How to build ladders and grab rails?

[okdoky]

I need some help to figure out how best to form this ladder and the grab rail on top of the roof. The grab rail is not attached to the ladder having a small gap between the end of the railand the start of the ladder.



Thought about superglue or soldering wire and thin brass strip. I have not had much luck with super glue before and have no idea how to solder. |

Any help greatly appreciated.

Nige :-? :-? :-?

[Deleted]

OK Nige, thanks for the photo. You can either use thin plastic tube bent to suit and then glued, or use wire and superglue it. There is another way, use stretched sprue and glue it together, unfortunately, stretching sprue needs a bit of practice, but I'm sure you could manage it.

[okdoky]

I have a good elevation drawing of the rear to figure out bending. I am just trying to figure out how to get the thin tube or wire to sit in place long enough for glue to set on thin brass strip for the brackets.

Nige

[Deleted]

Nige, if you use a card base, with holes drilled to accept the steps, the rod could be glued together and allowed to set, removing the completed ladder after construction. The alternative would be to attach the brackets to the cab first, this would give the correct width. Then bend the two long lengths to suit and attach to the brackets, adding the steps last.

[okdoky]

Thanks for that Nick,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Will see how I get on next week with this bit.

Nige

[Lonewolf]

If you are using plastic rod, I find that applying a small amount of round file to the ends lets it sit on the upright much better if that makes sense.

In other words you aren't trying to glue a flat profile to a curved one.

Wolfie.

[iansadler]

Hi Nige , for a compilcated ladder system as that with its compound curves , I would go for brass wire and solder the joints , far stronger and easier to build . cheers ian

[okdoky]

Is there any blog or how to item on here where soldering has been used that I can see how it is done?

Thanks for the help guys,,,,,,,,,,,, greatly appreciated!!!!!!

Nige

[iansadler]

Hi , soldering is very easy , but as always practice on scrap first , you need to clean the area with wire wool firstly , then tin the area with solder and then place the parts together and re solder the joint , clean up with wire wool afterwards .I would advice using Carrs low melt solder and flux , cheers ian

[Lonewolf]

I've never quite worked out what the flux is for lol we don't use it in electronics soldering.

Wolfie.

[iansadler]

Hi Wolfie , in electronics the flux is internal to the solder wire , I always use a seperate flux , then I know it has done its job properly , this is based on 37 years in heavy electrical work in the shipyards and Power stations , every thing from 4.5 DC volts up to 400, 000 volts AC . cheers ian

[okdoky]

One of the guys on another forums came up with this tool

www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=GRM-GT001

Looks like this could be useful

Thanks for the help guys

Nige