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Post by steveg on Mar 7, 2022 20:45:18 GMT
Hi all, This is my first attempt at posting on the MECH site, so hopefully this works. The pictures are from late 2020, just after I had finished the loco and immediately before its first steam tests, and apologies to those that may have seem them before. The loco is generally to the Elidir design but with several modifications and embellishments to suit my taste. It was built over a period of about 35 years, starting when I was 17 years old, and all the machining, including milling, has been done on a George Adams round bed lathe dating from around 1905. I've also included a picture of the lathe, for reference. I hope that this is of interest, Best regards Steve  Image 11 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 12 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 18 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 17 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 14 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 13 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 19 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Image 15 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  img0 by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr |
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,720
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Post by mbrown on Mar 7, 2022 21:16:21 GMT
That is just beautiful! And hats off to you for doing it on an ancient lathe.
My only complaint, as a great fan of quarry Hunslets is that it is just too perfect! Most of them still bear a few battle scars from the Dinorwic galleries.
I hope she runs as well as she looks.
Malcolm
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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 Mar 7, 2022 21:16:40 GMT
Absolutely stunning!
Pete.
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Post by steveg on Mar 7, 2022 22:13:57 GMT
Many thanks, Malcolm and Pete,
The steam test went pretty well; I took the opportunity to make a video at the time which may be of interest.
Here it is, should you have a spare 20 minutes!
Best regards
Steve
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samc88
Active Member
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Post by samc88 on Mar 7, 2022 22:35:11 GMT
Stunning model, just shows old machines can still turn out some beautiful work. What gauge does 3" scale work out at?
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Post by cplmickey on Mar 8, 2022 9:14:49 GMT
Wow that looks stunning. Super job. Ian
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Post by steveg on Mar 8, 2022 14:48:44 GMT
Stunning model, just shows old machines can still turn out some beautiful work. What gauge does 3" scale work out at? This is to 7.25" gauge. There are other Hunslet designs for the same gauge but to 4" scale. Best regards Steve |
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Mar 9, 2022 1:18:15 GMT
As a great Hunslet fan what a Wonderful model.
Yes We have been building ours for far too many years and life keeps bunging things in the way to stop her getting into Steam.
The last 14 days out of the workshop has not helped being ill. No energy and waiting for feeling better. Not sleeping does not help.
Ours is in 5 inch gauge to Don Youngs design with balanced valves.
David and Lily.
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Post by steveg on Mar 9, 2022 17:37:50 GMT
Many thanks, David and Lily, and sorry to hear that you've been poorly.
Life does get in the way, doesn't it? , Fortunately, I find that enforced absences from the workshop only make the return more enjoyable.
I began this loco about a year after finishing a Rob Roy; at that time my workshop was in a shed in my parent's garden in Crowborough, Sussex. Then followed A-levels, university, starting work, moving abroad, buying a house, starting a family,..... the list goes on and on. That said, I enjoy the journey and am happy to take whatever time it takes to do the best I can, so I really can't complain.
As a case in point, painting this loco ultimately took two full years, albeit in two one-year stages. I painted the chassis and boiler in 2009/10, and then everything else in 2019/20. The lining took nearly two months alone and, while not perfect, the errors are small and not obvious (except to me!) and I am very pleased with the results.
Chris Vine's book provided most of the guidance and inspiration for the painting, and I personally think it's the best "how to" book on any subject that I've read. While I didn't follow his methods slavishly, that is mostly because I used totally different paints to Chris. The over-arching principles and guidance in his book are spot-on, especially with respect to preparation, trials, and pre-planning, and I re-read that book whenever I embark on any new painting project. I then read each applicable chapter when I am in painting mode, and keep a photocopy close to hand while painting just in case!
I mostly used oil-based enamel paints for this loco, as (a) those are readily available off-the-shelf and (b) the quality and color consistency is excellent, even for tins bought ten years apart. Oil-based enamels provide some real challenges, mostly with run-prevention, drying time and dust control, but those can be overcome with care, preparation and planning.
Best regards
Steve
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Post by suctionhose on Mar 10, 2022 3:07:47 GMT
Beautifully finished! Love the duplex gauge. Did you make it?
I marvel at how people keep the dream alive for 35 years. My limit is <10!
Lovely job!
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Post by steveg on Mar 10, 2022 15:57:12 GMT
Many thanks Ross.
Yes, the duplex gauge is home-brewed. In reality, it's the guts of two small commercial vacuum gauges mounted back-to-back in a homemade case. It was a bit of a puzzle getting everything mounted and working reliably in a small space, but it seems to have worked out okay.
Best regards
Steve
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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 Mar 13, 2022 18:03:16 GMT
Yes, very well done !!!
Regards Don
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Post by Cro on Mar 14, 2022 8:38:33 GMT
Steve
Stunning loco, a lot of brass to keep polished there!
I take it you are not still based in Crowborough anymore? It's where I'm from and family still live there (W.E Cro & Son in the High Street is the family jewellers shop).
What's next now this is finished?
Adam
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Post by steveg on Mar 14, 2022 14:39:24 GMT
Many thanks for the comments, Don and Adam. Adam - I'd half guessed that you were somehow related to the jewellers, your surname is uncommon and W.E. Cro has been in Crowborough since the dawn of time! I'm not sure whether your family’s shop pre-dates the Rush Butchers sign, but it must be a close-run thing. I now live in New Jersey and left Crowborough in the late 1980’s, right around the time that the ME club was formed to build a track at the then-new leisure center. I was a member of the Uckfield club, being one of the team who built the original track at Bentley Wildfowl Park, and believe that a couple of folks from the Uckfield club became early members at the Crowborough club. Since finishing the loco I’ve been working on three wagons to tow behind - these are based on Lynton and Barnstaple Railway prototypes, not exact copies but in the general spirit and with modifications for passenger-carrying. The first of these, which is the driving wagon for the loco, is nearly finished barring lettering and was finally assembled this weekend following painting. The chassis for the other two wagons are finished and painted, as are all six chopper couplings which couple interchangeably and were a fun job to figure out in themselves. I’ll start on the bodies of the remaining two wagons once spring arrives and I can work outdoors - I dislike creating sawdust in the workshop, and their size makes them awkward to build indoors. I haven’t yet taken any proper photographs of the wagon, but here are a couple of snaps to give an idea of the project. This one is about 5ft long excluding buffers, the remaining two are about 7ft long. All six bogies are vacuum braked. Best regards, Steve  Driving Trailer by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr  Coupling by Stephen Goodbody, on Flickr |
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