mswjr Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Another Question please, On this 4mm scale loco kit i am building the chimney is white metal, It looks naff as it has no hole, It is solid white metal, I will have no chance drilling it through as it is, So i have glued it to the smokebox with Araldite, I am hoping to drill it through this way. Can i ask what do others do, I am thinking that this may be more difficult than i want it to be. Thankyou Garry Edited November 11, 2021 by mswjr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted November 11, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Start with small dia drills and work your way up. Slow speed as if it gets too hot, it will melt the white metal. It might grab, and if it does hopefully only the glue fails and it doesnt damage the chimney or smoke box. Lubricating the drill bit may help and make sure they are new and very sharp. Failing that, large, sharp bit and slowly take slithers away by hand Good luck!!!! Edited November 11, 2021 by ianLMS 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Start a tiny hole in the centre. Then use a drill bit in a handheld pin vice. Never use a power drill with whitemetal if you can help it. https://www.eileensemporium.com/materials-for-modellers/category/hand-drills-pin-vices-1 Finish off with files or a reamer. Jason 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibelroad Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I would agree with the above, hand drilling is essential, withdraw and clean the flutes as soon as you feel it binding. You should get away with quite a shallow hole painted Matt black inside. Getting it concentric will be difficult and you may have to clean the last bit by scraping with a craft knife tip. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Find some brass tube of the correct size. Use the white metal base and cap. The middle part is sacraficial so can be clamped hard in the vice whilst you drill out the base from beneath. In 7mm it is usually possible to drill out the casting using a brass tube as a full length blast pipe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I use a bit of as near to the full size as possible to centre then work up from a small bit gently drilling by hand 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted November 12, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2021 You don't say what the loco actually is, and it may be possible to find a brass turned chimney for it. Whitemetal is not IMHO the best material for such items, and a turned harder metal will give a much better profile to the lip and cap (if it has one), and of course will already have a hole. I would suggest Doilum's brass tube method if the chimney is a tall narrow one, as drilling out the material from the inside may compromise structural integrity. A short fat chimney is easier to deal with in this regard. I agree with the idea of aralditing or supergluing the chimney in position on the top of the smokebox for drilling, as on some kits the bottom of it has a locating peg with fits into a hole on the smokebox top for correct central positioning, which will be probably removed by the hole drilling. With luck and a following wind, the chimney will remain in the correct position during the drilling process and not need to be relocated by line of sight, though this is still possible if dragging by the drill bit tears if off. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswjr Posted November 12, 2021 Author Share Posted November 12, 2021 The loco is a N class ( S R ) In late B R livery, The chimney is a short fat one, I followed the above methods and drilled it a step at a time , And i must say it was not a bad job in the end, All went o.k. I got the kit as a winter project , so i can stay in the house rather than my cold workshop, And the kit is almost finished, ( quite enjoying it ). So i may have to get another kit, for the winter months. Thankyou all for the advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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