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Iconic Machine Shop Machines
Hi Everyone,
My current project involves a small machine shop and backwoods engine house. The space I have available will only allow for at best four machines. So my question is which machines are the most iconic. For me the number one piece is the lathe followed by the drill press. The catch here is the machine(s) must be available from Brett.
I look forward to your comments/suggestions
Michael
My current project involves a small machine shop and backwoods engine house. The space I have available will only allow for at best four machines. So my question is which machines are the most iconic. For me the number one piece is the lathe followed by the drill press. The catch here is the machine(s) must be available from Brett.
I look forward to your comments/suggestions
Michael
Comments
And fun to put together.
Jerry
Best Looking Models - Lathe, Big Drill Press, Miller, Shaper
In my opinion there is no "right" priority order because each real-world situation would be unique and only the model builder has a mental picture of the desired end result.
My work shop powered machinery priorities (assuming pre-WWII) for backwoods repairs and maintenance work would be in order: grinder, power hacksaw, lathe, crank shaper. If the work included major/complex repairs and fabrication then in order of increasing job complexity I would add: universal milling machine, small planer, vertical boring mill, horizontal boring mill and so. Items such as a wheel lathe and other specialized machines would at the complex task end of the spectrum.
For anyone interested and who is not familiar with engineering workshops I'll stretch the strict definition of machines a bit into some ideas on equipping a small but capable workshop realistically. So again assuming pre-WWII and either or both tight space and $ budget to set up a backwoods maintenance/repair workshop my choice of equipment would at least include: heavy duty work bench(es) with heavy duty vice(s), materials racking and parts storage shelving and cupboard(s), heavy duty jacks and timber cribbing, hoisting equipment, grinder, oxyacetylene cutting and welding, heavy/big drill press, forge and large anvil (I know not part of a machine shop in the modern sense but essential for backwoods heavy repairs), power hacksaw, lathe, crank shaper, heavy universal mill. And, of course, a wide variety of hand tools and both new and old/broken parts. To make the area look busy and pique the viewer's interest items such as the oxyacetylene set(s), one or more workbenches, materials racking, and the forge and anvil with appropriate repair work in progress could realistically be located in a small, congested, open-sided lean-to shack sharing one wall of your machine shop or engine house.
In the end the detailing wizards on this (and other) forum(s) always seem to make the scene very realistic and interesting to the viewer with many variations on the above.
Apologies for being long winded!
Brian, thank you for your very insightful information. I’m going to save this to a word document so I can use it as a reference as I get more into detailing my machine shop area. When I designed and built my engine house/machine shop I knew I would not be able to portray a ‘complete’ shop area. My hope was to have a viewer look at it and say “Oh yeah that’s the machines used to keep the locomotive operating.” If no one asks me where is such and such machine(s) I’ll be happy. Your comments about some heavy work benches and vices was something I hadn’t given any thought to. Thanks for the idea!
If anyone else has some suggestions feel free to add them. I'm still very much in the planning/thinking stage.
Michael
Jeff
Jeff
Karl.A
Jeff
Ken