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Post by cplmickey on Feb 24, 2019 17:23:20 GMT
Thanks very much for taking the time and not "talking down" to an ignoramus such as I........ Yes, that all makes sense now-- especially that "Back-sighting".....As a 16 year-old Engine Room Artificer Apprentice doing Part 1 Basic Training at HMS Fisgard, Torpoint, Plymouth we would go out onto the Moors for a week to 10 days at a time in groups( Patrols) of 6 to learn basic survival and group leadership skills etc..........each day a different one would take overall responsibility whilst the remainder were encouraged to contribute to any problem solving along the way..............The one I remember is the "Going through a dense wood" problem where you have to deviate at least 3 times and eventually exit at the designated point.......So taking and recording a "Back-sighting" was essential to establish the datum for later on.. This was all part of a 50 mile "hike" with back-packs etc but NO INSTRUCTORS, NO MOBILE PHONES ( not in 1966 !!) ... just 3 designated "Report-in" places and then the very end itself.....But I still managed to see the end of steam on BR !! You can see how this all ties-in later on in Fleet Service with navigating at sea ( or in the Desert for that matter ) .... PS}--- This type of training continued during Part 2 at HMS Caledonia, Rosyth, Fife, Scotland...............The Cairngorms,... in Winter,...... and we think we're off route !! Happy Days !! Thanks Alan, yes we did all that stuff in REME training too. Spotted you at the show today but you were deep in conversation so didn't interrupt and then never came back round that way. Another time!
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Post by delaplume on Feb 24, 2019 21:49:15 GMT
Yes---I also met WAGGY and Mr.SWARF plus Dave and Lilly from Reading MES.....
Looking at my waistband now I'd never pass the BFT !!------
As you say}-- Another time !
Cheers
Alan R
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Post by delaplume on Feb 26, 2019 1:03:02 GMT
Hi -- Just spent the best part of this afternoon checking the Peter Riche GWR Star mainframe drawings, doing some calculations especially with reference to inserting that joggled piece at the front........The thinking now is that I'll make the two together in one piece (from a vertical viewpoint ) then split them horizontally.........that way the joggle is identical on either frame member....
That's about it for this month, other projects require my time eg}--- Remember those Simplex drivers that need profile turning ? ( The Chester lathe is ready to turn again at last !!
Then there's the Diesel shunter's body for re-spray now the really cold weather has eased off....a trip to Maxitrak, and Reading MES + David & Lilly and also a visit to Ian near Basingstoke......Oh, there's the small matter of the approaching club AGM and the books to balance !!
The Grim Reaper will have to wait !!-------- I'm far too busy..
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Post by delaplume on Mar 7, 2019 12:52:42 GMT
MARCH, 2019
With the big lathe now up and running I've decided to treat myself and at the same time drag myself into the modern world....
So, with Debit Card all of a tremble I have now added a clutch of indexable tipped tools and ordered a quick change tool post assy. for both lathes....No more using hacksaw blades for shimming etc.......now it's straight off / straight on and continue with the job...
I didn't buy these before when I was contracting at the SVR because we ( there were other contractors apart from myself ) were allowed full use of the Company's machine shop etc..providing that full-time staff had first call......That was OK as I didn't start untill 14.00 and would work through untill 22.30 ( along with any SVR staff on overtime )..........The only time this arrangement went u/s was during a mains power failure when I would go home and make misc. items for the next upcoming job and / or get my tax returns up to date--just in case !!
I'm planning on some smokebox work soon such as making and fitting the door and ring etc...Lots of nice rivets to look "right" ......Does anyone do a casting for the steam lance valve seen on the front, R/H side ??
Adam, do you / could you make one for me ??
Talking about the Craftsman lathe could anyone recommend a decent cutting fluid pump system ??
More later...
Alan
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Post by Cro on Mar 7, 2019 13:31:36 GMT
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Post by delaplume on Mar 7, 2019 20:18:05 GMT
Thanks Adam--------- I'll have a good read through all your GWR items and see what else I can use on The Bear.
I'll get back to you soon via a PM or via your site...
Best regards for now
Alan R
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Post by delaplume on Mar 18, 2019 17:59:38 GMT
Look what's arrived in the Post to-day-------- This is the final accumulation of over a year's worth of E-Bay selling, Car-Booting, and other slightly dubious activities all designed to raise cash and eventually pay for this little lot...... As I've mentioned before I make use of all and any modern processes to aid me in the production of my loco and its' constituent parts.....as did the various Railway CMEs' in their day....... Following on from a friend's recommendation last year I contacted Mike Jack at Stanier Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand and the rest as they say is history......... www.stanier-engineering.com/ ..........
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2019 18:12:34 GMT
That should keep you busy Alan, Mike's work is first class and I agree with you..make good use of any modern processes to aid in a build...
Pete
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,437
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Post by dscott on Mar 19, 2019 1:32:25 GMT
I had a wonderful chat with Mike during the last Bristol Exhibition and this is the way to go or buy a completed beauty when you see her on the internet??? Yes Both Wife and Prairie Tank obtained via working with a MOUSE!!!
Still coming down from having 10 engines to choose from on trains at the Severn Valley! We did 2 days and yes 1501 was doing her Stuff!! Then we get hit by some bits to gloat over for the next few months!! I am sure if you did a poster of your bits it would sell well Alan.
David and Lily.
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Post by delaplume on Apr 3, 2019 16:52:18 GMT
APRIL 2019---- Hello everyone, A bit of "Horse Trading" recently resulted in the acquisition of a nice, heavy Bronze casting for a 5"g GWR Star/Castle smokebox door....for £0.00 plus VAT !!... Unfortunately a previous owner had tried to rectify a set of mis-drilled holes for the 2 hinge straps by riveting-in some countersunk Brass rivets...... As you can see from the images I've filed the heads down flush but previous owner's riveting skills were also rated at}--- Zero !!.. because the female countersink machined into the door is bigger than the rivet head...thus giving that characteristic "ring" effect that you can see.... So}---- a) Shall I run some low-melt silver solder into the recess and trim with file........ OR b) Drill-out from the inside, open the hole up to the next rivet size, leaving the existing countersink as-is.....This should mean the new dia. rivet head is larger than the existing recess... a) means a lot of pre-heating ie Gas consumed b) means a lot of elbow grease ie Personal Energy consumed Over to you guys !!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 17:09:50 GMT
Hi Alan I think if me and as it's bronze and going to be painted, I would re-profile the face to remove all of the protruding rivet heads. Coat with flux both sides, heat from below and overfill all of the indentations with silver solder and then finish off the face again. Once painted you'd never know and there's no worry of the silver solder getting soft in a hot smokebox. just my two pennies worth sir... Pete
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don9f
Statesman
Les Warnett 9F, Martin Evans “Jinty”, a part built “Austin 7” and now a part built Springbok B1.
Posts: 960
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Post by don9f on Apr 3, 2019 21:26:12 GMT
I think I would go with the silver solder idea and presumably the affected area will be covered by the straps? Personally I wouldn’t want to see that mess on the inside either and would file or grind that off somehow.
Cheers Don
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Post by ettingtonliam on Apr 3, 2019 21:39:15 GMT
You won't see it on the inside after the first steaming----. How much of the outside mess is covered by the new hinge straps?
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Post by delaplume on Apr 5, 2019 10:11:21 GMT
You won't see it on the inside after the first steaming----. How much of the outside mess is covered by the new hinge straps? OK--- I think it'll be the silver solder method then........I'll try and arrange for my straps to miss the "infected area" as it were. On full size the inside actually has a round sheet of thin ( by comparison ) steel attached which acts as a shield if you like against all the solids that would otherwise impact the door when steaming on the move..... As there is plenty of room on the model I might fit one.... Regarding the need to protect against hot cinders, ash etc being discharged, --I'm undecided as to having a mesh screen inside the smokebox or one of those tea-strainer things clipped onto the chimney on the outside..... Does anyone know of a 5" gauge GWR safety valve bonnet available ??.......either a casting or finished item ?........Those for the large or small Prairies are unsuitable due to the steep taper of the barrel that they sit on................King, Castle, Star, Hall, Grange, Manor, 28xx, 47xx, would do.... Until recently I had a 2nd. grade one from Polly for their Grange which was ideal......but in a moment of "M/E friendship" I let a colleague have it for his recently acquired Manor that was Sans Flower pot !! Maybe Adam or Stanier Engineering perchance ??
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2019 11:36:47 GMT
yes to the ash shield Alan, I did, here's a pic, and thanks to some of you guys for pointing it out the chimney flange is now as it should be, looks awful in this picture... Regarding the mesh, I couldn't live with that on the outside, I'll make something up that will probably clip onto the petticoat pipe.. regards Pete
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Post by delaplume on Apr 25, 2019 23:55:50 GMT
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Post by delaplume on Apr 26, 2019 0:04:45 GMT
each one of those legs was cut by hand and individually squared-off at it's top and base with a B&D drill and a VERY COARSE flat wheel...
GOD !! it took an AGE !! but it was worth the effort....The top is "spirit level" flat in X and Y and the height matches the track height on the mobile carrier for loading and unloading....
That's a Maxitrak kit loco I'm putting together --- 5.5 Petrol / Hydraulic
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Post by delaplume on Apr 26, 2019 20:16:06 GMT
The word on the grapevine was that "Old Fred"... a Club member of long standing... was selling-up and there was to be a Garage sale last week...... I popped along just by way of a professional nosey more than anything and came away with the usual trays of "useful" nuts, bolts etc ---- and this set of drawers....Just right for the re-vamped ex-motorcycle garage. To-day I gave it the required rub down and spray with a nice, reflective silver colour...... Here you see it being final-fitted..
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Post by delaplume on May 8, 2019 0:42:54 GMT
At last, the re-filled Acetylene is connected up and I can now make a start on that frame bending I mentioned earlier......
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Post by delaplume on May 21, 2019 21:31:45 GMT
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