Victorian Railways DERM

[Kipsley]

My new project is a DERM Railcar in VR livery. It will be completely built from scratch but will be done in styrene rather than the usual 3mm craftwood and card I have used up till now. I also have some plans (thanks to the internet) to go by rather than just pictures out of a magazine, so I should be able to make a decent job of it. Trouble is...... Never actually worked with styrene before, so could someone please let me know if there is a standard size or thickness I should be looking for? Is there a special glue I should use? And any tips and tricks would be wonderful.

Thanks everyone.

[bparrish]

Kipsley......

This will be a great project.  Can't wait.

To answer your question...

Styrene in the thickness of .010" (.25mm) would work good.  It cuts easily and when you stack it to do your window reveals things won't look too thick.

Use a straight edge for each cut and get a ton of sharp x-acto #11 blades or what ever is your equivalent.

Also find some 1/16' square stock for stiffening from the inside.

For glue... tube glue is pretty thick and tends to flood and puddle and distorts the finish surface from the inside.

Try and fine liquid glue....... In the states there is a product called Tennax.  I'm sure there must be some equivalent in your part of the world.  Apply it with micro brushes.

You'll be just fine with this project.  I'm sure others will fill in what I have forgotten.

see ya
Bob

[Kipsley]

0.25 mm styrene... Thank goodness!! I looked it up in some online shops and there was so many different sizes and types, I had no idea at all. So ok..... 0.25 mm it is

And 1/16 square stock. I have no idea what that is but I am guessing something to strengthen the model and make it rigid. Okies. Added to shopping list.

Hobby knife and spare blades I got from my local hardware store today. Sadly they don't sell styrene so I'm ordering online.

Keep the advise coming. Thankies.

[bparrish]

Kipsley...

1/16" is something close to your 1.5mm square stock.

And you are correct.  It is for stiffening.

see ya
Bob

[Kipsley]

Yups. Did the conversion as I guessed you were American. Lol. We work in millimeters here. Ordered the sheets in white, 2 sizes, 0.25mm and 0.5mm (for floors and such), and I did guess correctly on the "square stock" and ordered the right stuff, 1/16 square stock for stiffening.
Expensive, though there is enough there to make many models. I will also look around for what I can use that is free. Read somewhere in a thread that margarine lids make great ultra thin styrene sheets, and they are free!

[Kipsley]

Immmmmm... Has anyone got a set of these to sell? HO scale Walther 933 1077 Pullman bogies. They look similar to the picture below. Even similar might do.

[postalkarl]

Hey Kipsley:

This looks like an interesting project. I shall be following along. Also you may find single edge razor blades very useful. I use them almost exclusively. They are cheaper and I think they are sharper. Try them and see what you think.

Karl

[GPdemayo]

Neat looking car Kipsley.....I'll be looking in. 

[bparrish]

Kipsley.

I have those wheels.  Bogies.  I'm away from home for two weeks.  Can you wait?

See ya
Bob

[Kipsley]

Can wait.... And.. LOL. I have use single edge razor blades a lot.
There is a bit of a story as to how I came to know I could scratch build
I'm not ashamed of it. I did a stint in prison. That gives a person a great of time to think about things, and a lot of time to deal with. Some took up hobbies like painting. Me.... I built stuff, and found I was good at it, and so.. LOL.. Yes. i hid a few razor blades in my cell. I'm sure the Officers knew but they also knew I was doing good stuff with them so they never looked very hard to find them. Heck, i gave most of my trains to them (smiles). I've been out of jail a long time now, I've a great job and doing great. Hope you won't judge me. Was a long time ago.

[postalkarl]

Hi Kipsley:

There is nothing to judge you on. You paid your penalty and you are A free woman now. Enjoy life.

Karl

[ACL1504]

No judgement here. I'm looking forward to your new build.

Tom

[donatode]

We all have pasts .... we all have now.


Looking forward to looking over your shoulders on this and future projects.

[jimmillho]

We all have pasts .... we all have now.


Looking forward to looking over your shoulders on this and future projects.

Best quote I can think of. 

Jim

[Kipsley]

Awwwwwww. Hugs you all.