Coach building

[Steamcoaster]

I'm currently building some IP Engineering kits. They are really great with excellent instructions. But, I am lookIng to create finer detail as well as the interest in construction. The detail is not necessary if you want robust stock to run, but it is of interest to me.

The question is, what tools?

I can see that I could do with a small circular saw and planing machine, but what do I in practice.

[hussra]

To be honest, most of what I've done has made use of a razor saw, craft knife and various grades of sandpaper. A small mitre box would be useful too. No doubt some day I'll get more technical...

[Annie]

A good razor saw is worth its weight in gold in my opinion.  With my own scratchbuilt wooden rolling stock all I've ever used is a razor saw and a craft knife.  A mitre box is handy to have as well as a decent steel ruler and a try square. For drilling holes a pin chuck is really useful too.

[Spule 4]

I have an IP coach on the water as I type this, and just completed one of their Darj goods wagons (tea wagon).

One thing I did with all my past kits and forgot to do with the tea wagon until after painting, brush the wood with the grain with steel wool.

I am going to try and get a nice finish for the IP coach, and may even try sealing the wood if need be. The thoughts are to go with a color scheme close to the FR's Royal Purple of the Victorian era.

[Keith S]

If you are interested in greater detail, then you need to search for some of the posts made by forum member "GTB", also from Australia I believe.

His scratch-built rolling stock has realistic frames and brake gear and is not only visually realistic, but mechanically realistic.

I have all IP rolling stock myself and I love it, but of course the frames and things are nothing like the real ones. Look at "GTB"'s wagons to get some ideas for building really realistic coaches and wagons.

He uses a lathe to make his own wheels and brake shoes, but I'm sure the rest of it is just razor-saw, mitre box, small drill and various little spanners and screwdrivers. A little scroll-saw would probably also be handy.

Hopefully "GTB" sees this thread and responds to it. His stuff is really excellent.