Work in progress: Westinghouse boxcab electric

[Bill Gill]

Hauk, With that level of skill it's not "showing off", it's demonstrating.

[finescalerr]

If you keep turning out work of that quality, please continue. -- Russ

[Ray Dunakin]

Nice work!

[Hauk]

A little progress on the trucks/boggies. I am quite pleased with the slightly scruffy results. In my opinion, the precision of CNC combined with my imperfect craftsmanship suits the engineering of a prototype built just after 1900.

[Ray Dunakin]

Awesome!

[finescalerr]

I see no obvious imperfection. Paint will hide whatever you see and the result will be superb. -- Russ

[Bernhard]

I completely agree with Russ. I don't see any imperfection either.

Bernhard

[Hauk]

What I really enjoy about this forum is that it is frequented by true Gentlemen!

But it is not coquetry that I point out these deficiencies; they are, of course, entirely real. If we take the pictures of the parts straight from the milling machine, we can clearly see that there are some extra drill holes and rough edges on the parts (The centering plates for the bolsters) to the far left. In the picture of the finished axle box with the leaf springs and hangers, it is quite evident that the spring hanger rods are not 100% parallel. This is due in part to discrepancies between critical dimensions on etched parts versus cast parts, some limitatations to the relatively cheap CNC-router but most importantly, the limitations of my craftmanship. Since perfection is never achievable for any of us (with possible exception for Chuck Doan), the question is whether our best is good enough.

Personally, I formulate the question as follows: When I do my best, is the result good enough to justify continuing with this?

[fspg2]

Hello Hauk,

It's always nice to marvel at your little works of art.

I assume that each of us can achieve the "perfection" we are trying to achieve.
Perfect is relative. We can usually only be as good as our abilities and possibilities allow at the time.
If you do your best today, it doesn't mean that you won't be even better tomorrow.
We learn from each other and try to adapt many things, sometimes more and sometimes less successfully.
So please let us continue to participate in the many continuations of your perfect buildings so far!!!

[Bill Gill]

These are questions I wrangle with all the time. Is my modeling improving? Is it good enough to share? While I'll always feel like my modeling is mediocre, the support from the members of this forum has encouraged me to keep at it.

[finescalerr]

At some point I arrived at a philosophy that works for me: I realized that everything I've produced was the best I could do UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

With books, magazines, and music there was never a chance to do it again. I have rebuilt some models, though. While they still may be less than absolutely perfect, they are the best I could do. Oh, well ....

Russ

[Bernhard]

I think perfection is one thing, having fun building is the other important aspect. I always try my best, but I know that my models are not perfect. But I've never let that spoil my enjoyment of the hobby so far.

Bernhard

[Sami]

What my painting teacher said at the school of fine art: we always think that what others do is better.
Which means that what we build seems imperfect to us.
What I like about this forum is that we all like the work well done and know how to question ourselves taking into account the advice of others.
That is what makes us progress.

[Hauk]

An update so small you will be excused for calling it a bump.
Work on the cosmetic trucks for the scene continues. Making wheelsets are so much easier when ypu know they will never be used on an operating engine!
The 3D printed gears are designed from photos of the prototype, I used an online gear designing app for getting the correct pitch and size.



Lesson learned when trying to blacken the brass wheel centers: Do NOT use Birchwood Casey Aluminium Blackening anywhere near mild steel. The corrosion is terrible, and the look of the finish horrible. And the steel keeps corriding after trying to neutralize the process.

[finescalerr]

Birchwood Casey aside, the truck looks terrific. == Russ