Does anybody have a easy way to put handrails on??

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hey guys

Does anybody else find that putting handrails on Atheran engines is a lesson in frustration. Does anybody have a easy way to put them on. I find that the holes on the body are usually too small and it gets to be quite a pain. Any tips on how to reduce my frustration?

Jeremy

2

I assume you are talking about the metal handrails?

If that is the case I always drill out the holes with a size just larger than the stancion diameter. I completely assemble the handrails then ACC everything together as a unit. I remove the handrail from the engine and paint to the prototype colors. After all your detailing work is done etc. I then attach the handrail units to the locomotive with ACC.

Rick

3

thanks, I’ll give that a try. What size bit are you using?

4

As of yet, with 20+ BB Athearns, I have yet the need to drill out the holes.
I simply use finger power to start them, then using a really small pair of channellock pliers, gently pu***hem in all the way!
A secret I’ve found is the stanchion should be at as close to a 90 degree angle to the body to go in fir a snug fit.

Gordon

5

My drill size is something around No. 70 just compare your drill with the stanchion, but I have also used CP5415’s method with the channellocks, and I bend the stanchion to a perfect 90 degrees and send it home with the channellocks.

Rick

6

Just my [2c], I also crimp the stantion to the handrail to avoid fore and aft movement when handling the locomotive.

7

I use a set of long-nose flat-jamed pliers to press them into the holes - making sure the pliers are not pressing on part of the body that will be visible when the loco is assembled. Then I put a drop of CA on each stanchion where it joins the handrail to stop it moving from the vertical, though I like willy6’s idea of crimping them - will have to try that next time I build one!

8

What I do is line up the stanchion with a pair of needle nose pliers and then touch the stanchion briefly with a soldering iron.

Goes in quickly, stanchion stays put.

You may want to practice on an old shell first.

Tom

9

That is the way I do it. Except the pliers I use are not Channel-locks, though they may be better. You have to be careful to not let the stanchion change positions during the process and to not apply too much pressure. There are usually a couple of holes on each locomotive that do need to be drilled out.