I know some of you know all about stained glass work but for those who don't, the freshly-cut glass edges are not suitable for adhering to other materials like the metal foils in the next step. This is where the diamond grinder comes in. These shiny edges need to be ground dull.
The whispy cloud glass has been cut to size: 10" x 3 5/8". Thickness of stained glass and regular glass can vary considerably so this must be taken into account in the initial design stage. This piece is about 1/8" thick.
Cutting the glass to size is simple with a few standard tools That you can purchase at your local stained glass retail store or craft store.
Not whisky, whispy. Dimensions of the base are nominally 12" x 4" x 3/4". The router grooves are about 10" x 3 1/4" with a groove width of about 1/4". Groove depth about 1/16". The dimensions of the grooves easily adjusted for longer locomotives/cars. This may mean also adjusting the glass case dimensions though. Front and back grooves don't have to be the same dimensions as in this case, allowing for flexible glass thicknesses such as a double wall. I'll use a version of this double wall construction on the Alberta/Nova Scotia display.
One of the advantages of stained glass backing plates is adding mood to the display case. Same can be said of the wood base. Here is one of my favourite paint schemes, the RailLink 4003. I bought this locomotive for the colours. I am going to give it a whisky cloud background and place it on a dark jacaranda pardo base from Bolivia.
Let's try this again.
How many display cases are you going to build, and what are you going to do with all of them?
Alton Junction
Third locomotive case complete. Each time I do one my construction techniques are refined, quality control is better, and the end product has improved.
Oak desk in place. This is where I assemble subassemblies and do research. Small case bases #'s 3 and 4 completed and ready for the stained glass top. My modelling-related library is extensive and includes thousands of pages from railroad modelling magazines, engineering cyclopedia and texts dating back over a century in some cases, Nova Scotia geology texts, books, and other resources, and on the bottom shelf, topographic maps and nautical shoreline charts that detail areas where I collect modelling materials.
While I am not convinced this huge mega thread belongs in an MR Forum, I do recognize the innovation and skills of the OP. I would love to see them applied to a true MR project.
That aside, it sure would be nice to see at least one completed, finished project!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
OldSchoolScratchbuilder Large display is on hold temporarily while the entire basement is being reorganized. I will have separate areas for woodworking, rock and mineral GypsumWorks Studio, glass work, metal work, paint shop, electronics, chemistry, and of course model train work.
Large display is on hold temporarily while the entire basement is being reorganized. I will have separate areas for woodworking, rock and mineral GypsumWorks Studio, glass work, metal work, paint shop, electronics, chemistry, and of course model train work.
Standardized my single locomotive/car wooden base and can now make several a day. This one is bocote from Mexico. All of my locomotives will have stained glass cases. Large display is on hold temporarily while the entire basement is being reorganized. I will have separate areas for woodworking, rock and mineral GypsumWorks Studio, glass work, metal work, paint shop, electronics, chemistry, and of course model train work.
Six hours work and there it is, my antique-looking model train case on top of my fully operational Thomas Edison Amberol Phonograph.
Black patina has been applied to age the case. With the stained glass back and aged look, this hand-crafted case is unique!
OldSchoolScratchbuilderGoes well with all her antiques.
I go well with my wife's antiques. I also played a lot last night, my antique hands are really sore today. Still watching, carry on Macduff!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
OldSchoolScratchbuilder In order to estimate the value of a small display case, without tracks, I built a second one today and timed my hours.
In order to estimate the value of a small display case, without tracks, I built a second one today and timed my hours.
This second case will be a gift to Maritime Hobbies and Crafts this week for all the valuable advice they gave me in 2017 on model trains.
In order to estimate the value of a small display case, without tracks, I built a second one today and timed my hours. After a bit more work tomorrow I estimate I can build one in 6 hours.
rrinker I for one can't wait to see the final product of all this.
I for one can't wait to see the final product of all this.
Rich
Oh yes, once I recover from last night's party, I'll be resuming the large display. I played guitar and sang for about 5 hours - a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. The small display allowed me to practice building a glass case and I learned a lot of do's and don'ts. Happy New Year everyone!
richhotrain So, is this it or will you be building other display cases before you end this thread?
So, is this it or will you be building other display cases before you end this thread?
I have a question very similar to the one by richhotrain. I was fascinated by the more elaborate display case, the one with the butte and the neutrino research lab. Will you continue this project?
Thanks
JW
Display case with a lift-style glass top. Will build other types of tops for this case. In the background our Bay of Fundy property painted by my daughter as a Christmas gift. Lots of deer visit our property as she depicted In this work.
View from the open top. The lid is the last piece to install. I am making zinc clasps for it. My wife likes this case and wants me to put it on the fireplace mantle when it's done. Goes well with all her antiques.
Crushed stone ballast from Walton, Nova Scotia installed. A piece of Cheverie orange gypsum signature mineral fastened in place. A signature hollow section of treated Cheverie beach grass filled with padauk sawdust installed (represents a fallen decaying log).
This small stained glass display case is coming along nicely. The lid will be enhanced for easy placement and removal, the track will be fixed to the base with a little crushed stone ballast, and a few small items added as the signature from my GypsumWorks Studio to complete the five material categories: wood, glass, metal, stone, and organics.
As I continue to apply a few coats of oil to the wood, I'll also replace the plastic ties with wooden ones on a brass straight as before. Will also be cutting the case's stained glass lid today.
This wood's beauty comes alive with a natural Antique Danish Oil. Of course I keep as much of the sawdust and shavings as I can for glue fillers and scenery applications.
Fixing the chips meant sanding down the entire surface and starting again. This time, however, I have used my antique 1 1/4" chisel, new router plane, and striking knife. Definitely the way to go. Should be able to finish the four glass-seating grooves today!
Zinc applied to the top of the case for a good fit to the glass top. Christmas gifts included a miniature router plane by Veritas, a striking knife by Utilitas, two Walthers Proto 55' Trinity 30,145 gallon tank cars (BRCX #10214 and #10132), and a $50 gift certificate to Maritime Hobbies and Crafts. The plane and knife are going to be very useful for my display case work.
Glass case being assembled. Lots of touch up work to do still.