FSM Jeffries Point Build

[nycjeff]

Hello Jeff, keep at those stairs, you'll get them looking good, I'm sure.

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Jeff, but it hasn't been easy.  

I knew the posts needed to be all the same size, so I assembled my fancy schmancy Ultimation cutter and sander so I could get them identical.  I hadn't added on the accessories until now.  With my Chopper, I was used to feeding from the left and this one needs feeding from the right, but I got used to it.  Then into the sander to make them all identical

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The posts were glued on and this is where I left it last night.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Adding the railings was EXTREMELY difficult for me.  I almost gave up and just removed the stairs.  I probably spent well over an hour on this.  Many of the posts were glued on several times.  I initially used Elmer's, but it didn't seem to hold.  Superglue worked better.  The top rails aren't perfect, but they will do.  The sides went on fairly easily.  There's large glue globs, but I'll live with it.  I may try to make a template for the lower ones to see if it's easier to build and attach them that way rather than build them in place.   And, yes, I knocked off some of the lower posts putting on the upper rails. 

Jeff

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

I agree in that stairs like those can be difficult. As you build more of them, the process gets easier.

I think your stairs look great, very nice job on them.

Tom

[PRR Modeler]

The stairs look good Jeff.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi Jeff.

Looking good.

Yes - they can be fiddly and frustrating.  I would tackle these in several subassemblies, adding the posts and railings as I go to each subassembly and then joining these together.  I use canopy glue on anything like this.  I don't know if you get John Siekirk's e-magazine?  I did a very tricky set of double stock ramps for my abattoir in the last issue with some good blow by blow photos with captions describing how I went about it.  You may find in helpful.  I'll be posting this in an update on my layout soon...  If you like I can email the word document to you.

Cheers, Mark.

[nycjeff]

Hello Jeff, when I make complicated stair assemblies like this one I always make templates. You'll find that the posts and railings go together much easier when you're working with them on a flat surface. It's much easier to glue on an assembled railing than to fiddle around with the small pieces in mid-air- so to speak.

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Tom.  After this build, I may use only indoor (hidden) stairs (kidding).  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Thank you, Curt.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Hi, Mark.  I saw your article in John's emag.  I think I will try assembling them on a flat surface for the lower ones.  Building them in place as the instructions state, seems (and was) very difficult.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Jeff, I as mentioned to Mark, I'm going to do the lower ones on a template, I don't know why the kit didn't do it this way.  

Jeff

[friscomike]

Howdy Jeff,

The stairs add a lot of character to the fine-looking building.  Excellent work and admirable perseverance to finish.

Have fun,
mike

[Jerry]

Jeff the stairs look fine.  I'm glad you hung in there and got them done it adds to the build.

Jerry

[ReadingBob]

Ahh..yes. This is bringing back memories. I think I used a rail nippers and file to lob off the lower portion of the lower stairs to make it fit. But, it was a long time ago.