rrmrd66
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 339
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Post by rrmrd66 on Jun 4, 2021 15:37:47 GMT
Evening all.
i am seriously contemplating building a Ken Swan Bridget as my next project.
I note that Model Engineer published construction notes in the '70's.
Has anybody got these? Would you be willing to let me have a copy please. Happy to make a donation to your favourite charity.
Any other tips most appreciated.
Cheers
Malcolm
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dscott
Elder Statesman
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Post by dscott on Jun 4, 2021 22:58:58 GMT
uuu and I are doing Jessie locomotives and both started BUILDS on here. Winter and other projects got in the way and I have to sort out better photos on mine. Kens drawings are superb and I have 1970 volume 1 and 2 borrowed from Reading Club. There were not many articles, but they are interesting. I even got to meet Ken the year he did an epic slope for his Kopple. The photos show a motion bracket being built up from 5mm plate. I used jabweld and 4 BA screws in various ends, these are turned with a 60 degree head that is easy to file flush once set. Ours is a part build from Station Road Steam. They have a superb Archive. Type Bridget into their box and she in various guises turns up. David and Lily.
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rrmrd66
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Post by rrmrd66 on Jun 5, 2021 5:52:08 GMT
Thank you Dave and Lily.
Wilf (UUU) is going to send me a copy of his construction notes.
Regards
Malcolm
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Post by GWR 101 on Jun 5, 2021 9:39:13 GMT
Malcolm, I realise it might be a way off yet but you might want to consider a couple of extra holes in the frames. I had to drill two with the boiler already in place to enable me to get to the grate and ashpan assembly fixing screws. I was attempting to resolve a problem with the "swinging grate". It still necessitated dropping the running gear but I was loathe to remove the boiler. Just a thought, you may have already considered a different grate. Regards Paul.
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uuu
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Post by uuu on Jun 5, 2021 10:12:56 GMT
That's interesting. Perhaps someone tipped Ken Swan off between the Bridget and Jessie designs (or he found out for himself), as Jessie has access holes in the right places. Mind you, Jessie's ashpan/grate design is much simpler.
Wilf
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Post by jordanleeds on Jun 5, 2021 11:28:37 GMT
I've a set of wheel castings here that would do for Bridget
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rrmrd66
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Post by rrmrd66 on Jun 5, 2021 17:52:12 GMT
Hi Jordanleeds
I have sent you a PM
Malcolm
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Post by thumpersdad on Jun 5, 2021 19:16:49 GMT
I have chimney and leading and trailing sandbox castings and backhead cleadings that I believe belong to Bridget. They came to me as part of a job lot of castings that I bought some time ago and are just clutter to me.
You are more than welcome to have them.
Eric
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dscott
Elder Statesman
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Post by dscott on Jun 5, 2021 22:54:02 GMT
Many of our Jessie bits ended up on a Christmas Tree so I now have to wait until next Christmas to nab them back from storage... He jokes. Model Engineers Laser do a lovely fire hole door assembly. You just add the top and bottom guide rails. And doors. I milled the 4 sandboxes from the solid saving a bit of money and adding some more weight. David and Lily.
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rrmrd66
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Post by rrmrd66 on Jun 7, 2021 5:44:13 GMT
Hi everyone
Thumpersdad has offered me some castings.
He asks if the smokebox door has the straps cast into it or are they fabricated and then riveted on?
Do anybody know?
Cheers
Malcolm
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uuu
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Post by uuu on Jun 7, 2021 6:26:42 GMT
My Jessie door, which I suppose is the same casting, is plain, for fabricated straps.
Wilf
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rrmrd66
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Post by rrmrd66 on Jun 7, 2021 6:36:13 GMT
Thanks for that Wilf. Pictures on various archives appear to indicate that the straps are fabricated and riveted.
Cheers
Malcolm
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Gary L
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Post by Gary L on Jun 7, 2021 15:39:20 GMT
I milled the 4 sandboxes from the solid saving a bit of money and adding some more weight. David and Lily. ... which raises the interesting question about whether working sanders are desirable or useful in 7¼“ gauge. Ken Swan did such a lovely job of detailing them that it seemed a shame not to follow his design and make them fully working. It was clear from his ME series that he intended them to be used (but equally clear that having wiped off the pipes one day, he was in no rush to get them fixed). If ever a loco needed sanders (in theory) it was Bridget, with her small wheels, high boiler pressure, quite large cylinders and light axle loads. But if she starts to slip, I personally find it easier to lean forward and press down on the tanks Not all locos will be so convenient. I did load Bridget’s working sanders with sand once (sieved and washed sea sand, treated with scotchgard IIRC, to stop it clagging) but the pipes soon blocked because the ends became oily from the adjacent cylinders, so I didn’t get much further with the experiment. But it is still quite nice to have them ‘working’ (in theory) even if empty, so I’ve done the same on Paddington (which will probably have the same result). People say that sand near the motion is a bad idea, which clearly it is. But that is a bit theoretical too... do we have experience that it will actually end up there? Gary
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Post by chris vine on Jun 7, 2021 21:42:22 GMT
Hi Malcolm,
Bridget is a great design, I built one many years ago.
One tiny thing which I wasn't happy with the design. Ken has a strange arrangement for the valve buckle. He misunderstood the arrangement on the full size locos and put the valve rod off-set. I was concerned that the force on the corner might weaken or move the threaded joint there. I haven't heard of this happening, but I silver soldered the threaded valve rod into the buckle. Much stronger than a threaded joint alone, and there is a lot of force on a large slide valve, especially at 120 psi! Being off-set, this will give a bending moment about the weakest part of the rod, the threads.
just a precaution...
Enjoy the build! Chris.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2021 22:40:17 GMT
I did load Bridget’s working sanders with sand once (sieved and washed sea sand, treated with scotchgard IIRC, to stop it clagging) but the pipes soon blocked because the ends became oily from the adjacent cylinders, so I didn’t get much further with the experiment. But it is still quite nice to have them ‘working’ (in theory) even if empty, so I’ve done the same on Paddington (which will probably have the same result). People say that sand near the motion is a bad idea, which clearly it is. But that is a bit theoretical too... do we have experience that it will actually end up there? Gary children's play sand works well in both gravity and steam sanders. My gravity sanders still have some sand in them and still work if I operate the lever and this is after many months, part of which was during winter in a damp workshop. They work fine on 5", I can't see 7 1/4 being a problem if using the right medium? As for getting on the motion, the jury is still out on that one but I think it will be fine if used sparingly. I doubt that I'll use mine except for show anyway. Pete
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dscott
Elder Statesman
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Post by dscott on Jun 8, 2021 0:02:51 GMT
It was the North London track that experimented with a water scoop...
YES??? Its that moment at School when someone splashes you and for the afternoon you try and hide it.
For extra weight used Carbide tips tipped into the tank or tanks. They still hold water round them. I have even resorted to having a bucket full of damp earth sat upon the Battery drill drivers top and she still slips. Steel wheels on steel rails as well. Once going she is fine.
David and Lily.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2021 7:45:51 GMT
It was the North London track that experimented with a water scoop... David and Lily. It certainly was, alas before my time. Funny you bring that up as it came up in a chat with Ron and Waz this sunday when Ron called me over to show me a photo of the underside of his fabulous A4 tender with working scoop, in 3 1/2 gauge too.. Pete
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Post by jon38r80 on Jun 8, 2021 11:33:29 GMT
The North London Line must be the one that went out towards Watford through West Ruilip. I used to see the trains go through there when I was small, there was a water filled trough alongside the tracks made of wood as I recall
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2021 13:18:42 GMT
The North London Line must be the one that went out towards Watford through West Ruilip. I used to see the trains go through there when I was small, there was a water filled trough alongside the tracks made of wood as I recall Hi Jon I think that one of us may be at crossed purposes to what David said, I read his post to be referring to the water troughs that were fitted to the NLSME raised club track many moons ago? Regards Pete
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Post by jon38r80 on Jun 8, 2021 13:27:06 GMT
Definitely me! I often dont understand Mr Scott's posts.
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