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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2014 16:47:19 GMT
Hello all----------- well, after some secret steam-ups' and fittings tests I finally took Cadbury over to Kinver for an informal steam raising and run along the access track ( Not allowed onto the main line as it still needs its' steam ticket sorted out -- this is booked for Boxing day. ).......................I'm particularly pleased with the gauge glass "Blue-Line" mod. and the home-made rubber glass seals.......Sorry Julian, I should have removed the hand pump lever first !!..........  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2014 23:38:31 GMT
Very nice matey!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 0:29:04 GMT
Cheers Ben........As the loco. had been stored for about 6 months prior to me buying it, I've had the injector and it's clack stripped and soaked in citric acid over a period of 2 days, then boiled in water and a new ss ball fitted.......I'm not really a fan of all these red backhead fittings so over a period of time I'll be de-painting, acid-cleaning and wire-brushing to give a more bronze look....I'm particularly pleased with the 5mm gauge glass results having made the seals and done the Blue line/White background myself ( Anybody want some made up ?? )........... I also took the opportunity of setting the safety valve at 80psi---followed by an Accumulation test at 90 ( gauge) which went A-OK............. One other test of my own doing was to set the injector feed against the blower at max....The pressure dropped, albeit slowly but the boiler didn't "make" against the injector....... One thing that's a bit "iffy" with the loco's basic design is the drain cocks--- or rather the lack of !!......... There is a common drain valve under the smokebox but this is connected to the main steam chests, so it relies on the slide valves being lifted by the condensate being forced back up by the main pistons.............As there is already an operating rod up to the front end I think I'll have a look at fitting proper drain cocks during the Winter lay-over...The exhaust beat certainly sounds nicely spaced and sharp so I think it'll be a good runner ( They certainly have a good reputation )...........PS}-- I think I'll also be looking into insulating that main feed pipe from the regulator to the cylinders.... It's bad enough not having any superheat at all ....The condensation soon appears when the loco is at rest........
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Post by Jim on Dec 22, 2014 4:04:57 GMT
A very nice model and I especially like the colour scheme me being a bit partial to deep reds, you should be very happy with the day's effort. Well done.
Jim
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on Dec 22, 2014 8:57:50 GMT
Always good to see some action on the track!
I know of several Maxitrak locos and they are good runners.
Pete.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 12:15:25 GMT
So, you're not just a pretty face then!
Well Done Alan. That is a good looking loco and I hope it does perform as good as it looks. I think it would deserve an Old Peculiar or two.
Cheers
Tom
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uuu
Elder Statesman
your message here...
Posts: 2,808
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Post by uuu on Dec 22, 2014 12:17:12 GMT
Or a chocolate stout.
Wilf
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 12:58:56 GMT
Or a chocolate stout. Wilf They were on about these "Exotic" brews on the local BBC radio recently.......Mint flavoured Bitter ??------OO-err missus !! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 13:04:23 GMT
Thanks for your support, guys-------- I shall wear it often !!..........Have yourselves an "Appropriate" Christmas ( Too much exposure to these Health and Safety people I'm afraid.... The phraseology tends to rub off onto you !!)....... and a better New Year
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 18:16:38 GMT
congrats Alan...good to see her all fired up....oo err sir....  |
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Post by charley on Dec 23, 2014 18:54:48 GMT
Alan,
I'm really interested in the external regulator. Does it in anyway hamper performance?
Are there any advantages you can see?
Cheers
Charley
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2014 21:47:03 GMT
Its' easy to dismantle and service but---------- there is a long, unlagged external pipe from the regulator to the cylinders and that-- coupled with no superheater, means a lot of condensate every time you stop for any period of time.....Then when you re-start the lack of drain cocks means all the water comes back at you from the chimney !!.......... Nothing that can't be improved with some decent lagging ( will do that ASAP ) and the fitting of those drain cocks ( a job for the Winter )...Alas there aren't any large flues so no chance of a Superheater...
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Post by ejparrott on Dec 26, 2014 9:32:55 GMT
see you in a couple of hours!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 16:53:22 GMT
Hi Ed----- nice to meet you at Kinver to-day..Shame about the weather, but at least Cadbury has got its' Steam ticket for the next 12 months........Here it is raising steam to-day ( Boxing Day ) at approx...13.00 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  ------------------------------------------- and blowing down after a successful test session >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 17:03:09 GMT
Notice the "High Tech" blower in operation there ??...........It's used to smoking as in a previous life it was a Tobacco tin !!
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Post by Roger on Dec 26, 2014 17:08:58 GMT
That sounds like a very simple design for a blower. Does anyone just use a really tall extension chimney or is that impractical?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 17:14:56 GMT
Don't think you'll get sufficient draughting or mass air-flow to get the heat required to start the coal burning in the first place.........Having said that it might be worth a go BUT the chances of a down-draught and a subsequent blow-back would be very real ( Especially if you are using paraffin-soaked wood for light-up and then again when the first volatiles start being produced by the coal ).....I'd stay with a powered blower if I was you....
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Post by Roger on Dec 26, 2014 21:32:08 GMT
Ok, I was curious that they seem to use them on traction engines but not on locomotives and I was curious as to what the fundamental difference is.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 22:26:22 GMT
I don't know but my guess would be something to do with proportionality eg}---Full-size Traction Engine boilers are usually quite small ( smokebox diameter about 2ft-ish ??) but look at the total chimney height ( including extension ) required just to have the desired effect..............Expand that up to say an LMS Black 5 / Hall / B1 etc. well, you get the idea ??............... I'm sure that model Traction Engines also use blowers for lighting-up..I think it's a case of "Size matters" after all ??..As I say I don't know but that's the sort of thing I'd expect the folk with an "---ology" to come up with.....
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2014 10:18:27 GMT
And the day after Boxing Day ( BD +1 ??).. I was at my other club ( Rugeley Power Station) for the advertised "Steam-Up and Bar-B-Q"...........So after a drive across the snow-covered Cannock Chase I arrived to find that the track itself was snowed-up and the Bar-B-Q had been transferred into the Club House..........Two other lads had bought locos along as well but what with the warmth, FREE FOOD, mulled wine and good company--- we elected to carry-on with demolishing the pile of HOT Pork & Sage and Beef rolls........A very DIFFICULT choice, but it had to be done !!............ I'm sure you lads out there would have done the same ?? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  --------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  |
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