised letters with a scotch brite pad, it didn't work that great.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Bill Shields »

hand drill?

wazza hand drill?

you mean an egg-beater???

now that i think about it...even though i have some 0-80 and 00-96 taps i am pretty sure that I cannot see well enough to even find them...or the appropriate drill...
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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LVRR2095
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by LVRR2095 »

Repaint then remove the high spots by using 1,200 grit abrasive cloth on a glass plate.
KarlKobel
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by KarlKobel »

I too got two usable builders plates.
I will write something up in a bit.

I was thinking of using small drive screws.

Karl
jscarmozza
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by jscarmozza »

I meant a hand held electric drill not an egg beater:)
Keith, I'll try two flat head screws on each plate and see how it looks. Thanks guys.
John
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LVRR2095
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by LVRR2095 »

John,
You might consider tapping the holes in the builders plate and put the screws in from inside the smoke box. File off anything that protrudes and you won’t see the fasteners from the outside.

Keith
jscarmozza
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by jscarmozza »

Kieth, you have a lot of faith in me!
John
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LVRR2095
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by LVRR2095 »

jscarmozza wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:17 pm Kieth, you have a lot of faith in me!
John
Yes I do!
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Dick_Morris »

A Dremel with a chuck might be more appropriate for little-bitty drill bits than a regular cordless drill.
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

I drilled clearance holes through the smokebox, ran the 0-80 screws all the way through and put nuts on the backside. No taps required.
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Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
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Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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NP317
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by NP317 »

I attached the builders plates on my locomotive smokeboxes with 2-56 brass screws. One per corner.
To tap the smokebox I drilled oversized holes which tapped easily with partial thread engagement.
Those screws do not need to be structural.
The first locomotive is 16 years old and the plates stayed in place. They also become glued with steam cylinder oil after a while.
And I just removed the plates to repaint them, and the screws unscrewed easily. All that oil...
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Pontiacguy1 »

I was going to suggest that you C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y drill a the hole about 3/4" through the smoke box shell at the clearance drill size, after you drill through with the tap drill. Then you only have about 0.065" thickness to thread with your tap. It will also act as a pilot hole to help you keep things lined up. I have used this technique several times, and it works pretty good.

The good thing about this is that if you mess up drilling it, you can do what was suggested above and use a longer bolt with a nut on the inside of the smoke box.
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