Making the toolboxes. 1/16 square brass tube. I split it with a diamond dremel bit. Used a scrap piece of wood as a backer. Next, I’ll solder on hinge elements and cut two to length for under the tender. I could have used the entire piece of tubing, but then I would have to machine recesses in the floor. This way is a bit less intrusive.
Soldered eyelets to the split square tubing, bent them over as hinges and then cut it into two toolboxes for the sides of the tender. I will fill the backside with JB quick weld and sand to shape. I’ve found JB quick weld to be an awesome filler, it sands easy, dries fast and doesn’t shrink.
Dang man, leave some scratchbuilding skill for the rest of us! Every time I think I can't be more impressed, I am.
Wrapped a .045 brass wire with a thin strip of tape to see how it looks to simulate insulated pipe. Will paint tomorrow for experimentation.
The wrapping looks respectable, so I used the same method on the two pipes that wrap around the front truck of the tender. After wrapping them, I coated in thin CA. I attempted to bend the first one into shape, but the coating cracked. Had to bend the brass wire first and then wrap them.
All finished with the exception of lettering. Pictured it behind a mikado, but this one will follow my SP Berk. Now to make another for this Mike.
Made a few laps with it behind the mikado while the berk is in the shop. Looks great and provides excellent pickup. To me, it looks better than the 120 series tender that came with the mike. I tore down the berk last night and I’ve come a long way in the 10 years since I initially kitbashed it. It was a hack job on my part and is in need of some serious rework. Updates to follow.
I sometimes find these days that I can't do what I used to or I am just not as meticulous as I once was and just do good enough. Getting old is still fun. And as long as I am having fun, I am happy. Looks like you are having fun putting your perfected skills to work, that is what it is all about.
I’ve found myself to be much more meticulous than I used to be, maybe not as patient. This as well as a few honed skills and different materials makes me a bit better modeler.
