ATSF Freight F footboards in N scale?

[arbomambo]

Hello all...
I've reached a point, in detailing my Kato Santa Fe Freight F units, where I can't get to the last step until I find a source for these items in N scale...
ATSF-applied footboards to cut down-'Freight-style- pilots...






I'm sure these details are available in HO scale, but not in N scale...and simple styrene strip isn't going to cut it...
Does anyone, here, have any suggestions for reasonably duplicating these in N scale? A small photoetched piece, requiring three bends to form the open 'box' shape would be optimal, but I realize this is a pipe dream..
Are there any ideas about sourcing shapes or items that, with a little work, could represent these?

I can't see NOT adding these considering the level of detail that I've added to these...I have 8 Freight F units to so equip...
Thanks,
Bruce

[SP-Wolf]

Bruce,

Perhaps cutting to size and bending some brass sheet would work.

Just a thought,
Wolf

[eja]

Just a thought .....


Rather than bending sheet brass, why not cut then out of piece of rectangular brass tubing.  It shouldn't be too had to build a jig for the cuts so they all come out the same size.

eja

[Cajonpassfan]

Bruce,  I had them turn one of these upside down for you so you could see the mount. This is an FT, an F7 was unavailable, sorry
Maybe a brass channel strip as a start? How wide do you suppose the step is? 8"? 1/16"?
Have fun, Otto K.

[strummer]

...Yikes...

Mark in Oregon

[sizemore]

Have them etched!

The S.

[arbomambo]

Have them etched!

The S.

 

I wish it were that simple!  It Is an item that I would use more than a few times, but I  have neither the tech drawing experience, nor the etching experience to pull it off...
Bruce

[Sokramiketes]

Mold them around a simple buck using heavy duty foil.  Strengthen with some CA on the back.  Then they will have the delicate appearance needed.

[wcfn100]

Mold them around a simple buck using heavy duty foil.  Strengthen with some CA on the back.  Then they will have the delicate appearance needed.

In that same vein, you can just use paper and thin CA.

Jason

[arbomambo]

These last 2 suggestions seem REAL attractive!...card stock, with bends, that small, would form a pretty strong little structure that, with the benefit of thin CA and paint, might be just the ticket!
Thanks!

[wcfn100]

This could built out pf styrene too.  Use a .005" piece for the step and .010x.010 for the three sides.  Then thin and shape the sides by chopping/filing/sanding.

Jason

[nkalanaga]

Based on my experience, paper would probably be more durable than similar-thickness metal. 

[robert3985]

Based on my experience, paper would probably be more durable than similar-thickness metal.

@nkalanaga  HUH???  No way.  Brass or NS is WAAAaaaay more durable than any paper, either raw or impregnated with CA or resin. No contest.

However, I wouldn't be adverse to making these out of CA impregnated paper, since I think they'd be durable "enough", even though not as strong as brass or NS.

Bruce @arbomambo , If I wanted to make a batch of these out of brass, I'd start with tinning and soldering up a stack of a dozen or so of pieces of brass, including a "handle" so I can manipulate them while filing the final shape....then desolder, file down any excessive solder blobs and/or burrs, then bend the ears up.  I might also solder the base of the bent-up step parts to a .015" brass rod, with a flattened end I'd squashed in my flat-nosed pliers...with the un-flattened part protruding out from the back of the part to act as a mounting pin mated to a hole in your pilot, then attach with CA or Epoxy applied on the backside of the pilot.  As you can see from the photos, there is a simple mounting fixture underneath which is quite visible.

By filing a stack of these at the same time out of brass, they'd be much more uniform than cutting/filing each one individually like you'd have to do using paper or Styrene.

Anyway, have fun and post photos!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[nkalanaga]

Most brass sheets are thicker than paper.  For larger objects I'd certainly prefer metal, and I'll agree that 0.005 inch brass is stronger than common paper, but it's almost a scale inch thick.  Those steps look a lot thinner.

[robert3985]

Most brass sheets are thicker than paper.  For larger objects I'd certainly prefer metal, and I'll agree that 0.005 inch brass is stronger than common paper, but it's almost a scale inch thick.  Those steps look a lot thinner.

I buy small sheets of brass "shim stock" and use .003" for bending up small parts.  That's just under an N-scale 1/2"  (.48"), which would be just right for this application.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore