Termite Candy

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I appreciate it.

Started fabricating some doors for the coach.....the rough opening was squared up and the door frame cut from 1/32" birch plywood. I used the birch because it's denser than balsa and will add support for the brass hinges. It won't wear as rapidly when the door is opened, closed or the spring loaded door

latch used.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Inner interior panel and door frame.

The door panel & frame being tapered and fitted to the opening.

Gathered up a handful of scrap metal & plastic tubing as well as a few bits of scrap plastic.

The addition of a spring from a discarded Bic cigarette lighter should give me just about everything I need to make a spring loaded door latch.

Edited July 22, 2011 by GrandpaMcGurk

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I sanded a piece of tubing flat on one side and bonded it to a short length of square stock.

Other than spring compression this will become the only moving part of the latch.

[crazyjim]

Movin' right along there, Don. Looking good.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I cut a piece of brass tubing, this will become the rail for the latch slide.

I cut some plastic strips to reinforce the area where the latch slider will live...this will prevent the sliding latch from wearing through the

wood door skin.

Drilled holes in the door frame to allow installation of the rail & slider, the rail will be epoxied in place when the assembly is complete.

[Darren B]

This thing is incredible, wow you are a very good work worker as well. Cant wait to see this baby done.............

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I grabbed a couple of finishing nails to make the door pin and handle shaft from. I wanted this assembly to be stong enough to hold up under use because once the outer skin is on, that's it.

If it were to break it would be very difficult to repair.

Pieces assembled.......

and loose fit in the door.

I think the photos show how this latch will function, I will cut slots in the inner & outer door skins to allow the door to be unlatched from either side. When the latch is released, the spring will return the slide pin to the latched position.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I added a fixed spacer to the slide rod (arrow), the length of the spacer will allow me to determine the amount of preload on the door pin.

Cut a slot in the door skin for the slide shaft movement.

I'll be using small doll house brass door hinges. I thought I would try using small dice for the door pulls.....drilled a hole and bonded one to the door slide shaft. Also cut a spacer from tubing to go between the knob and the door skin covering the metal slide shaft.

Here's a few pics of what it would look like installed....but I don't think I like them...what do you guys think? Perhaps an ornate brass knob of some sort would be more in keeping with the stage coach theme?

I will however use one for a shift knob.

[David G.]

I'm glad to see this one again. Nice progress, keep up the good work!

David G.

[jeffs396]

Now THAT'S different!

KEWL!!!