Material for baseplate

[GreeboTheCat]

Well I've finally started on the build of my Steam Launch    started to put the Gage engine together anyway. What's the best source of suitable metal for a baseplate? I've only seen up to about 1mm brass sheet and then it wasn't wide enough. I guess it needs to be at least 2mm.

Greebo

[sandy_ACS]

 

Hi Pd's,

Grebo.....one source would be blackgates engineering on

www.blackgates.co.uk

They do sheet metal by the square ft/or metric equiv if prefered and by mail order.

I would say 18swg (1.2mm) or 20swg (1.0mm) mild steel would be suitable, put a 3/8" high upturn on all four sides to keep the gung away from your woodwork, solder all corner joints,  once you've finished cutting, drilling and bending etc, spray it with zinc primer and then use high temp white enamel (radiator paint is suitable) as a top coat..... looks good and is reasonably easy to clean.

I use 18swg mild steel for my base plates, all you need in the model is a sub frame of 1/2" (min) square hardwood, bonded to the hull, to screw the base plate down onto.

Hope this helps.

best regards.

Sandy.  :luck  :computer  

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.... Greebo..........further to comments from Sandy , even in OZ we have access via our Hobby Shops to the ..."DU BRO" product accessories

The examples shown here are 'Blind Nuts' & 'Threaded Inserts' in the YANK sizing of 10-32 which is 0.185" diameter

Well worth considering to make your boiler/engine plate robust &  :boom bullet proof = added extra strength... considering the cost of model boilers + engines, AUD$??? for such functional bolts & nuts security is cheap ..less than a packet of SMOKES  +

[GreeboTheCat]

Hi Derek
I took your advice and got hold of some of these threaded inserts but strangely enough could not get appropriate bolts to suit. Anyway to cut a long story short, went on the web and found a superb source (in the UK anyway) for just about every type of bolt.  Mail order from Stagonset at

www.stagonset.co.uk/

They say that you can order as few as you like (even 1 for any cheapskate PDs   :music ) ) and no minimum order (which is nice).