Katzhagen - Archive - March 2010


Batch Production

After completing a RhB corn vessel as a piece of freight for the RhB Kk low-side gondola last summer, I decided to build a complete set of 5 such vessels, just according to the prototype.

The parts required for the planned four vessels were ordered and Murphy came into play - the shipment was delayed due to a relocation of the manufacturer's site. But then... the consignment containing the milled parts arrived earlier than at first expected, fortunately.

The polystyrene plates containing the milled parts

The polystyrene puzzle for one vessel

The sandpaper-orgy - dry and wet

After removing the milled parts from the plates using a little side cutter, the sheared edges have to be leveled with sandpaper. First with a grit size of 100, then of 240 - given the number of around 300 parts in total, this takes a moment.
Next those parts are put together which can or need to be handled as assemblies, which f.i. includes the frame, the posts and the switch boxes. Now the first glued joints are sanded dry with a grit of 240, then wet with a grit of 400 and 600. The same wet grinding is applied to all of the surfaces now - a really ideal piece of work for an uneventful weekend...
Prior to cutting and bending the parts made of brass for the transport lugs, the remaining crevices along the frame and the switch boxes are filled with a methacrylic glue. And finally sandpaper of all above mentioned grits is required again to level the filled crevices.

The parts were removed from the plates and partially preassembled

Tank with switch box mounted on its frame


The vessels' overall shape is clearly perceptible now and in the next step the small parts will be mounted where they belong.

And after mounting the small parts the airbrush gun will have to do its job !
February 2010 | Archive "Current Affairs" | Aril 2010