| In this article we are going to discuss the | | | | drilling the necessary holes. The holes will be |
| modification of a brass steam locomotive. | | | | accurate and there should not be any scarring or |
| Since there are now multiple items that the | | | | abrasions from the drill. |
| modeler can add to the brass steam locomotive it | | | | The only drawback is you will have to spend a |
| is my intention to provide one method of | | | | minimum of $400.00 for the mini-lathe. |
| accomplish such tasks. | | | | The other area that can be tricky is the smoke |
| To start off with, I made an unfortunate mistake | | | | box. If the headlight is on top of the smoke box |
| when I tried to drill holes in the engine and tender | | | | you will have to drill a whole right behind the light |
| after it was painted. I realize that many brass | | | | fixture into the smoke box. With a painted model |
| steam engines are factory painted that require | | | | this can be tough. |
| additions or modifications to make them run. | | | | The flange that is generally soldered to the cab |
| I did not do some of the preliminary work | | | | and usually has two screws that hold the body to |
| required prior to sending my engines off to a | | | | the frame requires one or two holes drilled into it |
| professional painter. This error resulted in | | | | for the wires from the engine to hook up to the |
| scratched surfaces and abrasions that were easily | | | | tender wires. This flange is usually soldered to the |
| avoided if I had accomplished much of the work I | | | | cab base. In some cases the solder job is very |
| needed to do prior to painting. | | | | poor. This happened to me and when I tried to |
| I tell you this so you will not make the same | | | | drill the holes the solder joint broke loose. On |
| mistake. In some cases I will have to have the | | | | painted engines this is not good. |
| engine repainted which is costly. | | | | To re-solder the flange to the cab base you will |
| My recommendation for the installation of lights, | | | | need a resistance soldering iron. This type of |
| decoders, sound systems, needed resistors and | | | | solder tool is a must for brass engines. It limits |
| wiring and soldering is to do the work prior to | | | | the heat exposure to other parts of the engine |
| painting. If you cannot because the engine is | | | | and especially to lost wax castings that have been |
| already painted to your satisfaction then I suggest | | | | soldered to the engine body. This includes all of |
| that you go to someone who is an expert in | | | | the tubing. Also, the resistance soldering iron can |
| dealing with this type of work and has worked | | | | help eliminate scalloping of the paint on painted |
| with painted engines. | | | | engines due to the heat. Again the problem is that |
| There are tools that can certainly help the | | | | resistance soldering irons are expensive. They can |
| modeler accomplish the aforementioned tasks | | | | run $400.00 to $500.00 for a set. |
| with little or no adverse affects. A mini-lathe is a | | | | My recommendation is that you find someone |
| big advantage because you can grip the tender, | | | | who has the resistance soldering equipment that |
| for example, with one of the lathe movable | | | | can help you. |
| clamps/vice in a position that allows you to move | | | | Brass engines are not toys but are Art of a high |
| the tender towards the lathe drill press. You can | | | | degree of beauty and craftsmanship. |
| set the lathe rotation to the desired speed for | | | | |