Modifications to efe/corgi trams

[Caleb Abbott]

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

[Graeme Dunbar]

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 -

DSCF5641 by Graeme Dunbar, on Flickr

DSCF5635 by Graeme Dunbar, 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.

[engerth399]

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

[Alan Feldon]

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 .