tools and techniqes!
I resemble that!
until recently I would not have attempted something like this either.
#1. it is impossible for me to drill a hole anywhere near the center of something this thin. So I don't try! Cut drill the holes first, and then cut the material around them.
#2, It is impossible for me to make two pieces like this Identical. That's why I started with two blanks of brass soldered together. That is an old trick I read in an article in MR from way back in the dark ages when thy used to have articles about how to do stuff . Scratchbuilders of steam locomotives would solder the two pieces of brass that would become the rt & left side frames together, to insure that they were made exactly the same, so they could be built into a square frame, with the axles exactly parallel to each other.
#3. I didn't used to know about the mini grinder disks for a dremil. I had some of those cut off disks, that would make you think, this is great, untill you got one slightly sideways to your work piece, and the disk would shatter. I used to use a pnumatic die grinder in my former job as an auto tech, so I was very pleased to find mini grinder disks for a dremil. They look and work like a cut off didk, but they are about 3 times thicker and 8 times stronger, so they will burn through brass easily. wear safety goggles! no good having all these neat brass parts if you can't see to put them together!
#4 Jewelry pliees! these things have round Jaws, alowing you to get nice round curves benting brass wire. I got mine @ Hobby Lobby, in their jewelry aisle. while your there check out thier chain. slightly oversize for log chains in HO, but cheap! also in the jewelry aisle, I got these little eye and loops. don't know what they are for, or how I did without them. note the one stuck in the brass tube. stick the one that has a head like a pin through the pivot hole in the tongs, slide a micro tiny section of brass tube on it, crush it with a pair of pliers, and then you have a hinge pin.
You have to try doing stuff that streches your abilities. some of it will work, some of it won't. you show of what works, and hide the other stuff, but even when it doesn't work, you learn stuff, if only how not to do it. An old country saying I learned from a boss, who learned it from his dad goes "Cain't never could !" This was a particularly troublesome attitude in a supervisor, as the man wouln't acept that something couldn't be done. Fortunately, he was one of those good supervisors, who when he wanted you to do the impossible, would come down and help, most of the time we were able to make things work some kind of way!
Next I have to close them rings and solder them shut, and make some hooks (not to mention another **** pair of tongs!.
Bill Nelson