Jem, I may have missed it, but what is the capacity of your lathe? Al Messer --- Jem Harrison <Jem.Harrison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Thanks Jeff, > > Your scenario is one that I can see that I would > have to follow. My ML10 > would be hard pushed to fit a 6ft driver in 5-inch > gauge! > > Thanks, > > Jem > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jeff Dayman" <jeffdayman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 1:27 PM > Subject: [modeleng] Re: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5 > > > > Hi Jem, > > > > Unless you like watchmaking, bigger models are > easier to build. Smaller > > parts are generally harder to hold while putting > on the high cutting > > forces > > needed in metal work. If you have a few parts > beyond the size of your > > equipment, chances are local industries or other > club members will have > > larger ones. I've found that if you show up to the > back door of a machine > > shop at lunch time with a tray of coffees, and > tell the guys what you're > > up > > to, they're generally glad to help, as long as > you're not in a rush. When > > I > > was in the toolroom, training, we loved jobs like > that for Friday > > afternoons. > > > > Good luck, Jeff Dayman Waterloo Ontario Canada > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jem Harrison" > <Jem.Harrison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 6:16 AM > > Subject: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5 > > > > > >> Here is another 'new' topic, on which I would > appreciate your opinions. > >> I am a relative newcomer to model engineering. I > have no engineering > > background. In the distant past I have > scratchbuilt models in 0 gauge > > (2-rail electric) and some wagons in Gauge 1. I > have a Myford ML10 in > > reasonable condition and a small bench pillar > drill (rough!). For the > > best > > part of the last three years I have been doing > some restoration work on a > > Dore Westbury Mk.1: surgery on the motor, fitting > new lead screws and > > nuts, > > devising different ways to attach the handles top > the lead screws, making > > a > > drawbar, making a machine vice kit. It has been a > long learning exercise! > > I now have some digital read-out bars that I have > not succeeded yet in > > fitting....I do wonder if these are really worth > the hassle. > >> > >> I want to get started on a locomotive. Until > recently I reckoned that I > > would tackle something in 3½-inch gauge, but the > vast majority of the > > received wisdom has advised against this size. > So, what I would be > > interested to read on this discussion group is > your views for and against > > 3½-inch and 5-inch gauge, oh and while we are > about it, we could add > > 2½-inch > > gauge. > >> > >> Best wishes, > >> > >> Jem Harrison > >> Basildon > >> > >> > >> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > >> > >> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email > to, > >> modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word > "unsubscribe" in the subject > > line. > >> > > > > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email > to, > > modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word > "unsubscribe" in the subject > > line. > > > > > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email > to, > modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word > "unsubscribe" in the subject line. > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.