By John O’Connell / Photos by Ted Becker, Al Carter, John O’Connell

Snow Flies at Custer, December 2015

Snow Flies at Custer, December 17

December 22, Mt. Vernon Senior Center

Eleven attended the Clinic just a few days before Christmas. Many regulars were not able to make the Clinic considering the season. For those unable to attend, we hope this report will be helpful.

Announcements
Tool Time

Ted Becker shared a number of useful devices he designed to aid in assuring adequate clearance. The basic idea is to trace an NMRA Clearance Gauge on sheet styrene and adapt it for various purposes: 1) mount on a truck for general use as track is laid; 2) set it on roadbed and rail to test vertical clearance; 3) use a pair to verify overhang clearance on curves.

Ted's Clearance Gauges

Ted also shared an interesting use of a hinged mirror which slips through a slot under the track which allows him to verify all wheels are on the track.

Ted Becker's Inspection Mirror

Ted Becker’s Inspection Mirror

Tom Buckingham showed us a smooth jawed Bent Plier. The benefit of the smooth jaws is that they don’t nick the rail.

Tom's Bent Pliers

Tom’s Bent Pliers

Tom also shared his process for finishing custom made #8 turnouts. He uses MinWax Ebony and cleans the rail with a Cratex Abrasive Block.

Tom Buckingham's #8 Turnouts

Tom  #8 Turnouts

Al Carter showed us magnetic corners which he uses in constructing buildings to assure the walls are square and plumb.

Magnetized Corners

Al’s Magnetized Corners

Mike O’Brien and Al Carter introduced a project wherein they will update the Clinic over the next few months with progress on assembling a laser cut model kit.

Tom Buckingham's installment on Laser Cut Models

Mike’s  installment on Laser Cut Models

Before Al shared the key tools in his box for this project, he showed us another more modest laser cut kit that was thought to be so straight forward, there are no instructions.

Al Carter's Laser Cut model with Intuitive Instructions

Al Carter’s Laser Cut model with Intuitive Instructions

As a challenge, Al offered a free kit with the proviso the taker would share progress with the Clinic. John Biagio accepted the challenge.

John Biagio

Al’s tool box had a wide range of the new, the old and the unusual:

  • Sprue Nipper (Microscale, PBL)
  • Emory Boards
  • Exacto Knife with Excel Blades
  • Angle Plates (used as weights to hold down work and to help keep corners square)
  • Machinist Squares (Harbor Freight)
  • Tweezers
  • Pounce Wheel for detailing nails on wood siding  (Al’s secret is to use Dremel saw blades with the correct number of teeth per inch to realistically model nail heads)
  • Glue Bot for applying yellow glue (Amazon or maybe local building center (i.e. Mount Vernon Building Supply)
  • Aleene’s Glue Fast Grab (great for styrene to wood applications)
  • Canopy Glue for attaching glazing to window openings – dries clear
  • PrismaColor Premier Double Ended Art Markers in various strengths of Warm and Cool Gray
  • Leather Dye (Black, and not liquid shoe polish)
Al's Tools

L to R: Glue Bot, Angle Plate, Pounce, Sprue Nipper

Diorama Build Progress
Ted Becker's Engine House

Ted Becker’s Engine House

 

Al Carter's Diorama

Al Carter’s  Waterfront with Motel and Oyster House

Tom Buckingham's Diorama

Tom Buckingham’s Stream Bed

Mike O'Brien's Diorama

Mike O’Brien’s Fall Foliage