How to Make Steel Drums for Model Railroads

Add detail to your model that you need by making a miniature steel drum. The steel drum is relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. The drum will add a feeling of authenticity, important to your artistic work and the realism of the overall work.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1-1/2 inch dowel rod Saw Dremel tool Drill bit (with 3/32-inch shaft) 4-inch long screw (with 3/32-inch shaft) Dremel grinding/cutting disk Cardboard strip 1-1/4 inches wide and 6-inches long C

1. Cut a 1-1/2 inch dowel rod to a length of 3-inches. Check to see if the drum sits squarely on a flat surface. Rub the ends of the drum on sandpaper to flatten and level the end.

2. Find the center of the drum at one end by marking the intersection of two lines drawn to cross the end of the barrel at its widest point at two different angles. Put the drill bit securely in the end of the Dremel so that it sticks out 1-inch. Drill into the mark 1-inch.

3. Cut a strip of cardboard 1-1/4 inches wide and 6-inches long. Wind up this piece of cardboard and then flatten it. Glue the cardboard in this position with craft glue. Cut a strip of sand paper (600-grit) and glue it, with the rough side up, to the cardboard on the top. Clamp this block into a vice so that the edges of the sandpaper strip are above the clamp at least 1/2-inch. Wait for the glue to dry while doing the next step.

4. Clamp and cut the head off of the screw with a grinding/cutting disk in your Dremel. Remove the disk and put the screw in with the sharp end sticking out. Screw the screw into the hole in the end of the Dremel barrel.

5. Turn on the Dremel. Carefully hold the drum so that the side is parallel to the surface of the sanding block that you clamped into the vice. Touch the sand paper to the surface of the drum gently so that the sides of the drum are sanded down and the characteristic drum pattern with a ridge at either end and in the center of the drum wall. Turn off the Dremel to unscrew the drum.

6. Paint the drum with the acrylic paints. Paint the drums one solid color or paint a base layer with artificial "rust" brushed on. Allow the paint on the drums to dry before placing the drum.

Tips & Warnings

• Stack the barrels in a realistic way and be sure that the barrels don't look out of place where you put them. Make them look like they have been in place a long time by adding artificial weeds (dyed horsehair glued to the ground) and bits of "rusty metal" around the barrels. This drum is easily scaled up or down to meet the needs of the modeler.
• Watch out for parts that may fly off your Dremel of that may come off while working (like flying screw heads) and take care to add adequate shielding for people and things. Always wear goggles and a mask during this project. Keep your fingers away from sharp, hot, or moving parts.

Resources

• Drum (Reference Example Photo)
• Minitaure Drums (Reference Example)
• Miniature Wooden "Steel" Drum (Reference Example)