HO Scale machine shop

[Anonymous]

I'm scratch-building an HO two-stall engine house and have left room inside for a small machine shop. I'm wondering if anyone out there has scratched any machine shop tools like a lathe or drill press and if so how did they do it? For me I think it would be easier (and cheaper) if I scratch built the tools myself than try to track them down and buy them.

[Anonymous]

Well it depends on how much effort you want to put into scratchbuilding these small machines whether it's worth it or not. Detail Associates and a few others have a fine HO lathes and drill press, others do too. At under $10.00 each (I forget), they might be worth a look. Check with Walthers, either their website or catalog, do a search on the machines and see what comes up, then decide.

Here's a shot of a machine shop I have on one of my modules, all machines are commercial products:



(click on photo to enlarge)

Bob Boudreau

[nedthomas]

Try Greenway Products at http://www.greenwayproducts.com/

[Anonymous]

Hey, you're probably not doing a modern layout, but if you were, you could just put a square box and call it a cnc mill or lathe [:D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help, I've definetly been steered in the right direction.

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern

Well it depends on how much effort you want to put into scratchbuilding these small machines whether it's worth it or not. Detail Associates and a few others have a fine HO lathes and drill press, others do too. At under $10.00 each (I forget), they might be worth a look. Check with Walthers, either their website or catalog, do a search on the machines and see what comes up, then decide.

Here's a shot of a machine shop I have on one of my modules, all machines are commercial products:



(click on photo to enlarge)

Bob Boudreau

Bob,
Now, you're just showing off![:D]

That is excellent work and the detail is great. I like the overhead belt drive system.
Dave

[Anonymous]

Bob that is one great machine shop. What did you use for the belts? I don't know why I am asking I am only about 30 years from having the skills to do something like that.

It is really impressive work.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bukwrm

Bob that is one great machine shop. What did you use for the belts? I don't know why I am asking I am only about 30 years from having the skills to do something like that.

It is really impressive work.

Thanks! I used masking tape that I cut into smaller strips, and then colored with a brown felt pen.

Bob Boudreau

[AntonioFP45]

Bob,

That is an incredible machine shop! I've downloaded and saved your photo. [4:-)][tup]

I've been in many prototype shops in the past. Your photo stirs up a lot of fond memories from my years working at a transit shop, where we did much of our own machining and metal fabricating to keep those buses going.

With this shop photo as well as your cutaway F-unit, you should consider holding a "Detailing Clinic" on this forum! [:D][8D][;)]

Peace and High Greens.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the comments! Here is a better photo of the machine shop, it shows the lathes, drill presses, and band saw better than the previous photo:



This machine shop is on the edge of my HO scale modules, the building cut right through so people can see inside. I made an even more detailed machine shop a long time ago, but the details can only be seen by removing the roof. This cutaway method is more viewable.

Bob Boudreau

[Billba]

Bob,

You talented people are just plain scary!! [8D][:O][^] (Little Halloween reference there). Outstanding work!! [tup][tup]

[howmus]

Bob, how did you do the lights? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by howmus

Bob, how did you do the lights? Inquiring minds want to know!

They are I believe from Minatronics, are 1.5volts. I used a length of brass wire soldered to a brass lampshade to keep the lights stiff; this was one of the power wires to the lights . The other wire was run down the brass wire to the lamp. Wiring was run within the beams in the ceiling. These beams were made from four pieces of stripwood to be hollow.

After I got everything together I was disappointed that these small bulbs didn't actually produce much lighting inside the machine shop. So I had to add a 16 volt grain of rice bulb up in the roof trusses to provide most of the actual lighting. Notice one of the lamps is burned out. I am too - no interest in replacing it!

The 1.5 volt bulbs get power from a Miniatronics transformer, the kind that plugs directly into an electrical outlet.

Bob Boudreau