Morgan Hill Models Boxcar

[tom mann]

I'm working on a MHM boxcar kit, available here:

http://www.morganhillmodels.com/kits.html

I really enjoy it so far.  My plan is to use the salt trick again, so most of this old wood will be covered up with red paint.



I really need to work on joining two parts at a ninety degree angle without a gap.  Any suggestions?

[3rdrail]

Yep, file the joint as follows: _\ (exagerrated), instead of _| , the leading edge should then butt up close.

[tom mann]

Yep, file the joint as follows: _\ (exagerrated), instead of _| , the leading edge should then butt up close.
[/quote

ah, yes, of course!

[Chris333]

Most laser cut kit don't exactly fit right so you need to test everything first and file a lot.

Wish that car was longer than 20 feet.

[tom mann]

Wish that car was longer than 20 feet.

It does look a little funny next to the bachmann 30-footers.  Stoney Creek Designs will have a bigger boxcar out shortly:  http://www.stoneycreekdesigns.com/ (rolling stock / scroll down).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah, and get a good heavy metal square that you can clamp down and butt against.

Heh heh heh, I said butt.

[Sokramiketes]

Yep, file the joint as follows: _\ (exagerrated), instead of _| , the leading edge should then butt up close.

Laser cutters can't cut a perpendicular angle, especially in wood that thick.  The point where the laser enters first will be eaten away more than the place it exits, leaving what would be draft angle on a plastic part.  So you're starting out with _/.  File or sand it to _| and you'll be all set.

I've heard the advice to file it to _\ before... but the problem with that is when you go to glue it together you get a weaker joint that has to be filled with glue... or a strong joint and a pair of non-perpendicular walls.  Then you run into trouble when putting the box together. 

It's pretty easy to use the blackened edge left by the laser cutter to monitor your filing progress.  Once it's all cleaned off, you know you've done the whole length of the edge.

[Chris333]

Tom,

One of these next?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160136406564&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006

And I have scale drawings of it, it's a real car.

[tom mann]

Almost finished with this:





Interesting to see the wood stain fade over 5 years!

[Sokramiketes]

Interesting to see the wood stain fade over 5 years!

Glad to see you're getting back into projects! 

[Hyperion]

Interesting to see the wood stain fade over 5 years!

Would make an interesting weathering technique in your new book.

"To generate the above appearance on your models, apply stain and then wait 5 years...."