Miniature drill press vise

**metric_taper** · May 6, 2018, 07:12 PM

These look like aluminum castings for the main parts of the machines. Is this also part of your hobby to do castings? If not, how are you creating the sand mold texture, as I've seen a few miniatures that are not castings and always amazed at the surface simulation techniques used.
I don't think I've ever seen an old photo of a horizontal mill that used that sort of cutter to machine a channel. I assume you modeled this cutter after a method used long ago.

I do have a Rockford #2 miller, ~1930 with a Lima overhead belt conversion. The owner of the machine shop I purchased it from had to sell it, as his workers always wanted to use it vs a modern mill. It does spin slow, but has power feed in all three axis. It also has a similar external drive shaft that is telescoping and has universal joints. #9 B&S spindle taper.

Thanks for such enjoyable pieces of art.

**Christophe Mineau** · May 7, 2018, 01:39 AM

Hi Marv,
Your work is really wonderful !
I was thinking about you during my last small vacation in London in February. As I was visiting the Science Museum, I saw a wonderful cabinet representing a miniature old time metal shop, with lots of machines, all powered with overhead belt and a steam boiler. And everything alive !
I shot a little video (medium quality I am afraid), but I thought I could share that with you all, so I've just uploaded it to Youtube :

**mklotz** · May 7, 2018, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by metric_taper

These look like aluminum castings for the main parts of the machines. Is this also part of your hobby to do castings? If not, how are you creating the sand mold texture, as I've seen a few miniatures that are not castings and always amazed at the surface simulation techniques used.
I don't think I've ever seen an old photo of a horizontal mill that used that sort of cutter to machine a channel. I assume you modeled this cutter after a method used long ago.

I do have a Rockford #2 miller, ~1930 with a Lima overhead belt conversion. The owner of the machine shop I purchased it from had to sell it, as his workers always wanted to use it vs a modern mill. It does spin slow, but has power feed in all three axis. It also has a similar external drive shaft that is telescoping and has universal joints. #9 B&S spindle taper.

Thanks for such enjoyable pieces of art.

PM Research sells the casting kits. You can see their offerings here...

https://www.pmmodelengines.com/produ...achine-models/

They also sell engine and boiler kits. I've built one of their boilers and recommend the kits because the engineering is done for you and the required copper isn't easy to obtain for the home shop guy.

Novices assume that casting kits are easier to build than building from stock material. In reality, the opposite is true. Holding castings for machining can be very difficult, often requiring purpose-built jigs and fixtures. While the finished product looks more authentic, the time to produce a working model is increased significantly.

Castings are very unforgiving about mistakes. The bed of the model lathe has four precisely spaced pyramidal ways. Lacking CNC I had to work out a HAM (Human Assisted Machining) scheme on paper, then verify it by using it to machine a test piece. After QCing that, the bed could be machined. Had I messed this up, it would have required ordering a new bed casting and waiting for shipment. With bar stock, it would have been a much easier build-up of brazed parts.

**mklotz** · May 7, 2018, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau

Hi Marv,
Your work is really wonderful !
I was thinking about you during my last small vacation in London in February. As I was visiting the Science Museum, I saw a wonderful cabinet representing a miniature old time metal shop, with lots of machines, all powered with overhead belt and a steam boiler. And everything alive !
I shot a little video (medium quality I am afraid), but I thought I could share that with you all, so I've just uploaded it to Youtube

I remember that shop model, Christophe. When in London, I always spend some time at the Science Museum while my wife haunts the Victoria & Albert Museum across the street.

The realistic touches like the common workbench with all the vises and tools laid out are impressive. Also, I would love to get in there and make some measurements of that planer. I don't have one of those for my Lilliputian shop. The machines are, naturally, British in design. While many American machines are descended from these designs, they all have their differences. It's educational to see how things evolved.

Thanks for taking the time to make the video. I've added it to my bookmark list of amazing models from around the world.

**ranald** · May 13, 2018, 10:16 PM

That is one big "Redhead" you have there! LOL, thanks for posting . you must have som.............me workshop! and a we bit of time to use up.
Regards,

Ranald

**Hemi** · Sep 18, 2018, 08:39 PM

Marv,
OH MY GAWD man... your like well.............. I'm just speechless!!!!! (Ask my Wife, that normally does NOT "EVER" happen!) WOW.......... just..........W-O-W!!!!

What "scale" might these tools be? I'd LOVE to put together a 1/25th scale Bridgeport Mill and a Clausing 9x32 (I think it was) Lathe!!!!!

**mklotz** · Sep 19, 2018, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Hemi

Marv,
OH MY GAWD man... your like well.............. I'm just speechless!!!!! (Ask my Wife, that normally does NOT "EVER" happen!) WOW.......... just..........W-O-W!!!!

What "scale" might these tools be? I'd LOVE to put together a 1/25th scale Bridgeport Mill and a Clausing 9x32 (I think it was) Lathe!!!!!

I'm glad you enjoyed my models, Hemi. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, they're all dollhouse scale, 1/12 (inch to the foot). If you're incorporating the models into model machine shop dioramas or such, there are many doll house accessory suppliers to provide auxiliary items and scale paneling, windows, etc. for the display.

A working 1/25 scale of a Bridgeport would, I fear, be just too small. It's not undoable, of course, but it would try the patience of a watchmaker. For a more realistic 1/5 scale model, take a look at the work Barry Jordan has done...

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Jordan.htm

I've seen these models at the Craftsmanship Museum and they are indeed spectacular.

Barry has completed an even smaller 1/14 scale working model of a Bridgeport (pictured below), but nothing like 1/25.

You don't reveal your location but if you're ever in Southern California, be sure to visit the Craftsmanship Museum. You'll be speechless for days. :-)

**Hemi** · Sep 19, 2018, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by mklotz

I'm glad you enjoyed my models, Hemi. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, they're all dollhouse scale, 1/12 (inch to the foot). If you're incorporating the models into model machine shop dioramas or such, there are many doll house accessory suppliers to provide auxiliary items and scale paneling, windows, etc. for the display.

A working 1/25 scale of a Bridgeport would, I fear, be just too small. It's not undoable, of course, but it would try the patience of a watchmaker. For a more realistic 1/5 scale model, take a look at the work Barry Jordan has done...

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Jordan.htm

I've seen these models at the Craftsmanship Museum and they are indeed spectacular.

Barry has completed an even smaller 1/14 scale working model of a Bridgeport (pictured below), but nothing like 1/25.

You don't reveal your location but if you're ever in Southern California, be sure to visit the Craftsmanship Museum. You'll be speechless for days. :-)

Marv,
WELL that being said, in 1/25th scale I wouldn't be trying to make them operate, just static, for display purposes with the model cars and trucks I make and I plan to make a garage to go with them for display.

I wonder just how much be incorporated in making static ones...... Follow me? (I did NOT realize, in the beginning of seeing this), that these 1/12th scale ones actually worked..... -WOW, even more impressive!!!!!!

The work you put forth however in the 1/12th scale ones is impressive all on its own never mind that they actually operate!