gmpullmanHe might be refering to "Sintra" or types of expanded polyvinyl chloride.
Thanks Ed,
Looks like an interesting possibility, but I believe it would still have to be covered with Lexan or something similar in order to avoid damage to the surface. There was a modeller on the forums whose name I can't remember who used Sintra extensively on his backyard G (I think) scale layout. His work is incredible, but to the point of this discussion, he was easily able to score the surface of the Sintra panels to create mortor lines and surface effects. Having a control panel with a soft surface doesn't make sense.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
In Jr. High we had in 7th. Textiles, Ceramics, and Metal
In 8th we had Printing, Wood Shop and Electric.
In Jr. High we had hand set lead type and hand powere platten presses.
In High School we had powered Platen Presses.
Later on New York State baned platten presses, it was exclusively offset.
Today the print shop here at the Abbey is ong gone. All of our printing in full color is done on Xerox Laser Machines.
My workstation users get laser B&W, color is the big machine down by the business office, but some monks can apply to the abbot for a color machine.
We no longer use any ink-jet machines.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Rather than use a diagram of my layout printed on paper, I prime the masonite with regular spray primer. I then paint it white. After the white has dried completely, I mask off the diagram with narrow pinstriping tape, then paint it a dark color. Before the paint dries completely, I carefully peel off the pinstriping tape.
The second image is of the control panel for an extension of the layout. The toggle switches are all DPDT-Center off. When the switches are thrown to the left, control of this area is done from the main control panel. When the switches are thrown to the right, control is done locally from this panel.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I'm pretty sure you're a bit older than I am, Lion, but I also did hand set type and used a platten press in print shop. I think I made some personalized statioonary with it, I forget which grade I did what but one was a screen printed t-shirt (they let us use xacto knives to cut the film for the screens!), one was a name and address rubber stamp, and I'm pretty sure I did manual typesetting to make personalize stationary, which we then stacked, squared off the edges, and bound the top. My screen print was the computer character in the TRS-80 Model 1 Level 1 BASIC instruction manual!
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerI'm pretty sure you're a bit older than I am, Lion
Lion's bit older than everyone!
This sounds like an application for the Scan-n-cut gizmo that Ben Lake has reviewed a couple of times. Use the Scan-n-cut to cut your holes before you glue the paper down to the masonite. You could also use its capability to draw to lay out the artwork for the panels - not to mention the many cool control panel stuff you could do with this thing and adhesive backed vinyl in different colors.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
carl425This sounds like an application for the Scan-n-cut gizmo that Ben Lake has reviewed a couple of times. Use the Scan-n-cut to cut your holes before you glue the paper down to the masonite.
That's an interesting idea! I have also thought of using the hole punches that I have to do the same thing.
It still leaves the issue of drilling the Masonite cleanly. Hopefully the lipped brad point drill bits that I have on order will accomplish that.
I bought some 110 lb. card stock for doing structure mock ups. It will go through my printer so I'm going to give that a try instead of using plain printer paper for the control panels.
Thanks,
The verdict is in! The lipped brad point drill bits cut a very clean hole in regular printing paper that has been glued to Masonite.
For some reason I can't get the pictures focused really well, but they illustrate my point.
This was done with lipped brad point drill. There is a little bit of damage around the hole but that was caused by me allowing the drill to flop over when it broke through. The bezel will hide the damage:
These were done with a newer regular twist drill:
Closeup of the 1/4" bit:
from which direction did you drill? face or back
if you drilled from the back, did you drill with the face resting on a scrap piece of wood?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Hi Greg,
I drilled from the front at a very low speed. I should have supported the back because there was some breakout but no worse than with the twist drills.
HEY! Be carefuly where you poke that drill bit!
Shesh! What do you think this is, an HO scale layout!
Brother Elias, I shake my head every time I look at that photograph! What is apparently a horror story on first glimpse is actually a story of true luck.
First, the train apparently wasn't moving when the drill came through. That is in itself a miracle. Can you imagine the mayhem if the train was doing 30 mph?
Second, the drill bit actually missed the train! A foot to the right and the Transit Authority would have had a major leak on their hands. That would be with the train being stationary. Add in 30 mph and a few passengers and we would have had a recipe for ham salad! By the way, I love ham salad! But not that kind!
Now, if we look a foot or so to the right, there is a pipe line which could be gas. Okay, let's have grilled ham salad!! (Not my favourite by the way!).
Let's look at all of the positives: The drill was obviously being used very gently judging by the very clean breakout in the ceiling of the tunnel!...........................Uh, duh, unfortunately, I can't think of any more positives! Anybody??
Seriously Lion, we have to say that this is one we got away with!!!
Thanks for all of your excellent photography, your modelling skills and your challenges to our slumbering in front of the computer!
Cheers!!
Would NOT be a gas pipe on or in a Subway Structure. LIRR uses gas switch heaters but not the NYCT.
NYCT even has electric thrid rail heaters attached to the third rail, go figure.
rrinkerMy screen print was the computer character in the TRS-80 Model 1 Level 1 BASIC instruction manual!
8K or 16K version?
A couple of notes that may be helpful:
Carefully dress the 'ears' on the brad point drill with a fine oilstone (and oil) from the inside (not the OD) at the start, and then from time to time, to keep their tips very sharp -- think of them as the points of something like a #1 X-Acto knife cutting the paper. Masonite is an abrasive material and may tend to blunt these (virtually invisibly, but terribly effectively) to where they start to deform the paper face rather than cleanly cut through it.
It may help to use a drill guide to keep the bit exactly parallel to the workface as you engage it. The side points won't start to engage the facing until the brad point has penetrated to some distance, so you have a little leeway in positioning the bit precisely. I suspect that a drill guide with a 'square' baseplate will be more useful for this in many cases (e.g. on curved fascia) than one that has a circular plate.
We should probably discuss possible methods of 'bucking' from the back side of panels that are installed (or that can't be jigged flat) when drilled, to aid with punch-through problems on the reverse side of the panel. Usual support with backing blocks won't work with typical Masonite use on a model railroad, e.g. in curved fascia following the edge of framing.
OvermodCarefully dress the 'ears' on the brad point drill with a fine oilstone (and oil) from the inside (not the OD) at the start, and then from time to time, to keep their tips very sharp
Hi Overmod,
You mean that I can't substitue these for my masonary bits?!? Yes, I recognise the need to keep the ears sharp for sure, and to sharpen from the inside. I have a very fine oilstone that my father gave me when I was a youngin. The Ministry of Natural Resources used to give them out as freebies in the 1950s. They came in nice little leather sleeves. I have used it so much that it is hollowed out in the middle on both sides. It's too small to dress. There wouldn't be anything left!
Overmod rrinker My screen print was the computer character in the TRS-80 Model 1 Level 1 BASIC instruction manual! 8K or 16K version?
rrinker My screen print was the computer character in the TRS-80 Model 1 Level 1 BASIC instruction manual!
Is this a test? The Level 1 BASIC version of the Model 1 only had 4K of RAM.