Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Joe's Scratchbuilt SteepleCab and Mining Buckets

This is Joe F's scratch built SteepleCab and mining buckets. Man, these are cool.

It looks like he's really refining his art.

So Joe; when can we get a little tutorial (or big tutorial) on how you make these? Can you take some pics through the process?

There are quite a few people that would like to know all that goes into making these. I know it is mostly trial and error. Your errors and trials have made some pretty nice stuff!



Marc

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marc: I'm really pleased to see that you advocate a tutorial as well. I've spent some time reviewing 1940s and 1950s Model Railroader issues and I'm always amazed by the scratchbuilding articles. Granted, being a machinist was almost necessary back then to be a model railroader BUT it could be done. We're not talking scale models here, but the techniques to make scale models then are relevant to create toy trains today. I think it's too easy to get in the groove waiting for MTH to make the next big thing. There are valid reasons for banking it all on MTH... money, ability, time... but I think it would be worthy to start a new wave of standard gauge scratchbuilding. The results won't all be pretty but they will be unique and, most importantly, they will be fun.

Brian O.

Standard Gauge Blogger said...

Brian and Everyone, here is an idea:

I was speaking to a friend of mine that makes toy trains. For a fee he would take us through basic machine shop as well as the basics of getting these things together. I am up for a day or two a week if anyone is interested. He is in Connecticut.

Marc

Anonymous said...

Marc: That is a great opportunity! I wouldn't be able to do this in the short-term as I'm in the midwest and a vacation is quite a ways off right now.

Undoubtedly this sounds like a huge burden, but it would be FANTASTIC if such a tutorial could be digitally recorded and made available as a podcast for a nominal fee (this way you and your friend can profit from your efforts). You're just getting your feet wet with YouTube so a podcast may be a distant Christmas wish of mine.

Brian O.