Dog Star
Western Thunderer
So several months back I wrote about starting an adventure with a Silhouette Cameo, here , thank you Robin (@Rob Pulham). Progressing the idea of cutting Mk1 vestibule partitions and interior doors we have had success and there are (small) piles of cut parts awaiting use in our Easybuild coaches. Here are some photos and words about the progress.
One characteristic of cutting the internal partitions is that we are aiming for the internal profile of an EZ side rather than a 7mm equivalent of the prototype... and that has meant repeated trials of shape. Given the cost of styrene sheet the trials were made using cardstock and that material is easier on the cutting blade. At Version 11 we got to the point of diminishing returns and accepted that version as The Master. Beside the pink card part are the first cuts of vestibule partitions for the EZ SO and TSO coaches... needing some gentle fettling around the edges. The bar across the bottom of the gangway opening was put in to keep the shape of the part whilst cleaning - the bar was removed after laminating the vestibule end from three layers of 15thou sheet.
Here we have parts to be used in the EZ models, one set for a TSO (two plus spare) and one set for a SO. These parts are made of three 15 thou layers, the outer layer is grey ABS and the inner layer is white styrene - chosen so as to assist in cleaning up the edges (tip courtesy of Adrian (@adrian)).
And why no spare for the SO? Well there was a spare, for a couple of days there was a spare. Three days after laminating the parts one of the SO vestibule partitions started to delaminate and curl like a Mk1 RMB sandwich. Why just one of the six laminated partitions? No idea although I suspect that the affected partition may not have been bonded sufficiently.
So we now have the means to produce vestibule and saloon partitions for the EZ Mk1 range of "open" carriages... time to move on to the doors of the vestibule partitions. As with the actual partitions we have had a fair number of trial runs and in this case the reasons for the trials are to (a) cut curved corners for the glazing and (b) get the glazing in a position relative to the gangway which "looks / feels" right when placed in the opening of a vestibule partition. Here is the result... first the samples and then the parts.
What we have in the previous photo are "outers" of the door - now to cut the "inners" of those doors, as here.
And finally, the parts to for the carcass of one door.
The previous photo shows two outer layers and one inner layer, when laminated to form one door then there is a space within the door for the glazing to be added after painting. Just visible on the outers are scribed lines to provide the location of the door lock plates - one to the left, one to the right.
Next step is to add beading to the edge of the vestibule opening... and a door shut to the partition... fix the door (open / closed / somewhere in-between)... the door cover on the vestibule side... and finally the door furniture.
OK so a long time to get here and a rather up-and-down road with cul-de-sacs, part of the learning exercise. Dare I say "no solder here"?
One characteristic of cutting the internal partitions is that we are aiming for the internal profile of an EZ side rather than a 7mm equivalent of the prototype... and that has meant repeated trials of shape. Given the cost of styrene sheet the trials were made using cardstock and that material is easier on the cutting blade. At Version 11 we got to the point of diminishing returns and accepted that version as The Master. Beside the pink card part are the first cuts of vestibule partitions for the EZ SO and TSO coaches... needing some gentle fettling around the edges. The bar across the bottom of the gangway opening was put in to keep the shape of the part whilst cleaning - the bar was removed after laminating the vestibule end from three layers of 15thou sheet.
Here we have parts to be used in the EZ models, one set for a TSO (two plus spare) and one set for a SO. These parts are made of three 15 thou layers, the outer layer is grey ABS and the inner layer is white styrene - chosen so as to assist in cleaning up the edges (tip courtesy of Adrian (@adrian)).
And why no spare for the SO? Well there was a spare, for a couple of days there was a spare. Three days after laminating the parts one of the SO vestibule partitions started to delaminate and curl like a Mk1 RMB sandwich. Why just one of the six laminated partitions? No idea although I suspect that the affected partition may not have been bonded sufficiently.
So we now have the means to produce vestibule and saloon partitions for the EZ Mk1 range of "open" carriages... time to move on to the doors of the vestibule partitions. As with the actual partitions we have had a fair number of trial runs and in this case the reasons for the trials are to (a) cut curved corners for the glazing and (b) get the glazing in a position relative to the gangway which "looks / feels" right when placed in the opening of a vestibule partition. Here is the result... first the samples and then the parts.
What we have in the previous photo are "outers" of the door - now to cut the "inners" of those doors, as here.
And finally, the parts to for the carcass of one door.
The previous photo shows two outer layers and one inner layer, when laminated to form one door then there is a space within the door for the glazing to be added after painting. Just visible on the outers are scribed lines to provide the location of the door lock plates - one to the left, one to the right.
Next step is to add beading to the edge of the vestibule opening... and a door shut to the partition... fix the door (open / closed / somewhere in-between)... the door cover on the vestibule side... and finally the door furniture.
OK so a long time to get here and a rather up-and-down road with cul-de-sacs, part of the learning exercise. Dare I say "no solder here"?
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