My 7-8n2 critter is getting a roof.

[TonyWalsham]

At long last I have started on the roof of my 7/8n2 critter.

I have fabricated the framework in brass strip, rod and tubing soldered together with my regular pcb building iron.

Some of the joints were a bit tricky holding them in place whilst heat was applied to the pre-tinned parts.
My fingers don't like too much heat at the best of times.[;)]

I am tossing up whether to use strip wood covered with "tar paper" for the roof or find some suitable brass sheeting.
Any opinions on what to use?





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August 8th.
Unfortunately the regular K&S brass sheet I was going to use is not wide enough for a one piece roof. So Gordon Watson very kindly cut and rolled some brass sheet for me to fit.
The roof was held in place by wooden clothes pegs whilst I soldered it to the frame one tack joint at a time using my regular fine point sodering iron. I don't have a gas torch. YET!



Once I have the brass thoroughly clean I will spray an etching primer before the top coat of Brown? to match the trucks and end beams.
Then I will fabricate an instrument panel with a clear styrene cover.
Soon I intend to redo the couplers and replace them with Kadees.
I have an idea for a servo driven wire pull for remote uncoupling Kadees.

[Anonymous]

Nice one Tony, I can really see what you mean about heat sink fingers! That's a good looking loco, a wire pull for the kd's? I like that idea, get a patent on it quick before a certain company in the states does! There's actually no reason that the idea couldn't be adapted for knuckle couplers and even with track power a small rc unit in the loco driving the servo to pull the cord to lift the locking........mmmm
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

I love the 'not ordinary ' stuff.A fair old bit of work gone into that roof.
But worth it.A great looking loco.

[vsmith]

I always envy you guys who can solder stuff, I always give up after the 3rd burned finger and go back to my styrene[;)]

Thats a dam good looking job, Tony[8D]

[Anonymous]

Tony, the loco looks great! Before springing for a torch check out Vance Bass's resistance solder on MLS. Don't really recall where it is there but I know it is. The article tells you how to build one, I plan to but haven't as of yet.
It let's you apply heat to a small area without destroying the other joints. The article is pretty straight forward, since you figured out the whole RC thing I'm sure it would be a walk in the park for you.

The remote Kadee coupler thing sounds mighty interesting!

[John Busby]

Hi Tony
Nice
Think it would have looked good with a corugated iron roof
But I supose thats not avalable in brass in any scale never mind the right one.
Thanks for reminding me on couplings
will phone you tomorrow if I remember
Wheres the poor old drivers water bag??.
regards John