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7-Plus-NGM Digest July 2007
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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 16:43:41 +0100
From: Rick Osman
Subject: 7+ railroader magazine
Has anybody else had trouble with 7+ Railroader magazine?
I took out an international subscription back in May. Payment has gone through PayPal but I have not received a copy of the magazine or any sort of acknowledgment. Although I have received an email newletter.
I have emailed the company twice (once through their website, once through PayPal) but still no response.
Can anybody offer any info?
Best wishes,
Rick
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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 18:06:55 +0200
From: "Johan P"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hi Rick,
I am in the same boat as you...except for the following: I've subscribed in Feb 2007 also via PayPal and have not received anything neither. 2) I managed to get hold of Susan Robertson, who told me that they have sent two copies of the magazine to me, which I've never received. 3) She promissed to resend it.
I'll have to wait and see?
I hope our problem will be corrected?
Regards,
Johan Pretorius
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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 20:05:10 +0100
From: "Bob Whitfield"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hi Rick & Johan,
I am on my second annual international subscription with 7+ Railroader. The first year was erratic but all copies did arrive. Like you I have not had a copy for some months, although I note that the current issue on the web site is the last issue I received.
I did have a problem when I purchased a copy of the latest Train Mountain DVD - however Susan Robinson did respond to emails and told me she had sent two copies before the third copy actually arrived.
Regards
Bob Whitfield
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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 21:39:36 +0200
From: "JohanP"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hi Bob,
At least you're giving me "hope" 
Thanks for that,
Regards,
Johan.
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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 14:08:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Enginemen
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Mr. Osman
Is this the same Robinson that has the Grand Scales Quarterly Mag? I have had some long delays with that magazine and Robinson seems to ring a bell.
Thanks
D.Shepherd
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Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:19:30 -0400
From: "Ralph Reese"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Same story, When I call they say that they have sent the magazines, I verify the address which is correct, and I might get 1 issue. in 2 years, i have received 3 magazines. I am considering filing a claim with the post office,
and a complaint with the BBB
Ralph Reese
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Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 08:28:20 +0200
From: "JohanP"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
From what I'm reading now, makes me quite scary and weary. It makes me think that I've been "conned" out of some money here? Good to be aware in the future.
Johan Pretorius
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Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:42:18 +1200
From: "Ian & Liz in Mt. Albert"
Subject: RE: 7+ railroader magazine
When the first TM DVD was produced 3 years ago I ordered one through their website store, paid via PayPal. The DVD arrived airmail post in about a weekto ten days on problems at all.
Ok I have not tried ordering any thing of late, but based on previous experience would not hesitate to do so.
I did get a email from the Robinson's to sign up for the email newsletter I did so and they arrive each month on problem.
Cheers
Ian McKay
New Zealand
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Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 12:14:50 +0100
From: Rick Osman
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Yes it is.
A few minutes ago I received an email from Susan Robinson checking my address and saying they would send a copy so hopefully I'll receive a copy soon.
Best wishes,
Rick
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Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 11:13:32 -0700
From: Dennis J Dalla-Vicenza
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Johan,
Take this with a grain of salt but some people just bitch about everything.
I have ordered numerous things from this company and have received everything as ordered. Small family run businesses tend to have minor hic coughs along the way and I feel this is one of those times. I have met and interacted with the Robinsons and find all to be quality people. I will order from them again in the future and would be surprised if things did not go well.
Like too many other small businesses this type of posting usually does way more harm than good.
Regards,
Dennis
Way up here in Port Alberni, BC, Canada Eh!
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Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:25:50 +0200
From: "JohanP"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for setting my mind at ease.....I am possitive then, that everything will go as promissed. I have mentioned to Susan that I will pay towards the postage for the "second" time posting.
Regards,
Johan.
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Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 13:15:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: James Keeline
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
I live in the United States so there is only one nation's postal system involved in getting my issues of this publication. Having shipped books to other countries, I know there can be significant problems and delays and costs involved in delivering those items.
Also, it is worth keeping in mind that 7+ is a quarterly magazine and sometimes the three months between issues can feel, even here, like one is missing an issue. Visiting the website and seeing which issue is the latest is worthwhile. When a new issue comes out, the international delivery can be lengthy. However, I have heard here and elsewhere that the 7+ folks send out multiple copies of magazines or DVDs until one does arrive. For a small business like theirs, this is a significant expense which would eat up any profit which might be scraped from the production and sale of these items.
When I have emailed them, I have received replies. I haven't tracked the time difference but it did not seem excessive for a business of this size.
There's a great deal that is outside of their control when it comes to international mailing. If you think there is an unreasonable delay, email them with your correct address. From my limited experience (2 years' subscriber to 7+ and purchased the 4 University DVDs) they put out a good product and are decent folks. They deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Out of curiosity, I don't know if this would be possible or practical for 7+.
For the international subscribers, if there was an option to receive a PDF of the issue, would that be of interest? On some groups I get these as email attachments for shorter newsletters. For a longer magazine like this, it might be necessary to have a log in portion of the website where the copy could be obtained by the subscribers. Maybe an email could go out with a one-time or limited link to obtain the PDF file.
James Keeline
San Diego, CA
Chula Vista Live Steamers Boardmember
Poway-Midland Railroad Engineer
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Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:52:20 -0700
From: Greg Robinson
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Dear All,
Yes, we are the ones who publish both 7+ RAILROADER and the Grand Scales Quarterly.
Many of you who follow the lists are familiar with the story. Pride and pretense have washed away long ago.
We are literally a mom-and-pop company. We are consistently late on our deadlines.
When will the next issue come? When the non-railroad work can afford to subsidize the railroad work. We are tardy, but we are not criminal. And as of late we have had a rash of merchandise getting lost in the postal system (worse than it has ever been in our two decades of business experience). And yes indeed this is costing us quite a bit of money.
I would like to express my very warm thanks to those who have offered words of support. Knowing that many of our readers appreciate our work is what keeps us going.
All the Best,
Greg Robinson
--
* 7+ RAILROADER *
* The Grand Scales Quarterly *
Robinson & Associates
P.O. Box 8953
Red Bluff, CA 96080
USA
phone 530-527-0141
fax 530-527-0420
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Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 04:05:46 -0000
From: "Harry"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
I have been dealing with Robinson & Associates for serval years and agree with there response. All my dealings with them have been a 150% positive. I,m one of there readers who do appreciate there great work and suport of 7+ Railroading
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Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 10:08:19 +0200
From: "JohanP"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
To James and Harry,
The question about being reputable has never surfaced. I would like to mention that I really would support James, in his brillint idea of having the Magazine available (for subscribers) in PDF format, somewhere on the website. This would save both Susan's company and the International subscriber, the postage money.
Kind Regards,
Johan.
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Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 21:30:49 -0000
From: "Frolin Marek"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Rick,
To the first question, NO have never had "trouble" with getting the 7+ Railroader magazine.
That said, will add to others, at times there has been a delay in the publication, but not the delivery. As has been said, this is a Mom & Pop company, and unlike a major commercial publication their goal is to produce on schedule. This is not like the major main stream model monthly publicationmay you get delivery of same week window each time.
Also, they are limited to the material available, and the material provided. Or at times, the lack of material and thus the searching to gather stuff. I have yet to submit an article as will bet many others here to can say, we have not given then lots of stuff to use either.
In your public 'question' of the 7+ Railroader, and some concern even limited to the firm being honest, you did not say that you first contacted them on your delivery status. Meaning, before you posted this scary message for all to see, did you first email or call them and ask? Did you get or not get, an answer, that you felt uncomfortable with? Did they agree to a delivery and then did not?
See many have ordered and paid for parts for companys that did not ship, did not return calls, did not refund the money. So the question was put out in the group as a 'question' and 'possible warning'. In your first post, you did not mention your efforts to contact Robinson, before coming to the public.
Just thoughts form the other side. We often see (negative) questions about a firm, which can then hurt the firm's imagine. But some supporting facts are missing. Since your first post, many positive replies including yours saying Susan Robinson has contacted you. Not sure if thats from you emailing them, or if many them going the extra mile, monitoring this group, and seeing your message and them contacting you to resolve the issue (you did not ask them about?).
Not barking at the question as much as wanting to say, lets make sure we know you have tried to ask them, before ask public about problems with them.
Frolin Marek
San Antonio, Texas
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Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 21:49:39 -0000
From: "Frolin Marek"
Subject: Magazine via PDF (was: 7+ railroader)
I think that receiving a public in PDF format is a great, modern way to distribute the material. I was one of those that pushed the "Silverton Newspaper" (Colorado) to go PDF, because for years I would get the weekly newspaper, that came out on Thursday, a week later...
...now granted, it was available -IN- Silverton, Colorado -ON- Thursday afternoon and I got it in the mail timely, a week later in San Antonio, Texas. So maybe I should not have complained about missing the notice for a dance on Friday night.
I have asked every club or group I get a newsletter from, to please consider PDF email delivery. Not to change fully to PDF in email, but to be an option. Let those that want on paper in the mail to still get it that way. I would prefer to have PDF files, even if big or having 2-4 files/parts, saved on my PC and burned to a CD every 6 months or so, instead of a growing stack of paper magazines (in the modern day).
Another factor to consider... a paid-for publication that depends on paid subscriptions to stay afloat. What if they started sending it out in PDF format, then only 1 out of 4 guys would subscribe and that 1 would forward it to their 3 friends. Sure, today we loan out our magazines, but not so easily done. But this is surely a factor.
That said, I would prefer getting the publication (any publication) in PDF format if given the option. And would pay the same price for it if neccessary.
Frolin Marek
San Antonio, Texas
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Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 10:45:57 +0100
From: Rick Osman
Subject: Re: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hello Frolin,
Sadly you did not read my post before criticising it. In my post I did say that I had sent two emails to the company without response. There was no questioning of the company's honesty, that is something you have added. My original posting was not scary, it was a simple request as I had not heard anything in the two months since making payment.
Since my post Susan Robinson has contacted me and I am now looking forward to receiving my first issue. I have no qualms about my subscription just a small measure of frustration.
Regards,
Rick
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Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 06:56:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Enginemen
Subject: Re: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
With all that said can we PLEASE put this issue to rest !!!
It is clear the Robinson's have a very respectable magazine and I look fwd to each and very issue. It is time to get back to what we all are here for Railroading.
Thank You
Enginemen
DS
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Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 07:48:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Bruce"
Subject: Re: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
FWIW,
I have been a subscriber of the 7+ Railroader since it's inception. I mean back when it was a fold out B&W newspaper-like publication. I have enjoyed evey issue and I am guilty of submitting some of my experiences
in the 7+ hobby to fill up some page space. I agree with most editors of these interest specific publications. If they don't have material to print, it's not worth going to press. With this hobby, it is the readers choice whether of not to submit material. If you like to see a magazine with lots of articles, then take the time to submit an artical or two. It doesn't need to be a super detailed 3 page masterpiece, just a shop trick, a good photo, or even one of those "oops.. I should have done that differently" stories. Make it "your" magazine. Submit and article!!
Keep up the good work Greg and Susan!! Readers, it's up to you to make this a great magazine.
Bruce Mowbray
Springville, PA
http://www.geocities.com/trainhead391/
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Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:24:58 -0000
From: "willow_ridge_rr"
Subject: "New Member" Building RMI 2-4-2
Hello,
I have finally decided to go ahead and build a second engine in 3-3/4 scale. A little history: I was a member of this group back in 2002 and had built a "Minnie" 2-4-2 using allen models castings. I was considering building something in a larger scale and had inquired about a Sweet Creek.
Scince that time I have moved to the Fort Wayne area (Indiana) and have sold the Minnie to some friends in Ohio. Unfortunately I have moved away from my machine shop access. Now, here in Indiana without a steamer I was going thru withdrawl.
Paul and Bobby from RMI have been very accomodating and given my shop limitations have offered me the chance to build the first RMI Kit Steamer. I am keeping records of the construction process to write an article in the future. The engine will be a Columbia in 3-3/4" scale. So far I have completed a rolling chassis and am
planning for my next delivery of parts.
I have also ordered 2500' of rail from my old club's supplier and will be starting a track on our 17 acre property (looking for anyone in the Fort Wayne area that wants to be involved in building and have a place to run)
I am looking for 3-3/4" scale jewelry including marker lights, turbogenerator, reflex glass, pyle style headlight with number boards ect.
Thanks, Bret Kueber WRRR
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Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:23:33 -0000
From: "willow_ridge_rr"
Subject: Any idea where the moderator of narrowgaugebuilders is?
I have been awaiting a response to join for 5 days and haven't heard anything back I think that group would have a lot to offer, but the moderator must approve my membership.
-Bret Kueber
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Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:30:25 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Join
Looks like you are good to post, Hubert might be out playing trains again this is not his full time job.
Come on in and post have fun railroad.
Boyd member Train Mountain and the Human Race.
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Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:06:59 -0000
From: "willow_ridge_rr"
Subject: Re: Join
Thanks Boyd,
I was trying to join the Narrow Gauge Builders Group too. It is hosted by MosquitoJunction.
-Bret
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:27:10 +0200
From: hubert@wetekamp.de
Subject: RE: Join
Hello Boyd,
Sorry, that's not my my job. I'm the owner and moderator of 7-plus-ngm, not of the narrowgaugebuilders.
Greetings from Germany
Hubert
P.S.: Normaly I approve every request asap, when I get the requested informations. And when I'm longer out of my home, I try to get webaccess and check my emails.
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:07:56 +0200
From: "JohanP"
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Hi Rick and fellow Group members,
I am writing in response to say that I have received my Copies of the 7+ Railroader, today, as promissed by Susan Robinson. I am really impressed by her handling of the situation and would like to thank her publicly, here, for this gesture. Thanks a million, Susan and Greg, for a honest and above board service. I am sure that the magazines already sent by you, must have regrettably ended up in someones possession, who might not even know what it's all about.
I will certainly and open minded deal with the Robinsons again.
My Kindest Regards,
Johan.
JJ Pretorius - South Africa
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:00:00 -0400
From: Robert W Herronen RWHERRON
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
To aid the Robinsons, does anyone have any ideas for articles? I might be willing to submit something myself. Might as well do what we can to help them since we're the ones who benefit as well as the generations to follow
who will pull the magizine of the shelf to read "our wisdom." Just a thought.
Robert Herronen
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:03:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: James Keeline
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
We have the University DVDs and haven't watched them all yet. We also have SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A LIVE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE by Joseph Nelson. We have a RealTrains electric locomotive and riding car which we take out to our club track (CVLS) and some other layouts (LALS, OCME, Bitter Creek).
Like many other people in this hobby, we harbor a desire to have a track on our property (when we have one which is big enough) but there are many questions about what it takes to accomplish this.
A series of articles which would complement the DVDs could describe various aspects of this, including evaluations of newer materials and techniques (aluminum vs steel rail, what kind of plastic or wood ties, etc).
James Keeline
San Diego, CA
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:30:55 -0400
From: Robert W Herronen RWHERRON
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Great idea!
Robert Herronen
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:44:12 -0700
From: Dennis J Dalla-Vicenza
Subject: Re: 7+ railroader magazine
Robert et al,
I think that the Robinson's could use articles from shop tip stuff, 'my shop and its workings', to club meets, right up to full fledged'how to' attempts. I also have been remiss in not submitting articles but once I get my other computer back on its feet I will put anarticle or two together about meets I've attended in the British
Columbia area. My model engineering activities have been mostly pencil sketching of late as the "Honey Do's" have accumulated all last winter, so there's not much of general interest there..
Greg or Susan,
How about telling us what you are looking for as when I did our club newsletter I found it much easier to meet deadline by doing cut and paste and then place relevant photos and captions.
Susan, Denise sends her regards. :-)
Regards,
Dennis
Way up here in Port Alberni, BC, Canada Eh!
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:26:39 -0600
From: "Tom Casper"
Subject: RE: Digest Number 1650
Bret,
I am interested in your building of a 3 3/4 scale loco as we are close to that up here in Battle Creek. You need to come up and see us sometime. About 2 hrs.
Would like some jewelry also. Let me know if you find any.
Later:
Tom Casper
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Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:52:39 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Parts for them Big Ones
Try Real Trains web site, its on the list of links on the Train Mountain site,will try to copy it here.
A friend of mine got a set of cabosse marker castings from them and they are very nice castings very little clean up on them. http://www.realtrains.com/locoparts.html, try that link
Boyd Butler
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Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:48:28 -0000
From: "willow_ridge_rr"
Subject: Re: Digest Number 1650
Tom,
I have enjoyed all the pictures you have posted and would like to come up and visit your track.
Let me know the when and where.
I have one gentleman looking into producing a turbogenerator, would you be interested?
-Bret
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Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:05:20 -0000
From: "John Ray"
Subject: Website Update
Hi Folks,
After months of neglect, I buckled down on Sunday night and did a chore I hate...I updated my website!
You can find a number of current photos under the "Work Sessions" heading.
The site is: http://www.cvry.org
The last few months have been a real bear, with lots of heavy cut and fill work. Now that most of that work is done, it's time to lay some rail and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
As usual, guests are always welcome, volunteer workers are cherished!
Kind Regards,
John Ray
(cross-posted at Live Diesel)
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Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:21:13 +0000
From: Roy Stevens
Subject: Unitah Railway cabooses
I have started in earnest on building the two bobber cabooses that the Uintah railway owned and am in the parts acquisition stage. I was wondering if anyone knows of a supplier for working leaf springs, about 7" long. And is there a supplier for 2.5" scale caboose grab irons?
Thanks,
Roy Stevens
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Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:12:42 -0400
From: Arno Martens
Subject: Re: Website Update
Just had a little look at your pages.
You don't appear to suffer from boredom.
--
Cheers,
Arno
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Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:18:05 -0000
From: "John Ray"
Subject: Re: Website Update
Grading was a lot of work spread over the last 4 or so months. Now the fun can begin, laying track, building trestles, making switches... One project coming up that is particularly exciting is restoring and installing a full sized crossing signal and gate where the tracks cross the main ranch road. I fired off the bell for the first time
yesterday...sounds great!!!
John
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Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:21:07 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Adhesive Problems
Ok here goes, I need help on what others have done trying to bond two pieces of aluminum together, am trying Locktite 330 without any success. I am cleaning both surfaces along with roughing them up with 80 grit letting them set for 24hr. when it separates there is no bond to the surface complely clean and takes very little effort. Any ideas out there or is there something else that I could try? I cannot weld it as one is cast aluminum, the front part of my SW7 the other bar stock.
Thanks for any help
Boyd Butler,lost, way out west, but my steam is still up.
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:17:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: MERLE MILLER
Subject: Re: Adhesive Problems
Back over thirty years ago, we used to bond Grumman light aircraft together (in Savannah, Ga.), and they are still flying. But, for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the adhesive right now. If you know of an owner of one of these aircraft (Cheetah, Tiger, Lynx, or the light twin), the owners manual may have a repair adhesive and procedure listed.
There is an eutectic aluminum rod on the market that will weld/bond two dissimilar aluminum pieces together (including cast). Or, you could always screw, bolt, or rivet them together. That has worked on aircraft for years.
Merle Miller.
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:31:35 -0000
From: "Richard Canaday"
Subject: Re: Adhesive Problems
Boyd,
Your source of information may be misleading you.
Cast aluminum can be welded to wrought (sheet, bar, plate, round, tube, etc.) successfully with TIG process.
The only exception would be if the cast is high zinc content die cast aluminum (eg. "pot metal").
Find a competent high grade welding shop.
Richard
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 06:33:25 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Bonding
Oh yes Mr Miller I loved to fly all of them didn't fly the twin but they were very spirited aircraft the little ones were like fighters you had to respect them but the rewards were great. Now about that bonding, you had the same trouble that we did at Robertson STOL, that is it worked fine but one had to secure the ends of the bond with a rivet as it would sometimes start delaminating from the end and then the whole thing would slowly fail.
They came out with and AD note on the early ones to update them in the field to that.
The stuff that I am using is Locktite 330, it looks about like what we used but even roughing it up it does not bond, that is to say the metal is clean where it failed, no trace just a large area without anything on it at all. I cleaned it with thinner, I didn't have any acetone to use so just automotive paint thinner which has worked for everything else in life so far
Paul K that makes cars uses the same on steel with good results as the part can be destroyed without failing so he suggested using that two part epoxy steel stuff, I know what it is but cant come up with the name so its my next experiment.
If I were to buy an airplane I would find a Tiger and restore it as that was my dream machine to fly.
Boyd Butler
way out west with the wind at my back and steam in the face at Train Mountain for another great meet.
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 06:47:56 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Bonding
Thanks for the answer Mr Canaday, I will find a friend who does TIG work didn't get that far in school and have a TIG but haven't had time to learn it yet. I don't have a scrap piece of the cast to try it on so would take
the chance of damaging the front piece beyond repair. Could you tell me what poor quality cast aluminum might look like? I have done some machining on the piece to square up the edge which will be bonded, or welded now that you brought it up. And by the way now I suppose that I should go back and learn TIG, oh well life is full of fun, that sounds like a good idea anyway. LOL.
I was hoping for a quick and dirty fix by bonding the filler piece in the front radiator casting on my Rail Systems SW7 so the story goes, this is so the opening can take the correct size of grill that I bought from Morris
that also makes an SW7. All was well with the original engine in my eyes until I got EMD drawings and started to look at the detail that could be changed or added to it and its been down hill ever since.
Thanks
Boyd Butler
way out west and still confused but the steam is still up.
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:35:43 -0500
From: "Richard Canaday"
Subject: Re: Bonding
Boyd,
Since all the locomotives manufactured for the hobby are relatively low production, I would assume they were sand cast or maybe permanent mold low pressure cast. A die cast piece (regardless of material) will be a very slick surface below the paint. Any sand cast piece will have the finish of very very fine sand. Anyone can tell the difference.
To the question of how to tell if it is pot metal; if the part feels heavier than aluminum it is probably pot metal. I seriously doubt if it is though.
The tooling costs are much higher for die cast aluminum and pot metal than sand cast aluminum. Any competent TIG welding shop can easily tell the difference.
Some sand cast aluminum is much easier to weld than others due to the quality of the casting and the quality of the aluminum. Usually, the welder will find out as soon as he/she strikes the arc.
Nevertheless, a competent welder will not ruin the part; you may have to "bondo" the place where the arc was attempted.
Richard
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:48:06 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Castings
Yes I can tell the difference as have done casting but the type of metal was what I didn't know about as am a backyard casting person is the pot metal statement. This is very much a sand casting I could tell that but again did not know about the pot metal type that you were talking about as any aluminum casting that I had seen looked about the same. Thanks for explaining what to look for in the weight department. Now when I get home will give it a try, yup bondo will work fine to fix those little errors caused by the bad welding machine as the operator never makes a mistake just like supervisors. Thanks again and will relay the progress if and when I make it in about two weeks. Off to run trains and visit with interesting people or ever what they may call themselves today at TM
Boyd Butler
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:41:17 -0000
From: "wdbarbe"
Subject: Re: Adhesive Problems
Have you tried JB Weld. Seems to stick to anything and is real hard when cured.
BB
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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:01:40 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Glue
JB weld is the stuff that I was thinking about but due to the normal problems I could not come up with the name thanks.
Boyd still here still steaming but going to work on the RR now.
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Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:30:51 +1200
From: Grant & Donna Alexander
Subject: Re: Adhesive Problems
Boyd,
What did they use to hold the aluminium panels on WW2 aeroplanes, wasn't it a 2 pot epoxy? Araldite or something? Oh, and probably lots of rivets too. We used Araldite to glue a piece back into a motorcycle gearbox casing (aluminium) after a broken chain smashed a hole in it. That lasted till we sold the bike!
Grant Alexander
Squirrel Valley Railway
Cambridge
New Zealand.
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Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:32:42 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
From: "Boyd A Butler"
Subject: Epoxy and WWII
Grant as far as I know they never bonded anything just used Rosy the Riveter on all.
But thanks, I am going to try a little welding and then also that other epoxy called JB weld and see what happens. The nice thing about this is I now have a reason why my engines are at home and not at TM.
Well its off to load the sprayer up and kill weeds, am going to try to spot spray the main this morning and possibly this afternoon the track north of the highway,that should keep me busy and use aboiut 60 gallons of mix. The weather is great nothing but sun and friends around wish that you all were here having fun with us this week.
Boyd Butler at TM having fun, no steam just a lot of hot air today.
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Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:21:44 -0700
From: Greg Robinson
Subject: Convention --largest 15" ga. RR in America
Six weeks remain before the 2007 Miniature Railroad Convention at the private and exclusive ATT&NW in Missouri.
Susan and I were unable to organize the event ourselves this year, but happily I am hoping to attend. Those who haven't heard about this railroad will be amazed. Registrations made in the next two weeks receive a substantial discount. I've been told that registrations have come in from all over North America and a number from Europe. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Please pass this message along.
http://www.arborwayrailroad.com/2007_convention.html
All the Best,
Greg Robinson
--
*The Grand Scales Quarterly*
*7+ RAILROADER*
Robinson & Associates
P.O. Box 8953,
Red Bluff, CA 96080
USA
530-527-0141
fax 530-527-0420
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Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:06:21 -0400
From: Ferdinand Mels
Subject: Re: Convention --largest 15" ga. RR in America
Thanks Greg
I posted the info in the calendar and forum.
Cheers Ferd
http://engineer.therustybolt.com/index.php/topic=109.msg232
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