Help with etching artwork

[VonRyan]

Is there anyone who wouldn't mind using a screenshot image of an Nn3 chassis that I was given and putting it to the right size for etching and either arranging multiples of the artwork to fit PPD's minimum etch area, or tacking one or two into some empty space in your next etching order?
I haven't the skill, knowledge, or even the correct program to even attempt to put it to the right size and such for sending off for etching.
I also wasn't about to be rude and ask the person for a pdf since they were nice enough to give me the screenshot image.

The forum also won't allow me to attach the image, so I'd have to email it to you.

[Chris333]

If the screen shot is Nn3 wouldn't  it already be sized correctly?

[VonRyan]

If the screen shot is Nn3 wouldn't  it already be sized correctly?

I wouldn't know. I just know I have a screenshot of the etching artwork for an Nn3 chassis that is designed to be a direct replacement of the stock chassis-halves that come with the Peco N6.5 wagon kits.
The chassis is designed to use tophat bearings from the 2mm Scale Association and Full Throttle Z-scale 33" wheelsets.

[Chris333]

Wouldn't  it be easier to just ask the person who created the artwork for a copy of it?

I don't  know any program that can turn a screen shot into techical artwork.

[Chris333]

If you had a high res scan of the etched brass sheet at least then you might have a chance, but for something like a chassis for axles and gears everything needs to be perfect.

[VonRyan]

Wouldn't  it be easier to just ask the person who created the artwork for a copy of it?

I don't  know any program that can turn a screen shot into techical artwork.

I did ask for a copy of the artwork, and what I was given was a screenshot of it.

[bbussey]

A screenshot as a basis isn't going to work unless you have at least one accurate dimension.  The screenshot also by default is a bitmap file, which is in itself not accurate.  You need an actual vector file.  Of course, if you had that, you could create etching artwork directly from it.

[Chris333]

What are you trying to build?

Instead of asking for artwork why not buy the already etched sheet from the producer?

[Chris333]

For some reason when reading this at work I saw the word "chassis" and thought you were building a locomotive, but now I see.

Is this what you want:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1004/entry-8319-2mm-lnwr-diagram-88-van-the-chassis/


I still haven't found those Peco wagons for sale. Maybe you should just etch the whole thing   

Do they even still make them?
http://www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3310&CAT_ID=3312&numRecordPosition=1

[Chris333]

Also what wheels did you try from the beginning. Says here they take Marklin wheels:
http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/stock.html

They are super simple kits and it shouldn't be that hard to make wheels spin in them. Much easier than etching.

[VonRyan]

What are you trying to build?

Instead of asking for artwork why not buy the already etched sheet from the producer?

The etched chassis I'm after is something that someone made of their own accord, not a production/business type thing. And they don't have any more already etched chassis, hence why I asked for the artwork.

For some reason when reading this at work I saw the word "chassis" and thought you were building a locomotive, but now I see.

Is this what you want:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1004/entry-8319-2mm-lnwr-diagram-88-van-the-chassis/


I still haven't found those Peco wagons for sale. Maybe you should just etch the whole thing   

Do they even still make them?
http://www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3310&CAT_ID=3312&numRecordPosition=1

You have to inquire about the wagon kits directly from the Peco. They don't list them for sale anywhere.
Whether or not they still make them, I don't know. You'd have to ask Mark Fielder that question.

When I find the post about that talks about what I'm after, I'll link it here.

Also what wheels did you try from the beginning. Says here they take Marklin wheels:
http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/stock.html

They are super simple kits and it shouldn't be that hard to make wheels spin in them. Much easier than etching.

Märklin wheels per the instructions. The wagons just don't roll worth a darn.
It was suggested to me to put Parkside Dundas tophat bearings in the stock Peco sideframes, but those made the sideframes spread out like wings.

The etched chassis is designed to be a direct replacement for the Peco sideframes, and is designed to use 2mm Scale Association tophat bearings and Full Throttle z-scale 33" wheels.

[VonRyan]

For some reason when reading this at work I saw the word "chassis" and thought you were building a locomotive, but now I see.

Is this what you want:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1004/entry-8319-2mm-lnwr-diagram-88-van-the-chassis/


I still haven't found those Peco wagons for sale. Maybe you should just etch the whole thing   

Do they even still make them?
http://www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3310&CAT_ID=3312&numRecordPosition=1

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/65499-whats-on-your-2mm-work-bench/?p=1089435

The chassis under the wood wagon body. That's what I need.

[Chris333]

So the spread out sideframes after adding top hats.  It looks like the whole sideframes glues to the chassis. Slice it off and re-glue it out further so the new bearings work. If it is a little, just move one side. If it is a lot move both sides.

This is what I would do.

[peteski]

You said that the person who did the artwork and had the parts etched doesn't have any more parts for sale. But the company that etched them most likely still has the artwork on-file, so running another batch wouldn't be as expensive as the initial run.

Couldn't you ask that person to have another batch produced? Even if you offered to pay for that entire run out of your own pocket, that would still be less hassle and cheaper than you trying to get the artwork, re-drawing it, and then having some etching company do them for you.  Unless of course you were planning on having them etched at home.

[VonRyan]

So the spread out sideframes after adding top hats.  It looks like the whole sideframes glues to the chassis. Slice it off and re-glue it out further so the new bearings work. If it is a little, just move one side. If it is a lot move both sides.

This is what I would do.

The sideframes spread out like wings, at an approximately 45° angle. And that is before the sideframes were even glued onto the wagon body. (There are little pegs atop the sideframes that have to go into holes in the wagon floor.)
To glue them farther apart would be to have them not even on the wagon.

The Peco sideframes are useless. As are the Parkside Dundas tophat bearings (since half of them hadn't even been parted correctly during the machining process and there was no way I could fix them).