Source for deckplate?

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JohnHudak
Posts: 1140
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:18 pm
Location: Ohio

Source for deckplate?

Post by JohnHudak »

Hi All, Does anyone know of a source for the deckplate that railroads used for the walkways on steam locomotives, I model in 3/4" Thanks; John
FredR
Posts: 1638
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 10:49 am
Location: Cedar Park, Texas, USA

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by FredR »

I want to say that Coles sells it, but I didn't see it. I know I have seen it somewhere. I will continue to look and find it for you.

Fred
kap
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 9:48 am
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by kap »

John,
I cut miniature diamond plate on the shaper.
I set a piece of 1/8 inch stock in the vise with 1/16 protruding.
Set the vise at 30 degrees and with a shallow V nose tool cut "Vs" every .05 spacing about .02 deep.
Than rotate the vise to 30 degrees the other way and cut again.
Done a couple engines that way.
Have some pictures posted out of order on the yahoo shaper page.
See the attached photo.
kap
Ben_Smith
Posts: 243
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 4:03 pm
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska USA

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by Ben_Smith »

Hi John,

Check with Real Trains www.realtrains.com. They have tread plate listed in a number of different sizes. I believe it is photo etched.

Best Regards,
Ben Smith
Official card-carrying member of "The Shay Drag Racing Team"
UnkaJesse
Posts: 4090
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:29 pm
Location: Tennessee, Obion County, Town of Troy

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by UnkaJesse »

Kap, careful about mentioning shapers. A lot of the younger machinists don't even know what they are, much less own one! Some people think they should have been all scrapped since a vertical mill "can do anything better", but let's see them try to make a deck plate like you did. Let's see, first we gotta lay the head down sideways and buy or make a "V" cutter of some type- - -hummmm --maybe a shaper would be a better idea.

Unka Jesse [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif"%20alt="[/img]
"The same hammer that breaks the glass, forges the steel" Russian proverb
FredR
Posts: 1638
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 10:49 am
Location: Cedar Park, Texas, USA

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by FredR »

That's it! I knew I had seen it and I just couldn't where. Now thinking aboutit, it is a drawing instead of a photo. Good work.

Fred
willy

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by willy »

Nah Jesse!

You use the end mill with a modified bit. The bit end would have the profile of the valley of the plate between the "nubs" of tread. Then the rest is set up as Kap has said, "set the vise at 30 degrees". The only problem with the endmill is the cat eye effect from tool drag. But here again, if you had yourself another antique, one o them thar horizontal mills, you could avoid the cat eye effect.

Heck! I know use a EDM and ZAP IT! Grin

-willy-
sncf141r
Posts: 170
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:06 am
Location: Canada

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by sncf141r »

1) Ted McJannett of Miniature Power Products in Woodstock, Ontario, has
some in his catalogue. Rolled aluminium if I remember correctly.

RR1, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, N4S 1V6.
Tel: 519 539 9981 Fax: 519 539 8303
eMail: wmcjanet@execulink.com
(although I don't know how often he reads email)

2) Shaper cut, but with a diamond knurl in a fixed toolpost. Less wastage
than with slewing the vice, although *that* one is a good idea. (I have
the knurl already...)

Another one modelling in the perfect gauge - 3-1/2"

John Stewart
Ottawa, Canada.
kap
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 9:48 am
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by kap »

sncf,

I would be interested to find out how you make out with that knurl.
May be just the thing, may not.
You're gonna put a lot of stress in that material.
Don't know if it's gonna track right.
When you get to it, put up a picture.

Riding Rail Kits had nice etched walkways for 1" scale at Cabin Fever.
Etched clean thru looked like 3/32" thick brass with rectangular holes.

Don't know how they can etch and get square sides.
Had some rubber stamp molds etched years ago and ended up with angular reliefs.

kap
User avatar
Fred_V
Posts: 4370
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 3:26 pm

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by Fred_V »

there are some gasoline pumps that have a SS sheet on them that would make great floor plate.
fred v
Fred V
Pensacola, Fl.
sncf141r
Posts: 170
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:06 am
Location: Canada

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by sncf141r »

Hi Kap;

re: shaper and diamond knurl - An old (now, deceased) live steamer did
this 30 odd years ago for the 3 beautiful locomotives that I saw him
build. Everything was in brass; especially the "deckplate", so it is
prior art, and not my idea in any way. If anyone remembers Chet Brown
in the Niagara Falls area of Canada, that was him.

No, I never saw the deckplate being made, just the results, and remember
him telling me the method. (I was a teenager then)

JohnS.
Al_Messer
Posts: 2664
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 7:12 pm
Location: Mid Tenn.

Re: Source for deckplate?

Post by Al_Messer »

Ha!
Al Messer

"One nation, under God"
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