What’s on your Workbench?

[ScaleCraft]

Here's yours:


NOT the combo link.

[R.K. Maroon]

Phil, I wonder if there is any chance that you could straighten that roof by working the underside of it while it's in place? To be clear, I mean without removing the roof from the rest of the body. The body of course would have to be removed from the chassis.

I will say that pantograph installation is very busy. I would think a trolley pole setup would be cleaner.

Jim

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[sarge]

I'd have to have in hand, but my mind goes to taking it apart and just working it with my fingers against dolls or blocks. Looks thin enough.

Problem with beating is it stretches the metal. Rolling is much nicer and fingers are good rolls with thin material.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[bob turner]

.015 is one notch above shim stock. I recommend Sarge's method.
I believe the South Shore version had a small pantograph and a trolley pole.

[ScaleCraft]

IF you can get the stuff off the roof, like horn, roofwalks, equipment boxes and such, on thin stock I have had good success with flat surface, thin towel, and a piece of 1/2" dowel rounded off a bit on the end and just push, shove and slide from the inside.

Try your thumbs first to get the big areas out and closer to where it needs to be.

[bob turner]

Agree. I will go over to OGR and post a few photos - just as easy as Shutterfly - and drag them here.

[bob turner]

No couplers, no paint, Lobaugh trucks but no gears, crooked handrails - what do you want for $65? I have another - later. Note the small pantograph. Trade even a pair of small ones for a pair of large (GG1 type) large ones.

[ScaleCraft]

Not the same units, are they?

Side door on his, louver on yours. Nose louvers look different, chair rail, angled window rain deflectors.

Angles of the noses look different.

I am puzzled about the vertical handrails at the very end of cab proper, just outboard the windows.

If they are the same units, his roofwalks can go POOF! and make life easier.

Side door IS interesting. Unnecessary with end doors, but interesting nonetheless.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[bob turner]

Sure. As soon as I get off the couch.

[R.K. Maroon]

What is on my workbench? Why, a workbench:

This is a small, portable jeweler's workbench. I use it anytime I need to do a lot of up-close detail work. It brings the model up to eye level, which keeps me from having to bend down over the model. It's a real back and neck saver. A friend who is an semi-pro jeweler recommended it to me. She sent me to Rio Grande Jewelry supply (http://www.riogrande.com, which I am told is the 800-lb gorilla in that market. I have had this about six or eight years, and I recall paying a bit over $100 for it. I couldn't find this bench on Rio Grande but Etsy had one for $225:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/589328735/jewelers-bench-work-table-top-jewelry?gpla=1&gao=1&
At that price, it's not an easy sell, but it, or something like it, is something to consider for anybody who finds themselves spending a lot of time hunched over a model.

By the way, I also bought a jeweler's saw setup from Rio Grande. Really handy for cutting holes in brass or cutting out small pieces with sharp curves.

Jim

[R.K. Maroon]

What is on my workbench? Why, a workbench:

This is a small, portable jeweler's workbench. I use it anytime I need to do a lot of up-close detail work. It brings the model up to eye level, which keeps me from having to bend down over the model. It's a real back and neck saver. A friend who is an semi-pro jeweler recommended it to me. She sent me to Rio Grande Jewelry supply (http://www.riogrande.com, which I am told is the 800-lb gorilla in that market. I have had this about six or eight years, and I recall paying a bit over $100 for it. I couldn't find this bench on Rio Grande but Etsy had one for $225:
1https://www.etsy.com/listing/589328735/jewelers-bench-work-table-top-jewelry?gpla=1&gao=1&
At that price, it's not an easy sell, but it, or something like it, is something to consider for anybody who finds themselves spending a lot of time hunched over a model.

By the way, I also bought a jeweler's saw setup from Rio Grande. Really handy for cutting holes in brass or cutting out small pieces with sharp curves.

Jim

[sarge]

That height issue is very important to me, too. Having broken my back, a couple surgeries later, and this old watchmakers bench is the very thing. Its tall enough to stand at when sitting isn't an option, and the green lab-stool puts you down to a good level for detailed yellow-smithing.