3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

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sabin
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by sabin »

Lookin' good Mike. Super craftsmanship as usual. One question: Is that actual 1/4 round holding the glass in the doors? Construction method please.

Jim
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NP317
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by NP317 »

Disturbingly gorgeous!
~RN
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

sabin wrote:Lookin' good Mike. Super craftsmanship as usual. One question: Is that actual 1/4 round holding the glass in the doors? Construction method please.

Jim
The 1/4 round is 1/8" size and purchased from miniatures.com. The pieces are made with the little Delta disc sander, one at a time, and fitted. They are glued to the frame and not the glass. The glass remains free to move around in the slots. All of the windows are made this way.

More window details:

The windows, all of them, use a frame 3/8" by 3/8" dry Maple. This allows the model be constructed and still be to scale in appearance. Each piece is slotted with the 3/32" blade, flipped end for end and run through again, resulting in a slot slightly over 3/32", but centered exactly.

The window glass is regular issue window glass, 0.088" , cut to size by Morgan Hill glass one piece at a time. The edges are lightly buffed. The glass fits in the slots loose and remains that way. The glass is not glued or otherwise fastened to the frames. It is free to move around a little.

The frame pieces are glued together with high clamping pressure and steel angle squares. This glue joint is very weak and serves only to hold the parts in place for doweling. The dowels are 1/8" hardwood and Titebond III glue. The TASK doweling tool requires a modified insert for 1/8" which was made on the lathe.

-M
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Truely amazing. Thanks very much for updating your build with this awe inspiring work!

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Hi all,

I've been traveling a lot for the past year, so I haven't provided consistent updates on this project. The following posts will catch up on a year of progress.

Rather than built per prototype with a complicated and flimsy internal support and truss structure plus furring strips, the interior of the walls in our combine are larger sticks of wood that are completely hidden away.

The following is an overview of how we do doweling. doweling is useful because when you are done you have a strong structure with no metal fasteners in it - so you can attach interior walls and exterior siding without needing to ever worry that you will hit metal when drilling into or nailing into the frame.

Here we are doweling the side frame together. See the photo descriptions for a step-by-step over the next few posts.
Attachments
After lightly gluing the frame pieces together and holding with wood clamps, the dowel holes are drilled with a self-centering dowel drilling jig.  These jigs are available from various sources including Amazon and better hardware stores.  Don't get a cheap one.
After lightly gluing the frame pieces together and holding with wood clamps, the dowel holes are drilled with a self-centering dowel drilling jig. These jigs are available from various sources including Amazon and better hardware stores. Don't get a cheap one.
If necessary, the hole can be drilled again if the dowel does not slide in freely.
If necessary, the hole can be drilled again if the dowel does not slide in freely.
Next, wood glue is forced into the hole.  Use a small squeeze bottle for this, the regular glue bottles with their slotted tips won't work for this.
Next, wood glue is forced into the hole. Use a small squeeze bottle for this, the regular glue bottles with their slotted tips won't work for this.
A pipe cleaner is then run through the hole to spread the glue evenly around the hole and push out most of the extra glue.  Wipe away the excess after removing the pipe cleaner.
A pipe cleaner is then run through the hole to spread the glue evenly around the hole and push out most of the extra glue. Wipe away the excess after removing the pipe cleaner.
The dowel is then pushed into the hole.  There will be extra that you will cut off later.   Let the glue dry first.
The dowel is then pushed into the hole. There will be extra that you will cut off later. Let the glue dry first.
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Doweling, continued:
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The second dowel is pushed in.
The second dowel is pushed in.
If the dowel will not go in by hand, you can use a clamp to push it in.  It should not take too much pressure.
If the dowel will not go in by hand, you can use a clamp to push it in. It should not take too much pressure.
Here are the two dowels drying.
Here are the two dowels drying.
Afterwards a flush saw is used to remove the extra, and then sand clean.
Afterwards a flush saw is used to remove the extra, and then sand clean.
The resulting joint is strong and seamless.
The resulting joint is strong and seamless.
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

This shows a quick jig for drilling diagonal doweling holes. They are necessary for installing diagonal frame members.
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17-06-24_combine-update-9681.jpg
17-06-24_combine-update-9683.jpg
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Here's some pictures of the windows. The windows are removable, separate pieces and are captured in the frame by removable panels on the interior of the car. Two extra were made and in case of damage they can be simply swapped out. The windows are all functional. It's nice to be able to open them to varying degrees to create some randomness when viewing the car.
Attachments
A completed window frame.
A completed window frame.
A sample of the window side frame that the window rides up and down in.
A sample of the window side frame that the window rides up and down in.
Windows being test fit in the frame.
Windows being test fit in the frame.
Basic frame with some windows inserted.
Basic frame with some windows inserted.
Close up of frame and windows.
Close up of frame and windows.
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Some more details, see photo descriptions.
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Because the freight door opening runs almost the entire height of the frame, temporary pieces were clamped above and below to keep the frame's strength during construction.
Because the freight door opening runs almost the entire height of the frame, temporary pieces were clamped above and below to keep the frame's strength during construction.
The door frame pieces were then attached one by one.
The door frame pieces were then attached one by one.
Finished door frame with door resting in place.
Finished door frame with door resting in place.
Side of car.
Side of car.
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Some notes on planking.
Attachments
Starting to trim the exterior planking to size.  the splines that go into the grooves of each plank are glued to EVERY OTHER plank, to allow the car to expand and contract over time.  There is a post further back in this thread show a close up of the plank profile.
Starting to trim the exterior planking to size. the splines that go into the grooves of each plank are glued to EVERY OTHER plank, to allow the car to expand and contract over time. There is a post further back in this thread show a close up of the plank profile.
Some filler has been added to allow for gluing of planks in the baggage area.
Some filler has been added to allow for gluing of planks in the baggage area.
Planks going on.
Planks going on.
Fully planked car side.
Fully planked car side.
Interior boards for the baggage side going on.
Interior boards for the baggage side going on.
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

Some general car progress as of August 2017. The interior is coming along and shown is a close up of some interior trim.
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17-08-28_combine-update-5085.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5087.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5093.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5102.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5108.jpg
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Harlock
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Re: 3" Scale Narrow Gauge Combine

Post by Harlock »

The passenger side is all lush varnish, while the freight side is a simple grey. There will be a partition wall between the two as with the real thing.

To install the banner board, it is glued and then routed off flush with the top. That way small discrepancies with straightness and cut are eliminated, and you can set the width of the banner board by placing the oversized piece where you want it on the side, and then routing off the extra, rather than trying to get the width perfect on such a thin piece by itself.
Attachments
17-08-28_combine-update-5098.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5096.jpg
17-08-28_combine-update-5121.jpg
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