Modelling in Brass - any ideas

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I have an idea for a model I want to build, and have the choice of constructing in Styrene, Brass or a bit of both.

I have never played with Brass, and would love some ideas from those who may have a little more experience than me, with either material.

A Google search came up with lots of retailers selling some great models, but no one who supplies brass modelling materials.

If I went brass, what would I need to get going?

Are there any books around that may be of use?

[Anonymous]

Styrene is easier  but brass can be rewarding - You will need  a soldering iron- fairly powerful  with interchanchable bits. A blowlamp with fine flame, Flux , variuous melting point solders, and of course brass . Bending can be fun and there are various tools available  for that tho some steel flat  sections and a decent vice will help, clamps , supports and a heatproof surface , files, pliers,  a selection of straight and curved snips .

 

Also  a considerable amount of patience and asbestos fingers helps a lot.

 

Personally I use brass where styrene cannot take the stress or would be  too thick  , tho tinplate or copper  can  be an alternative .

Styrene is undoubtably easier , cheaper and fairly durable if well painted  - big plus it can be made to look like wood  - very hard with brass.

[kstrong]

From your profile, it shows that you joined in January of 2005. If you've been receiving GR since that time, I would suggest you go back and survey the Garden Railways Basics columns, in which I cover the basics of working with both brass and styrene. If you haven't been getting the magazine, I'll heartily recommend calling and ordering the back issues. I don't remember which issue the construction tips started with, but I'm prone to say February or April 2005, and continuing until August 2006.

Both materials have their merits. I prefer styrene, as you don't have to learn the black art of soldering, but on the other hand soldering is an art that's worth learning. Most often, I'll use a combination of brass, styrene, and wood on my models.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

If you can model anything at all from anything you are ahead of me; i am hopeless in this direction but fortunately i know it.

Ian

[Anonymous]

What are you wanting to build?  Steam?  What scale?  MicroMark offers some limited brass shapes.  If I were to do a steamengine, i would try brass.  For diesels or cars I think I would stick to styrene.  For brass loco building, you probably would be alot better off witha resistance soldering setup.  A conventional iron would have to put too much heat into the boiler and cause things already soldered to  come lose.  I've been there, done that.  Tweet.