11-05-2015, 10:11 PM
Steve, if you can make some sort of jig to hold the parts of the steps in their proper positions, soldering it together won't be all that difficult. I'm thinking a flat piece of wood for the base of the jig, with wood spacers with a triangular cross-section to support the steps and strips along each side to keep the stringers tight to the step ends - use carpenter's glue to put it all together.
You will need to pre-tin the entire inside face of the stringers and the ends of the individual steps. Place the parts in the jig, then touch the iron to the area of one step's end and its stringer. As soon as the joint cools, place a small wad of wet tissue or paper towel on that joint, then do the same at that step's opposite end, working your way up or down until all are connected. You will likely need to use some small files to clean-up any excess solder, both at the actual joints and on the inside face of the stringers. If you place some additional wet tissue on the entire step assembly, (and temporarily remove the plastic air tanks) and then pre-tin the pilot deck where the steps will be located, you should be able to solder them to the deck - this is one place where a large soldering iron finds its place in model making, but make sure to protect any nearby soldered joints with more wet tissue.
An alternative would be Cal-Scale Pilot Steps, part #6543. I used them on my modifed Bachmann 10 Wheelers and removed, if I recall correctly, two steps from each, so they're plenty long enough for your Mikes.
![[Image: 033.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Erie%20Northshore%20Ten-Wheelers/033.jpg)
Wayne
You will need to pre-tin the entire inside face of the stringers and the ends of the individual steps. Place the parts in the jig, then touch the iron to the area of one step's end and its stringer. As soon as the joint cools, place a small wad of wet tissue or paper towel on that joint, then do the same at that step's opposite end, working your way up or down until all are connected. You will likely need to use some small files to clean-up any excess solder, both at the actual joints and on the inside face of the stringers. If you place some additional wet tissue on the entire step assembly, (and temporarily remove the plastic air tanks) and then pre-tin the pilot deck where the steps will be located, you should be able to solder them to the deck - this is one place where a large soldering iron finds its place in model making, but make sure to protect any nearby soldered joints with more wet tissue.
An alternative would be Cal-Scale Pilot Steps, part #6543. I used them on my modifed Bachmann 10 Wheelers and removed, if I recall correctly, two steps from each, so they're plenty long enough for your Mikes.
Wayne