Afternoon Modelers
Wonder if anyone can help!
Got two trams both with metal bases which need a rectangular hole cut in them to accept the new Kato 109's I am using to motorise them.
My problem is what to use to cut the metal - it might sound a silly question but I've tried grinding the metal with a dremel attachment and also used a cutting disc, and so far I've got a broken shaft, various bits of cutting disc and a grinding wheel covered in a thin layer of the molten metal!
I'd appreciate any advice on this matter, I have some diamond cutting wheels on order, but don't know if they will be the answer - or not!
Thanks in advance for your help
Caleb Abbott
Not quite the same as cutting a rectangular hole, but still removing quite a lot of metal I made a light-hearted 009 conversion shown here -
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683357936_e4c9d31e2d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iGmcnA)DSCF5641 (https://flic.kr/p/2iGmcnA) by Graeme Dunbar (https://www.flickr.com/photos/95337893@N05/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683357201_a4c788cdfd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iGmc9V)DSCF5635 (https://flic.kr/p/2iGmc9V) by Graeme Dunbar (https://www.flickr.com/photos/95337893@N05/), on Flickr
I used dental burrs in a Dremel-type drill. I also used a slitting disc to through the webbing between the pillars the rivets were mounted on and the sides. It did take quite a long time and a fair bit of patience and resulted in a pile of tiny metal chips.
To cut a rectangular hole in metal an often used method is to drill a series of holes around the perimeter and then use files to join the holes and finally square up the edges.
This site gives good advice on how to motorise various trams and it seems silly to try to repeat that advice.
http://www.gordonstrams.net/MCTpage0.htm
Good luck
Peter
I had similar problems with Atlas trams and in the end I just gave up and cut out new ones from sheet lead which also gave me the weight I required .