Model Train Journal

Here are pics of an A and B that were produced by CLW. The bodies are a single casting, except for the roof inserts. The second set are missing their inserts. Actually I have 2 As and 2 Bs that are missing roof inserts. Anybody have spare roof inserts that they would part with. I would trade for them are buy them. I will post the pics in a series of emails so I don't overload the system.

Thanks, Steve

I'll post some more photos later. I am having problems with them. Steve

Hello Steve

were those the molds we saw at Indy ?

Cheers Carey

Yes. Steve

Here are pictures of 2 of the units that need roof inserts, and a picture that makes it easier to see that the main body castings are a one piece casting
Steve.

Here are the final 2 pics showing the small parts I got with the body castings, and a shot of the units from the side.
Steve

Did not even know these existed. Do the match plates exist for the roof? Sand casting is no longer common, but folks still do it in backyard foundries. Worse comes to worst, maybe an All Nation roof can be used as a pattern.

Bob Stevenson has the match plates, and he is a friend of mine, but it is apparently not practical to use them to sand cast only 4 of the inserts. Note that a cut down B unit insert is used for the insert for the A unit.

I don't know the specifics involved, but does anyone on this discussion group know if it would be possible/reasonable to scan the match plate and use CAD to produce them? Or as a lower tech approach, could a mold be made by pouring a substance on top of the match plate. Note that the thickness of the resulting insert and the appearance of the bottom of the insert is not important.

I had the units at Indy, and showed them to Bob Stevenson and Joe Fohelrob (surely I am spelling that wrong, sorry Joe). Joe doesn't have any inserts, and said that he remembers seeing one of the units a long time ago.

It would seem that there were not many made.

Steve

They were probably expensive, since they had a core. Have you tried glueing an All Nation roof on one? I bet you can find a "B" for $20 somewhere.

Here's another way: get two Atlas bodies, saw the roofs into two pieces, and get Jay's foundry friend to do them lost plastic.

Thanks for the ideas Bob. I have looked at both the All Nation F7 and the Atlas F9. Of the 2, the Atlas is much closer to the CLW. The idea of making a plastic master that is as close to the CLW as is reasonably possible, and casting from that has a lot of appeal.

Since you had not seen one of these, I am thinking they are sufficiently rare that I am unlikely to find any original inserts. If someone on this forum has one and has not spoken up because they don't want to part with it, please speak up as it could be borrowed to make a mold, and I would be happy to offer something in return for its use.

I am still interested in hearing from others on this forum as to what they think of the feasibility of making a mold from either the match-plate or my B unit roof. I would be very content with a resin casting made in this way.

Steve

Not only have I never heard of these, but also- I interviewed Bob twice for magazine articles and visited his shop. He never mentioned the F-7 project.

Try this: get some modeling clay (cheap, from Staples) and push that roof into it to make a mold. Get some urethane or other non- shrinking epoxy, and pour/paint it into your mold. Probably under $25 for both. But (ugh) plastic.

That would be the cheapest.

If you give up, sell one to me - I would put a chunk of .032 brass in there, and make overlays for the bolted rectangles. I think brass fans are available for under $25. Done, and all brass, as a good doorstop should be.

These are very nice Steve, I'm glad you got these, let me know if you get them done to where you want to have them painted.
Lots of possibilities there.
Pete

Thanks Pete, I appreciate that.

But now...- Hold the phone Murgatroid! I have found 4 inserts! Er, so where did I find them? At my house, wrapped up with a note that said "roofs" on the wrapping. I knew I had "roofs" and looked at them to see if cutting them down to make inserts was reasonable. Oddly enough, they are plain on the bottoms, no CLW markings.

Thanks Bob, for your thoughts. And a thank you to all who paid attention to this.

Steve