I see some Steam Enthusiasts on here! (1 Viewer)

[bigwood]

Yes John that looks like a tandem. I have seen a couple like that over the years so maybe it was a known design from a model engineer supplier or from the ME magazine.
An old guy from our local me club had drawings for a model pump. I was going to borrow them but he lent them to some one and never got them back. He was too trusting having lost a three and four jaw chuck to the same person.

 

[John Barrett]

Yes John that looks like a tandem. I have seen a couple like that over the years so maybe it was a known design from a model engineer supplier or from the ME magazine.
An old guy from our local me club had drawings for a model pump. I was going to borrow them but he lent them to some one and never got them back. He was too trusting having lost a three and four jaw chuck to the same person.

It is to a design by the great LBSC. The plans and castings are still available!
John

 

[bigwood]

Now I remember it. My father had all the ME magaizines from the early days, it was in one of those. The drawings I mentioned were possibly from the ME. They were the old style blue prints as in on blue paper.
The hardest part of building these pumps was drilling the passages for the shuttle valve. The Southworth pump I built was interesting to work out what passage went were.
They must have been good pumps in there day because they were used a lot in marine and railways.

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[jockaneezer]

We had a Weir pump in the boilerhouse at work, must have stood 8 feet tall !

 

[bigwood]

Thats a bit big for my Clayton. For that matter it wouldn’t fit in my workshop.

 

[John Barrett]

Rather than improve my keyboard skills I spent the day in the workshop.
I made the boiler bands today: they are stainless steel cable ties and absolutely perfect for the job! The firebox wrapper isn't quite lined up with the boiler wrapper yet: I have to think of a better way of joining them.
My few remaining jobs include marking out and drilling the handrail holes, so I have assembled the thing to facilitate this. I'll use my vernier height gauge for this.
Line the splashers and fit the whistle and I've finished!

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[bigwood]

The Stirling Singles are lovely looking engines in full size. Yours is just as nice looking, well done.
As I said earlier my father had started on a Crampton for a garden railway. They didn’t look as nice as the Sterling’s with the eccentrics on the outside of the driving wheels.
There are castings for the 2-2-2 Sterling. That would be a bit easier to build I suppose.

 

[John Barrett]

Started the handrails.
Getting there!
John

At least

 

[John Barrett]

Now this bit of metal bending WAS tricky! All downhill now.
John

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[PeteH]

You have some beautiful and well made models on here. All congratulations. . I`ve done some boats myself over the years, including an R-C version of "Brave Borderer" in aluminium. Which got sold to fund an old car! My biggest love was Model Aircraft, Back then it was what was known as "control line!", We competed against each other to cut the streamer! I beat Phil Read (The Motorcycle Racer) on one occasion. Early "Radio" control comprised one control and a sequencing button!. Many years back I "acquired" a 1944 Drummond lathe from being scrapped, with parts missing Which sits somewhat forlorn on the the bench. It is useable for some things but the accuracy is not there, comes in handy at times for things for the Car refurbishment mostly cleaning or (re)making the odd part lately producing custom packing pieces for the body to chassis. Maybe one day, I`ll get round to making it good again?.

 

[John Barrett]

Hi Pete, and thanks for the kind words. Like you, I made control line aircraft, but the attrition rate was too high for me so we took to 3.5cc 4x4 cars instead!

 

[bigwood]

Hi Pete, You brought back some interesting memories with mention of control line model aircraft and Phil Read.
We used to fly control line aircraft when I was in the A T C. We flew on the local cricket pitch most Sunday mornings. Most of our aircraft belong to the ATC squadron so digging the prop in to the pitch wasnt so exspensive. One of our instructors had his own aircraft that only he flew.
I remember Phil Read from following the motorcycle racing wen was stationed in Germany as transport for my biker friends camping gear with my MG.
The Sterling is coming on very nicely John. Seeing youre progress promts me into getting more done on the Clayton. I might buy the 35 tubes I need for the boiler next. After that comes a costly bit, the silver solder. A lot less than the amount needed for youre Sterling I should think.

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[John Barrett]

If anyone wants a tricky paint lining job to occupy themselves then I suggest you try something like this!
These splashers are legendary for spoiling a good engineering job. The little guide on the pen helps...
John

 

[bigwood]

Very neat lining John. I saw a demonstration of using a lining pen at one of the ME shows, it must take a lot of practice and a steady hand.
I am preparing the boiler for the Clayton ready for a boiler building session. I have made a tool to swage the tubes so they dont fall through when I heat the tube plates. It happened to me before. Assembling the parts I have already I though there was something not right.
Both the smoke box and fire box plates are drilled ready for the tubes. The smoke box and fire box plates are flanged and the fire box plate is riveted to the fire box tube.
With the boiler lying on its side on the bench to check what I needed to make the foundation ring. It is 3/8 -1/4 copper bar by the drawing. Then I realised the problem. The fire box tube should be 4" o/d. Mine is 4.25" o/d. I have had this boiler kit on the shelf for a few years and didnt check it when I got it.
I dont think it will be a problem because I can make the foundation ring from 1/4 square bar. It might be easier to bend than 3/8.
When we can travel I am going to have ride to Cup Alloys to see what I need in the way of Silver Solder. I had though of using one heat range. My father and I used easyflow No 2 for the whole of his Altchin with no problems.
Plenty of time to get little bits done before we can move again. Keep up the good work.

 

[John Barrett]

Very neat lining John. I saw a demonstration of using a lining pen at one of the ME shows, it must take a lot of practice and a steady hand.
I am preparing the boiler for the Clayton ready for a boiler building session. I have made a tool to swage the tubes so they dont fall through when I heat the tube plates. It happened to me before. Assembling the parts I have already I though there was something not right.
Both the smoke box and fire box plates are drilled ready for the tubes. The smoke box and fire box plates are flanged and the fire box plate is riveted to the fire box tube.
With the boiler lying on its side on the bench to check what I needed to make the foundation ring. It is 3/8 -1/4 copper bar by the drawing. Then I realised the problem. The fire box tube should be 4" o/d. Mine is 4.25" o/d. I have had this boiler kit on the shelf for a few years and didnt check it when I got it.
I dont think it will be a problem because I can make the foundation ring from 1/4 square bar. It might be easier to bend than 3/8.
When we can travel I am going to have ride to Cup Alloys to see what I need in the way of Silver Solder. I had though of using one heat range. My father and I used easyflow No 2 for the whole of his Altchin with no problems.
Plenty of time to get little bits done before we can move again. Keep up the good work.

I have a quantity of 2mm Easyflo sticks at half price if you want? I bought a job lot years ago.
John

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[bigwood]

The offer of the Easyflo is interesting John. I am not sure how much I would need for my boiler. There are 35 3/8 tubes two flanged joints, foundation ring, stoking tube, fire hole ring and eight bushes.
I worked out I needed about 5 lengths but I think that may be a bit short. Your opinion would be appreciated.
Can I contact you to discuss this out of the forum.

 

[John Barrett]

The offer of the Easyflo is interesting John. I am not sure how much I would need for my boiler. There are 35 3/8 tubes two flanged joints, foundation ring, stoking tube, fire hole ring and eight bushes.
I worked out I needed about 5 lengths but I think that may be a bit short. Your opinion would be appreciated.
Can I contact you to discuss this out of the forum.

PM me
Joh n

 

[bigwood]

Er this may seem a bit basic but I havnt worked out the PM bit yet.

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[John Barrett]

Er this may seem a bit basic but I havnt worked out the PM bit yet.

I'll send you one with my phone number!

 

[bigwood]

I have a fence panel arriving on Wednesday so this morning I had a dig in the drawers to find screws etc. It was surprising how much odds and sods I have accumulated. There was a box of M6 coach bolts and washers I bought them when I replaced the wood on the trailer years ago. They will be ok to fasten the new panel to the metal posts.
This afternoon I managed a couple of hours working on the Clayton. I attempted to make the hinge for the fire box door. I didn’t like the end result. The half that fastens to the boiler looks good but the half that fastens to the door needs re-thinking. Rather than folding it I will make it from three pieces tomorrow. It will be good practice for my silver soldering marathon coming up.

 

[jockaneezer]

A long gone pal of mine worked for Rolls Royce on the Blue Streak rocket project and also built model steam locos (5" gauge Union of South Africa).
I was building a few firetube boilers for the local model boat club and he gave me a roll of silver solder foil, it's probably as old as me ! It didn't get used on the boilers, but it's been invaluable in making up hydraulic fittings for some of my son's obsolete machinery.
I like to make up small rings of 1/16" Easyflo and wrap them around the tube ends, probably a bit wasteful, but does a guaranteed job.

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[bigwood]

It’s surprising how meany Model Engineers have a link to Rolls Royce and produce some beautiful models. The exacting standards from Rolls Royce training shows in there modelling skills.
One of my fathers school friends trained at Ruston Turbines. Every thing he did was very precise even down to the layout of his garden. Our dog was banned from his lawn.

 

[olley]

Thats cheating this is how you should do it.

If anyone wants a tricky paint lining job to occupy themselves then I suggest you try something like this!
These splashers are legendary for spoiling a good engineering job. The little guide on the pen helps...
John


View attachment 388470

 

[John Barrett]

Thats cheating this is how you should do it.

I have seen that before and he is very good. Mind you, he's had lots of practice!

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[John Barrett]

Running Boards completed.
Red lines and dummy oilers and sanding gear in place. Brakes fitted. I know it's a bit piecemeal but I'm waiting on the paint for the boiler wrapper.
Starting to look how I want it to look!
John

 

[John Barrett]

I haven't spent too much time bellyaching about the Press: much better to produce something nice and positive! It's also worth a great deal of money...
John

 

[bigwood]

Not far off completion John. You should get a good holiday out of youre efforts. It seems a shame to sell it after all you have done.
The fire box door and hinge are finished for the Clayton and look ok by my standards. I milled the hinge from solid in the end. It was interesting sorting out how to hold it. I am part way through making the grate dump lever now.
Trying to work out how best to buy the tubes for the boiler is interesting. Being 4 1/4” long it doesn’t work out to foot lengths. I will have to buy more than I need and put up with a small amount of waste. Best to have enough than be short I suppose.

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[jockaneezer]

Just treated myself to a set of ER32 collets and a 2MT chuck that will fit both the Myford and the Tom Senior. I'd hummed and ahhd about it for a while as the reviews for some of the affordable offerings were a total lottery regarding quality and run out. I ended up buying a combined set from toolco.co.uk for £85 that arrived today. I kept all the packaging and polystyrene nuggets in case I had to send the whole lot back, but running a tenth clock on them in the lathe was a pleasant surprise. The Myford spindle was running out at just under 3 tenths and this was mirrored with the chuck, then a piece of 12mm silver steel was indicating the same at the chuck and 5 tenths 2 inches out. I predominantly bought it for cutter holding on the mill so may as well put my Pozilok Chuck and Imperial collets on eBay now !

 

[John Barrett]

A good buy. I recent!y bought a ER20 collet chuck without a spindle that I can pop in to my Emco 3_jaw at my leisure. Dead handy to get over the 'bell mouthing' on small stuff!
John

 

[jockaneezer]

I think I might turn up a small chuck to mount straight onto the Myford spindle so it will have a through hole and minimal overhang. Got a short piece of 2" dia EN8 that will oil harden ok, watch this space !

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