We have FOUR Z Scale products now available! More information and photos can be found on our website (link below). #8010 Signal Bridge - Double Track #8100 Radio Antenna Tower (70 scale feet!) #8101 Cell Phone Antenna Tower #8104 Trackside Electrical Box We encourage all modelers to ask their favorite dealers to stock our product line. Your voices can and will help in the process of spreading the word about the new products and we definitely appreciate it! Our thanks to you will come in the form of many new, innovative products! Below is a sneak peak of our Z Scale Signal Bridge (#8010).
That's great Craig! I have told my favorite dealers about your new Z Scale offerings so we can see them available there too! -Robert
A full detail kit for the MT GP35 would be great. I've installed your smalled N scale lift rings in mine, and have windshield wipers to modify, and 36" N scale fans to replace the 48" fans as well. I'd suggest two kits... one with fairly simple parts, such as cab shades/window boxes, grab irons, antennae, a/c box (essentially a kit of parts requiring minimal, if any, "surgery" on the shell). The second kit could have fans, pilots, speedometer cables, windshield wipers, drop steps, MU hoses, lift rings, etc. Essentially more difficult to install parts that require more skill and/or cutting on the shell. Heck, you guys could do a GP30 conversion kit, and that would be great! Thanks for asking for input, regardless. Fine work on the signal bridge and box. Adam
Craig, Can you give us a required skill level for the construction of the signal bridge kit? And maybe for the Cell tower and the radio tower as well? I'm interested in all of them, but I've never built a brass kit, and I've never done any bending of etched metals. I know there are tools and appliances that can make the job easier, so any specific recommendations you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your Z offerings, and we look forward to your output in the future. Bryan
Thanks for the compliments guys! The diesel details are in the works so keep tabs on our site for more information. Bryan, the skill level required for the Signal Bridge is moderate; however, having the right tools will help with the assembly. Included with the kit are 6 pages of instructions and I'm always available for question answering. The Radio Tower and or Cell Tower would be a good starting point if you haven't worked with etched metal products int he past.
Thank you for the information Craig. Any particular tools you can recommend? I know I want to get a mini-bender/break, but other than that, I have no idea. Thanks again for your offerings. Bryan
Kez, if you have a bender that will help. but two good thin metal rulers would be an alternative. holding the ruler along the edge to fold, and placing the 2nd ruler underneath the part -- then folding up with the bottom ruler to get an even crease. once the bend is started, straightly, you can work it on the work table or clamp the two rulers around the part to hold on to, and then finish the bend. i'm sure others will chime in. you might want to go to the N scale forum and ask the question. craig's kits have been around in N for a while already, and the construction would be essentially the same. i'm sure they have some good hints. you can do it! dave f.
I want to get one of those signal bridges too, and i was just looking through the Micro-Mark catalog and found that they offer a brake tool designed for these kinds of projects. I think i might get it, and practice on the radio tower first. I am getting the N Scale tower, and the Z Scale tower to make the 2 tier tower like the ones on the hills by my house. -Robert
Thanks for all of the great input guys! The only tools I use when working with etched metal are toothless pliers, fine tweeezers, an exacto knife, and glue. See the following link for a run down of the tools I regularly use and what I use them for: http://www.nscaleblma.com/tipstricks.html Using a metal ruler to aid with bending is a good idea and works well. When I need to make bends, I grasp the part with my toothless pliers right below the fold line, then I using my finger to push up or down on the protruding portion of the etching to form the bend. The Signal Bridges do not require many bends at all. In essence, the difficulty level of the Signal Bridge isn't any harder than the Cell Tower, there are just more pieces involved so you can expect it to take longer to assemble. The only part that might be challenging are the Signal Heads, however, knowing this we have added extras in the kits.
I recently saw something somewhere about making a metal bending brake from a door hinge. For the life of me I can remember where I saw it. Anyone heard of this before? Randy
