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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2008 16:17:20 GMT
Hello out there in Cyber World. I'm about to start building the 5" gauge Stirling Single using drawings and castings from A.J. Reeves. Is there anything I should look out for before I start ( I'm one for learning off others mistakes). Also does anyone have any photos taken during/after construction that may help ?
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Post by GWRdriver on Mar 27, 2008 18:45:30 GMT
Waiting in the wings for me is the same job in 3.5"ga by The Locomotive Company and castings from Dave Goodwin. I've not been able to find information or photos of a built example of my loco but builders and photos of the Reeves version should be plentiful.
In a related thought, it would seem to me that over the years the Reeves Sterling would be one of the most started but least finished designs, resulting in a lot of part-builts sitting under benches here and there.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,437
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Post by dscott on Mar 27, 2008 23:05:06 GMT
Yes, a friend in Exeter has one rusty and under his bench. About ten years ago he re-tyred the driving wheels as the previous owner had been a bit too keen on the lathe and it should give better grip on the rails.
Good luck with yours.
David.
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Post by baggo on Mar 28, 2008 0:17:39 GMT
There's a few photos of a couple of ancient examples in the archive section of Station Road Steam. One of them may have been built to the original Scarth drawings ?
Harry - there is also a 3½" version but that was built to Clarkson drawings with their castings.
John
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Post by GWRdriver on Mar 28, 2008 0:38:37 GMT
John, I've never heard the name Scarth (or seen mention of it in ME) , could you enlighten me?
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Post by baggo on Mar 28, 2008 1:48:56 GMT
Harry,
Out of interest I had a look on the Reeves site and it says that their 5" Stirling Single is a design updated by D C Piddington from the original J K Scarth drawings.
A search through the ME indexes reveals a mention by Bill Hughes in 'Smoke Rings' Volume 139 Issue 3464 ( May 1973) of the 'untimely' death of Joseph Scarth at the age of 53. It would appear he was a member of the Brighouse and Halifax SMEE.
Quote " Joe was a good craftsman who built good models, with a penchant for old timers like the Stirling "Single". Many readers will no doubt recall this genial personality with his 5 inch gauge "Gladstone" at the first I.M.L.E.C. at Illshaw Heath"
That's the only mention I can find though.
John
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Post by alanstepney on Mar 28, 2008 2:18:24 GMT
I believe I have a photo of one that was at one of the recent exhibitions. Perhaps the Midlands a couple of years ago.?
Harry, I'll have a look through my files and if I find a photo, will send it to you.
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Post by ron on Mar 28, 2008 10:11:57 GMT
As a matter of curiosity why are so many not finished? I had a notion of building one after I finish the Simplex, the only thing that was puting me off was as far as I could see Reeves were the only supplier of castings. Ron
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2008 11:02:20 GMT
Good question. Why are there so many unfinished Stirlings ? Also, what's wrong with Reeves castings ?
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Post by ron on Mar 28, 2008 11:46:52 GMT
Hi Orville, nothing wrong with Reeves castings apart from the price, if you compare their prices for Simplex castings with Blackgates they are CONSIDERABLY dearer and there is nothing wrong with the quality of Blackgates castings, in their favour Reeves do tend to be much quicker with their deliveries. Ron
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Post by garethp on Mar 28, 2008 12:40:37 GMT
My Dads got one unfinished - the frames are complete and I suppose they could be classed as a rolling chassis, the tender is in the garage in the back of a cupboard and the rest is in the attic! I dont know why work stopped but I remember something about the drawings not been very good - they must be 20yr old now as I can't remember it ever been worked on.
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Post by GWRdriver on Mar 28, 2008 13:43:50 GMT
I made the conjecture that I did not because of costs, but because it appeared to me that the Stirling was a loco that could be a bit deceptive. At first glance it might seem to be an easier build than it actually is, in turn leading to builders getting bogged down in the work and losing interest. It happens.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2008 15:49:42 GMT
Got to agree with you there Harry. Thats what I like about the Stirling Single, beautiful, graceful, simple lines but a lot going on behind the scenes as one might say.
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Post by ianengr on Mar 30, 2008 1:02:43 GMT
Hello Orville,
My father built a Stirling about 20 years back, it was sold in a working state but not completely finished. I have a vague memory of it having insufficient clearance between the Boiler Barrel (at the full dia.) and the inside of the driving wheel rims.
There was no room for cleading in this area and as we no longer have the drawings I don't know if it was designed that way. I couldn't say it was a drawing error or not. He may well have tried to fit a slightly oversize Barrel.
This is something you might like to just check out before proceeding. The drawings may have been amended since then.
Kind Regards,
Ian.
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Post by Shawki Shlemon on Mar 30, 2008 9:10:32 GMT
Hi I built two of them ,one is in running state and the other is brand new not steam tested yet ,not due to any technical reason ,it is just me I have few like that .You can see it and a short video on my website . Problems to look for clearances as mentioned above , there are two versions of bogie I used the simple without side control because it has single driving axle and the engine is flexible on the track , it work fine for me . The bogie wheels can foul with the frames ,it is something to check. I was unable to fit the mudguards on the bogie . The engine has plenty of power but it lacks traction .Some castings has very little extra meat , just be careful .
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2008 10:54:29 GMT
Just looked at your web-site Shawki, you've been a busy chappy over the years ! How do you find the time ? ;D
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Post by AndrewP on Mar 30, 2008 14:41:13 GMT
Only just relevant but bear with me..... It was LBSC's description of an outing with a single wheeler that first endeared me to his writings, it goes something like:-
Setting off with a good load and the combination of a greasy track, very effective exhaust and the flywheel effect of the big wheels resulted in a wheelslip which efficiently sucked the contents of the firebox through the boiler, up the chimney and deposited it on the drivers head.
It just painted a picture ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2008 15:36:46 GMT
Great description Andrew, I think what LBSC was describing is what I would call "character". ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2008 21:44:10 GMT
After reading all the above and talking to people there appears to be more un-finished Stirlings than running examples. Think I might build something else and do a bit more research and find out why so many are not completed before I take the plunge. Thanks for all your help.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 8:38:06 GMT
Just guessing here, but having started to have a good look at the drawings is the reason why there are so many unfinished at the rolling chassis stage because of the inward bends to the frames at the front not being equal, therefore the valves not lining up with the eccentrics and there not being enough room to move things about enough ?
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