[Matt Vogt]

I am wanting to build the coach and combine cars from the MLS Masterclasses, and I'm having a hard time finding a local source for laser cutting these. Has anyone had any luck cutting templates or parts out of 1 - 2mm plywood accurately? I will probably do this for the exterior parts and 3D print the seats. Thoughts?

 

[Tdreabe]

Hey Matt,
A friend of mine has a band saw with a really nice Kregg fence. Worked great for cutting a piece of cedar down to all the various sizes I needs for my master class flat cars.

Tyler

 

[du-bousquetaire]

Some of my earlier coaches were built from thin birch plywood using a band saw in a theater workshop with styreen veneer for the steel construction aspect (glued to the plywood with special non solvent neoprene glues we use in the theater to glue styrofoam to plywood flats). I have since abandoned this type of construction because with European scew couplings, my very powerful 2D2 9100 can actually pry off the end from the rest of the body ! Furthermore because the plywood and styrofoam have different expansion rates and when left out in the sun the styreen side tends to warp off the plywood (also that glue dries off after some time). However I built three coaches with this technique: An Lx wagon lits before J&M did theirs, (See Freds post on building a LX from a kit), an OCEM riveted 1rst clas in PLM colours, and a SNCF Postal RPO.

Cheers, Simon

 

[Pete Thornton]

Email Alan at G.A.L. [[email protected]] He laser cuts styrene and may be able to do plywood. Howard Brosch at the Lasergang in Germany also still cuts the original kits.

 

[kormsen]

using hand-tools, the best way (known to me) is to saw with a hacksaw or similar with very fine teeth (for sawing iron), but staying a milimeter/fingernail-thick outside and then file down to desired measurement.

 

[Scott]

Have you considered open source groups sych as Fablab or Makerspaces in your area??

Some of these places provide tools, tech (3d prinitng, CNC, plasma cutting) and workshop space to make items. Once you have induction squared away, these groups provide lessons in using technology to manufacture what you want. Also it puts you into the community of creators from different media.

There are also fabrication workshoips which will let you use there workspace for a fee and are well kitted out.

I'm looking at using my local Makerspace to do CNC cutting and lathework.

 

[digitalbill]

I have been looking at the CRICUT MAKER 3 it can cut thin wood and styrene plus not too costly
I think if I cut multiple pieces and sandwich them I could build coaches, cabs, windows and even buildings
I have not purchased one yet but will soon. Take a look at their site looks like it would work at a lot less cost
than a laser. Anyone tried one? Let me know

 

[Paul Race]

I have been looking at the CRICUT MAKER 3 it can cut thin wood and styrene plus not too costly
I think if I cut multiple pieces and sandwich them I could build coaches, cabs, windows and even buildings
I have not purchased one yet but will soon. Take a look at their site looks like it would work at a lot less cost
than a laser. Anyone tried one? Let me know

A number of folks in England have built up cars from Styrene cut with a Silhouette. Here's a great example.

Completing the 4mm NER 6 wheel coach

Anyone who has followed JCL's original post "A Guide to using the Silhouette Cameo Cutter" (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79025-a-guide-to-using-the-silhouette-cameo-cutter/) will have seen my attempts at using the Silhouette to try and produce a NER 6 wheel coach. Rather than...

www.rmweb.co.uk

I have a Cricut Maker (which is about as strong as the Maker 3) and a Silhouette Cameo 4, but I haven't created any rolling stock with them yet. I created .svg files for a set of SK coaches (the kind used in the Harry Potter movies), but have only tested them with cardboard stock.

https://hobbycutters.com/projects/rolling_stock/uk_mk1_coaches/uk_mk1_coaches.htm

I have purchased a laser cutter so I could cut thicker materials. We'll see. . . .