Has anyone tried to build their own coonskin number plates? I know i can buy them from precision scale, but I was curious if anyone builds their own in styrene or brass? For 1 locomotive, its not worth it, but I plan on building more in the future, so I thought it would be nice to be able to build each engine its own number plates. I have taken drawings I found on this board and made an HO scale cad model of a logo, but I can't figure out how to actually fabricate it.
Daniel, I'd think that someone with access to the proper CAD tools and a 3-D printer could fabricate some. Outside of that, I'm with Don. Maybe others have given it a try? Best Regards,
Thanks for the thoughts. I was thinking something photo-etched, but couldn't come up with a good way to etch the outline and then etch the center depression. I hadn't consider a rapid prototyper. My school has several I can use. I will have to loop into them. That might work. I'm also thinking maybe its time to finish the small desktop CNC mill I started a while ago. I have enough uses for it.
Anybody know where a Precision Scale or Kemtron version brass or plastic can be found? I seem to have ran through my supply. Brad Slone
If you have CAD drawings, you are about 70% of the way to having them ready for printing by Shapeways. You need to talk to rch (Ryan Harris), he has created a bunch of stuff for us on Shapeways.
They could be available from Walthers (585-31607), but don't know how many are needed for a special order to be made by Precision Scale. Especially since it doesn't show up in their catalog anymore. Slight correction, I couldn't find it in the picture catalog, but it does show up on the price list. So maybe there is some hope.
I would call PSC directly. I have done it many times. He has a huge inventory that Walthets doesn't show. I found them to be very helpful on such matters, and friendly people too. 406-642-3901
Brad, worst case I made an RTV mold of one and can cast them if you or someone needed. I cast them for the front of Baldwin switchers since I just cut the brackets off the back anyway.
Tom, Sherrel - I'm in Kansas right now, about to leave for a stay in St Louis. Will be back in Naples sometime after 10/30. Will contact you then about the brass/plastic coonskin headlight brackets. Remind me so I don't forget. Thanks. Ken
My 2 cents worth. I have tried several different ways to make coonskin number plates in O scale. I have a Divinci 3D printer and that worked great for my G scale but barely passed for my O scale. I really doubt HO scale would be possible on my printer but Shapeways could do it. I also made a few in resin but only 1 out of 6 were usable. The best way would be injection molding but EXPENSIVE! I hope to try photo etching too. I have also picked up a gadget called a Cricut that might work. It's like an ink jet printer but with a cutter. It cuts styrene and is very accurate.
Back in Naples now after two weeks of a wonderful visit with family in Olathe and with good friends (and the Hill!) in St Louis. But, good to be back - in the 80's here today. Was cold, windy and damp in both KC and StL. Don't understand how you northern types can live in those conditions! (Just kidding!). OK, I finally figured out what these things cost; I found them at Walthers. The brass bracket, now on backorder, #585-31607, cost $5.50. The plastic bracket, #585-31608, cost $2.75, availability unknown. So, let me modify the price a bit. See below. I have a number of these Kemtron/Precision Scale Frisco steam coonskin headlight/number brackets, in both brass and plastic. The cost today, if you can get them, are shown above. They cost me less than that for brass, a little less for plastic, as I had them for years. I'll sell them at $3.75 each for brass and $2.75 each for plastic. They are in their original packaging, unopened. I'll pay the shipping. If I need, or if you want, a padded envelope, add $0.50. Tom, Sherrel and Brad have asked for some - how many do each of you want? I'll keep a brass one for old times sake and a few of the plastic for possible use (like on early SLSF b/y switchers - VO's, DS-44-1000, etc). There are six brass and four or five plastic available. K
Tom - yes. The Kemtron, now Precision Scale, steam locomotive coonskin shape number plate & headlight bracket. K
