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Post by suctionhose on Aug 16, 2021 1:54:31 GMT
As General Chat is the most popular catagory of this Forum, I thought I'd post this link here as well as in the Road Steam section. I'm sure there will be interest among the members even though it's not on rails. This is a 3" scale Single Cylinder Ploughing Engine typical of John Fowler types made in 1870 / 1880. They're colloquially known as "Coffeepot Fowlers" on account of the lovely shroud on top of the cylinder. The origins of the design come from John Haining in the 1980's. Some people in UK upsized to 3" scale (they weigh 500 to 600kgs). I purchased some castings second hand from SRS in 2014 and went about reverse engineering them into what I consider to be a superior design to any of them before me. The engine is not quite finished but the mechanical elements are and they are demonstrated in this Video clip: youtu.be/1hTMxAJ3FoYI trust you find it interesting.
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Post by steamer5 on Aug 16, 2021 9:01:55 GMT
Hi Ross, That’s a lovely bit of kit! I bet she’ll run even better on steam, & you can’t wait to put a fire in her! Looking forward to the video of her in steam
Cheers Kerrin
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Post by ettingtonliam on Aug 16, 2021 11:14:37 GMT
Ross
Thats wonderful!
One thing I'm curious about is the lever engaging the drive to the wheels. I've seen a few photos of Fowler singles, and they seemed to have loose pinions on the crankshaft, one for high ratio and one for low ration. Only one was fitted at a time, the spare one being stored on a pin on the offside running board. Gear changing was literally just that - remove a locking pin, slide the pinion off the crankshaft, slide the other one on, insert locking pin, set off again. Was your system an aftermarket modification or did it come from Fowlers like that?
Anyway, now all you have to do is build the second engine and a balance plough, and the job is done!
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Post by suctionhose on Aug 16, 2021 13:56:41 GMT
Very observant of you and you are quite correct. The early engines had a change gear system that required a bell shaped fast speed gear to be phyisically lifted from a stake on the running board and fitted to the crankshaft. A few variations of the theme. During ploughing operations, the driver would just throw the low gear in and out of mesh with the lever each time he moved up for the next pull. Moving to the next job, the fast gear would be fitted for the journey.
It was much later in the piece that the fast / slow gears became operable by the one lever. To suggest the one lever system should not belong to the period is perfectly legitimate.
The explanation is: 1. The castings purchased second-hand were so provided for 2. I did not know the intricacies of ploughing engines at the start of the build. 3. For the handling of a single cylinder model, the convenience is undeniable. (as is a differential in lieu of removing a pin to turn a corner)
Though I didn't know it in the beginning, nor would the knowledge have changed my mind, the castings were based upon a design published in ME by John Haining in 1984. Perhaps consistent with the expectations of the day, coupled with commercial ideals of using common castings across 2 or 3 designs, the engine inherited a number of historical inaccuracies. One of the great intangibles of the build has been to trace those technical innovations through the years; many of which I was totally unaware of previously.
How do I expect to get away with it? I decided the most prominent feature was the Patent Church Valve (with the round steam chest) which saw some popularity in the 1870's. The last 16hp SCPE so fitted was despatched in October 1881. My chosen builder's number, #3728 was a 16hp Church Valve single built in 1880, just prior to John Fowler ceasing wrought iron boiler construction and adopting Carbon Steel (1881). She was paired with #3726 and worked through to 1910/11 when, within 12 months of eachother, both received new steel boilers (from John Fowler).
Neither engine still exists and nobody knows exactly what modifications took place during those years. Probably none, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
The model is actually a collection of genuine John Fowler innovations spanning 50 years. No one engine ever had the exact combination of cylinder, gear change, coiling gear system, double speed drum drive etc, etc, though all are authentic Fowler features in their own right - just not at the same point in history. Except for the water gauge (which is an Oxford Column) as made by the Oxfordshire Steam Ploughing Company and appears to be the standard on those old engines rebuilt in the 1900's.
I hope that explanation is not too disappointing!
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Post by Nigel Bennett on Aug 16, 2021 14:10:58 GMT
Magnificent! Wonderful piece of work, Ross; and your historical research is to be applauded.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,909
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Post by JonL on Aug 16, 2021 14:41:39 GMT
Fantastic engineering. Bravo.
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rrmrd66
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 339
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Post by rrmrd66 on Aug 16, 2021 14:45:44 GMT
Hi Ross
That is a remarkable model. You should be very proud of it and yourself.
Best wishes from a Moor Road Hunslet "incomer".
Malcolm
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,719
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Post by mbrown on Aug 16, 2021 14:51:45 GMT
Retrospective counter-factual narrative development is an art in itself!
I have a similar kind of story to explain the screw reverser and pull-out regulator on my 1908 Burma Mines loco. (Both were used on the rather diffetent 1915 batch, and are much more convenient on a model).
Lovely work.
Malcolm
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Post by mugbuilder on Aug 17, 2021 6:42:59 GMT
Almost beyond belief Ross. I have seen various bits during the build and can vouch that it is as good as it looks. That drum winding mechanism is really something. Hope to see it in steam someday. Regards Barry.
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Post by mugbuilder on Aug 17, 2021 6:44:27 GMT
Almost beyond belief Ross. I have seen various bits during the build and can vouch that it is as good as it looks. That drum winding mechanism is really something. Hope to see it in steam someday. Regards Barry.
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Post by mugbuilder on Aug 17, 2021 6:45:13 GMT
Almost beyond belief Ross. I have seen various bits during the build and can vouch that it is as good as it looks. That drum winding mechanism is really something. Hope to see it in steam someday. Regards Barry.
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Post by suctionhose on Aug 17, 2021 10:30:53 GMT
Thank you Barry. It's been an adventure!
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r707
Active Member
Posts: 30
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Post by r707 on Aug 17, 2021 15:27:55 GMT
Hi Ross, what an achievement - and how much you've progressed since we last corresponded on producing some (detail) parts! It's a shame that Australian Model Engineer has ceased publication - as this milestone would make a great follow up piece on the Additive Manufacturing piece we co-authored. As has already been said; the two-speed winding mechanism is a real treat - and just so stimulating to watch. I really hope there's a chance I can check it out in person on a visit home to Aust (hopefully sometime in the not too distant future...) A naughty question maybe - but being the prodigious builder you are - what have you got your sights on next...?! Kind regards, Philip
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Post by suctionhose on Aug 17, 2021 21:07:11 GMT
Hi Phil, I'm really pleased you saw it. I was planning to find your email or the Facebook group and give you an update!
Very much appreciated your support with the 3D stuff when I needed it.
So many learning opportunities during this build. Has been an epic journey for me!
Good to know you're still about!
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Post by Roger on Aug 19, 2021 17:50:26 GMT
That's absolutely superb Ross, what an exquisite piece of Engineering!
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Post by suctionhose on Aug 19, 2021 21:05:17 GMT
That's absolutely superb Ross, what an exquisite piece of Engineering! Thank you Roger. I started making an injector for it yesterday...
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 566
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Post by kipford on Aug 22, 2021 17:54:03 GMT
Ross That is exquisite a wonderful piece of work. By the way can I have your garage, the space is to die for!
Dave
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Post by suctionhose on Aug 23, 2021 0:24:45 GMT
Ross That is exquisite a wonderful piece of work. By the way can I have your garage, the space is to die for! Dave Yes, the garage is quite a luxury. It is shared use but with cars outside there's lots of level, indoor space to work. It wasn't always like that. Before building the extension with specific workshop inclusions, I was under the house, dirt floor and standing stooped with head between floor bearers. The lathe is still like that but the floor, though sloping, is concreted (tore out shoulder tendons on that job!). With increasing age and decreasing agility, I needed to reduce heavy lifting - can use engine crane now - and work on the level. Oh, and bring the mill in from outside next to the footpath...👍
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