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2mm/N gauge corrugated iron is alive and well and in a Supermarket near you...well - almost?!


RobboPetes

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When I wanted to create some corrugated iron using 2 Nescafe jar lids last year, I was well disappointed to find the lid edges were smooth instead of having a milled edge like that found on the edge of a coin. On finding this out I turned my attention to something else, model-wise.

 

Whilst at work about a month ago my manager asked me if I would like a cup of coffee, to which I answered in the affirmative. He told me he had started drinking the Everyday Value range from Tesco. When I went to return the favour some time later I noticed the edge of the lid was rough. On closer inspection I found the edge was actually milled like that as per the old Nescafe jars. Bliss! We're back in business again.

 

Over the next couple of weeks I surreptitiously removed the lids from the empty jars to take home.

 

I've messed about on an old pie dish and created the following:

 

blogentry-13308-0-18395200-1362489526_thumb.jpg

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  • RMweb Gold

Well spotted that man. I've been making corrugated iron from an old coffee jar lid for years (see the roof on the screens on Highbury for one) and hung on to mine as they were not easy to find. Will have to get some cheapo Tesco coffee. 

 

Jerry

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I'm glad the idea I devised years ago is still doing the rounds. It won the Willis cup at the 1992 AGM. The guest judge Andy Farquarson featured this  in Dec 1992 Model Railways where he was on the editorial staff. I can't fathom out how to attach a copy of page 737 but it shows that the lids have to be one up and one down. This is necessary as the lids, having a slight taper for mould release,  would otherwise produce a curved strip. Both Aldi and Asda's own brand instant granules currently have suitable lids!

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The other way of making corrugated iron that I have seen involves the handle of a small jeweller's screwdrivers mounted in a brass frame to form a miniature mangle. Like Andrew's work with the coffee jars this also won the Willis Cup, in this instance in 2009. Link to it here (it's in the Rmweb archive section):

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=434453#p434453

 

Andy

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Inspiration all round!  Cheers folks.... (Tesco's coffee tastes c..p - but worth the investment!)

 

Regs

 

Ian

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  • RMweb Gold

I'm glad the idea I devised years ago is still doing the rounds. It won the Willis cup at the 1992 AGM. The guest judge Andy Farquarson featured this  in Dec 1992 Model Railways where he was on the editorial staff. I can't fathom out how to attach a copy of page 737 but it shows that the lids have to be one up and one down. This is necessary as the lids, having a slight taper for mould release,  would otherwise produce a curved strip. Both Aldi and Asda's own brand instant granules currently have suitable lids!

 

I didn't get the idea from the AGM or MR article - don't know where it came from and almost certainly not original but but I was doing something similar in the eighties . I only use one lid and press the foil into the grooves with a cocktail stick. 

Julia's mangle idea from two screw driver handles was inspired - brilliant lateral thinking.

 

Jerry

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I can't remember where I heard the idea of coffee jar lids to create corrugated iron from either. Mick Simpson mentions it in his article in the March 2013 Railway Modeller. If any one is interested, Maxwell House Classic Blend also has a milled edge.

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