My 7-8n2 critter is getting a roof.

Garden Railroading
1

At long last I have started on the roof of my 7/8n2 critter.

I have fabricated the framework in brass strip, rod and tubing soldered together with my regular pcb building iron.

Some of the joints were a bit tricky holding them in place whilst heat was applied to the pre-tinned parts.
My fingers don’t like too much heat at the best of times.[;)]

I am tossing up whether to use strip wood covered with “tar paper” for the roof or find some suitable brass sheeting.
Any opinions on what to use?



August 8th.
Unfortunately the regular K&S brass sheet I was going to use is not wide enough for a one piece roof. So Gordon Watson very kindly cut and rolled some brass sheet for me to fit.
The roof was held in place by wooden clothes pegs whilst I soldered it to the frame one tack joint at a time using my regular fine point sodering iron. I don’t have a gas torch. YET!



Once I have the brass thoroughly clean I will spray an etching primer before the top coat of Brown? to match the trucks and end beams.
Then I will fabricate an instrument panel with a clear styrene cover.
Soon I intend to redo the couplers and replace them with Kadees.
I have an idea for a servo driven wire pull for remote uncoupling Kadees.

2

Nice one Tony, I can really see what you mean about heat sink fingers! That’s a good looking loco, a wire pull for the kd’s? I like that idea, get a patent on it quick before a certain company in the states does! There’s actually no reason that the idea couldn’t be adapted for knuckle couplers and even with track power a small rc unit in the loco driving the servo to pull the cord to lift the locking…mmmm
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

3

I love the 'not ordinary ’ stuff.A fair old bit of work gone into that roof.
But worth it.A great looking loco.

4

I always envy you guys who can solder stuff, I always give up after the 3rd burned finger and go back to my styrene[;)]

Thats a dam good looking job, Tony[8D]

5

Tony, the loco looks great! Before springing for a torch check out Vance Bass’s resistance solder on MLS. Don’t really recall where it is there but I know it is. The article tells you how to build one, I plan to but haven’t as of yet.
It let’s you apply heat to a small area without destroying the other joints. The article is pretty straight forward, since you figured out the whole RC thing I’m sure it would be a walk in the park for you.

The remote Kadee coupler thing sounds mighty interesting!

6

Hi Tony
Nice
Think it would have looked good with a corugated iron roof
But I supose thats not avalable in brass in any scale never mind the right one.
Thanks for reminding me on couplings
will phone you tomorrow if I remember
Wheres the poor old drivers water bag??.
regards John