Model Railroading > Drilling new truck center screw

I am wondering if there is anything to help you drill the perfect cert hole of a new truck screw.
I have removed the TYCO talgo trucks from some flatcars, and filled the hole with styrene. Is there
any device out there that will help you drill a new hole for the screw, to secure the truck, in the exact center or this, or do you just have to do it by sight?

Paul Liddiard
Spanish Fork, UT

years ago I found out that the main sprues from the Walthers Cornerstone building kits had bars that were the perfect size to fit in the holes of Talgo truck cars. I would cut off a section and epoxy it into the hole, then shave it off flush with the bolster. The great thing is that these sprues often had a small hole in the middle that could be drilled out to the proper size and then tapped.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Ted:
That's what I used, but it still rills off center...

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> years ago I found out that the main sprues from
> the Walthers Cornerstone building kits had bars
> that were the perfect size to fit in the holes of
> Talgo truck cars. I would cut off a section and
> epoxy it into the hole, then shave it off flush
> with the bolster. The great thing is that these
> sprues often had a small hole in the middle that
> could be drilled out to the proper size and then
> tapped.

Paul Liddiard
Spanish Fork, UT

> any device out there that will help you drill a
> new hole for the screw, to secure the truck, in
> the exact center or this, or do you just have to
> do it by sight?

There are center finders, but not so easy to maneuver on a model.  Look at a photo of a finder (I can't do an adequate word "photo" but it is a "V" bisected at the apex)  and duplicate with styrene scraps.  The use a center punch to make that center mark.  Drill bit will follow the center punch.

Would plastic tubing filler work? You might have to use a couple of telescoping pieces but then there would be no need for drilling just fill and the tap the hole.

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

I think that you can visually get within about 10th of a mm and poke a starter hole using a sharp object like a awl. I have a sharp point in a x-acto knife handle, and it's one of my most useful tools. I often poke starter holes in plastic with it so small drill bits don't wander and can dig in. Saves me tons of frustration!

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Definitely make a little starter hole to prevent the drill from wandering, it's a known issue in the art of drilling holes in any material.

In this case most folks would use an X-acto knife with the classic sharp pointed #11. I find the tip breaks off too easy and moved to a #16 or just the big red handle with a #19 or #24.

fbe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Would plastic tubing filler work? You might have
> to use a couple of telescoping pieces but then
> there would be no need for drilling just fill and
> the tap the hole.
>
> Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

I've done this and it works for me. And the hole is already centered!

I agree with PHall, tapping is the best way to go. You get a clean threaded hole that is consistently straight.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/15 11:16 by Cupolau.

I use an old pin vise with a cut down sewing needle.

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA