tools & moulds

[vac_basher]

We often talk about the "tools" and "moulds" the manufactures use to produce our models. But frankly I know next to nothing about them

Has anybody "civilian" ever actually seen any of these machines (if that is what they are!) How big are they? How do they work? Why do they sometimes wear out?

 

Don't you wish that program "How Things Are Made" on the Discovery Channel could do a program on how model trains are made. B)

[random]

There are some details here:

 

 

and here:

 

 

I think that there are other similar videos as well.

 

But hopefully not in a factory like this!!

[vac_basher]

My goodness, I didn't realize there was so much manual work involved in refining/finishing the models. I suppose that partly justifies the prices.

[JeremyC]

We often talk about the "tools" and "moulds" the manufactures use to produce our models. But frankly I know next to nothing about them

Has anybody "civilian" ever actually seen any of these machines (if that is what they are!) How big are they? How do they work? Why do they sometimes wear out?

 

Don't you wish that program "How Things Are Made" on the Discovery Channel could do a program on how model trains are made. B)

 

I've seen one of these programs that did cover model trains. The subject was a manufacturer of American '0' gauge [Lionel?].

 

Jeremy

[BernardTPM]

I had a tool made for some N gauge coach ends - basically there were various holes and pins in a large block of steel about a foot square, cut in two! You could drop a bagful of the sprues on your foot without harm - but you wouldn't want to drop the tool on your foot

[Etched Pixels]

Some of the moulds for models these days are aluminium and the like so a bit lighter - they aren't designed to last as long as you can no longer expect to whack the same product out for fifty years. A much lower mould lifetime is therefore acceptable.

 

But no I really wouldn't like to drop one of the N gauge roof moulds on my foot (or given the cost of replacing it at all)

 

Alan