3 new scratched mine-cars

[SandyR]

Thanks, Phil! Actually, I've been using pop rivets, sanded and cut down, to replace lost Ozark pins. I thought of using offcuts from popsicle sticks, and bits of bass stripwood to build up the couplers, but I no longer have the patience (let alone the eyesight!) to work with so many fiddly bits once the car I'm building is ready for couplers! Your way sounds MUCH easier!
SandyR

[toenailridgesl]

Sandy,
the couplers are solid balsa blocks cut to 30mm X 13mm and shaped on the sander. Then I rout a slot in the centre using the Dremel and drill a hole through from top to bottom for the pin. I make the link from wire bent around needle-nose pliers, and the pins are rivets. All cheap & nasty but works fine and suitable for the era and run-down nature of the mine.

[Anonymous]

Hi Sandy R
Just a thought on this one
How about a length of K&S brass rectangle tube cut to an appropriate length
Attachehed to the wagon with a small bolt underneath with a pin hole drilled in it and a tiny split pin for the pin.
The link is a bit harder to make or should that be fiddley a bit of shaped brass strap with two holes in it.
Just a thought certanly a practical one wonder what Phil think's of that idea.
the buffer beam( sorry don't know the US term for them) would have to be notched to take it but the real ones where as well
regards John

[SandyR]

Phil, would it be possible for you to post dimensions of the balsa block couplers? The finished block, I mean. I, too, love the Ozark Min. l/p couplers, but I'm a senior on a very low income, and they're beyond my budget, as reasonable as they are.
Thanks! SandyR

[toenailridgesl]

Welcome, Rob. The phone clips are fine for anything up to 1:29 scale, because the axle diameters are pretty much all the same.
To post photos here you firstly need them stored on the web somewhere rather than just on your own computer, then you use the commands [ img ] URL of the pic [ / img ]
without any spaces.

[Anonymous]

hi,rob here
phil I like the phone clips ,but would thay work in 1.22.5 ? i've used old trucks of toytrains like x-mass train you get at wal mart or yard sails and cut the journal from it.

also i'got some pick's i'ed like to let you'al see, how can i post thim ?
the new guy, rob

[toenailridgesl]

I painted my ore-car, also the 2 other cars I made on the same chassis.

[toenailridgesl]

"Phil your like yoda the scratch building jedi "

Mmmmm...Build you a flatcar I will......the Force is strong in this one......

Darth Gluer

[jmozz]

Phil wow your my hero how do you think of these thing your like yoda the scratch building jedi jmozz

[toenailridgesl]

John,
The wheels are old Bachmann plastic wheels, I'll swap them for metal ones when I get over that side of town. The metal wheels come in 2 sizes, it's your choice. he wire clips are actually plastic saddles made to hold phone wire down to skirting boards etc, see this pic...

To tell you the truth I reckon I might just stay with these clips & make up journal covers for them. I've built 6 of these cars now & it's going to cost too much to import 6 sets of Ozark journals

[jmozz]

Phil are you saying you use wire clips for your journals. and what size wheels are you using. please show me the clips you use and are they in use unil your order comes from ozark
jmozz

[Anonymous]

looks awesome Phil![tup]

[toenailridgesl]

Gents,
Those of you who have been following the scratch-building class in the Pull-out Plans Forum will know that a group of us have been using GR plan #56 to build a 1:20.3 ore-car...
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=18539
I decided to use the same chassis to make a little flatcar & also a gondola...
Click on photos for a larger version
Gondola body...

Flat-car bed...


The wheel journals are wire clips as used to hold phone wire down, and the link&pin coupler blocks are balsa, links are paper-clips & pins are pop-rivets.