Steam Sundries

[monkeyhero97]

Hello there all
If you have been following my posts before you will know my situation but if not please look at them. After 4 months since i first came things have turned for the betteR; I still have the rail motor to work on, i've just bought a clean and sharp simplex which should be arriving from abroad soon and just yesterday received a lathe and mill from Amadeal. I should imagine its best to start with a nice and easy project rather than get stuck in to my rail motor, so I might start my building a simple stationary engine or a 2.5 inch sugar tank engine just to get to know the lathe. If any of you know anything about the 2.5 inch sugar please tell.. and don't worry... its not for using it, its just to mess about with the lathe and mill. I could maybe even build a toby, which is a better engine but I am not looking for a long term project, just something to start off with which i can finish in 6 months or so. 
 Anyway back to the point, my simplex should arrive just in time to give me a few steam ups before the Swiss Vapeur Parc closes for the season ( luckily its my nearest track ). Ofc I need to have a test steam up at home first but I will not have any steam oil or blower. For coal I think I will be able to source some from my bud pondok if i manage to make a trip to visit him, but for steam oil and a blower I do not know what to do. Is there an easily availible substitute for steam oil which i could just use for the  test steam up at home? and does anyone have any ideas for a homemade blower? I do have an air compressor so I could maybe hook it up but need some ideas for a rig 
Cheers
Marc

[monkeyhero97]

Here are pics of my simplex:

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2qw296s&s=8#.VB1UXksdsUt
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2s6vl3c&s=8#.VB1UnUsdsUs
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2qveedl&s=8#.VB1Us0sdsUs


I am really happy with it and I cannot wait to see it. It was built and sold by a very well known South African model engineer and is practically new. It seems to be the perfect loco for me; has some decent power and it can come with me to uni. 
Marc

[Roger]

You don't waste any time, do you! I'm delighted to see that you're really launching yourself into this, I hope your club encourages you and makes you feel appreciated.
I look forward to seeing some pictures of it in steam and maybe even a video.

[monkeyhero97]

You will defintely get a video, maybe even a nerdy unboxing video! i cannot wait to see it! It should not be too long.

[fostergp6nhp]

www.heritagesteamsupplies.co.uk/Z-Heritage-Steam-Supplies/--Morris-Lubricants/p-297-2123 for steam oil by mail order.
As you have a compressor why not make up a double 180* bend pipe with a nozzle on one end to drop down the chimney and pull the fire. The nozzle could be made by closing the copper pipe onto a drill shank and pulling the drill out to leave a small hole.

[Deleted]

Well you're in JULIAN'S good book straight away, just look at that 2-glass displacement lubricator !!.......As to temp.oiling ??The strict answer is NO, you should only use a steam orientated oil..... Check to see what type--(if any)---Superheater is fitted..Simplex usually has just a single pass unit but can be of the Radiant type ( You'll see the return end resting on top of the firehole inner ring if that's the case) or low degree superheat with the return end terminating within the length of the superheater flues ..... This will determine the actual grade of oil required--- lesser grades can carburise if overheated..

[uuu]

Nice transport cage, too. Sensible. If you're lucky you'll be able to invert it, or stand on end, to work on the underside.

Wilf

[smallbrother]

Why do you want a homemade blower when you can get a good one for under £30? Polly, Blackgates etc.

I should add that I went to the trouble of making one for my Stafford, cost quite a bit for a decent motor, fan and bits and pieces and took a few hours to put together, also waiting weeks for parts to arrive from China.

I'd take the plunge and buy one and get steam raised asap.

[andyhigham]

It's so good to hear of a younger person prepared to work hard and save to realise their ambitions. So many these days want everything served to them on a silver platter

[jma1009]

hi marc,
im afraid for a steam test nothing else other than proper steam oil will suffice. there are no substitutes. you can buy it by the litre off ebay but most clubs have a stock which i am sure in the case of your 'local' club they wont mind letting you have some, so long as you have paid your subscription!
looks like a very nice purchase!
cheers,
julian

[Deleted]

Marc, to show the photos just clik on the "IMG Codes for Forums" then paste and you should get this >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>------------------------------------

[monkeyhero97]

Thank you for the kind words everyone. I have also be someone who goes by the motto of ' you can achieve anything so long as you put the effort in'. Owning a steam locomotive is an absolute dream and I cannot wait to use it. It has been quite a long journey for me, from wanting since i was 5 to this summer actually working for it and then getting disappointment after disappointment with deal falling through. Infact this simplex is the 6th potential deal, and I paid for it on friday so I am so relieved to have it.
For the oil, coal and blower; my club does include all this for free , but the problem is it is 2 hours drive away and when I go for the first time I just want to steam up and drive straight away; a feat I can do thanks to the swiss law; you do not need any cert. of any kind. It is worth noting though that I fine it dangerous. My loco has its south african cert. anyway so I can be sure everything it up to scratch. Thanks for the tip Alan, i've always found it tricky to post images on this forum.
I think I might just go and take the plunge and buy everything from maidston engineering; it should take 2 weeks for my loco to arrive from South Africa ( dont worry its getting air shipped) so I have more than enough time. Plus, its my 17th birthday in three weeks time so everything has come together nicely
Regarding me starting my model enginnering journey, do any of you have any opinions on me building a toby. I feel that in doing so I can gain vital experince; I will learn how to use my machinery with the help of m.e bible and I will also get a general basic idea of how everything is done. I think that in building a toby, I will also have somethng to show for my efforts. I only want a small project so a toby seems like it fits the description. I would not really use it as such, although I am pondering if I double up the design to make it a 5" loco. Would this imply more work do you think? Would it be simply a case of doubling the measurements? I am finding it hard to find imformation about Toby so any advice will be helpful.
Thanks
Marc

[Dave H]

The Locomotive looks great, but more importantly, the Lathe. Make sure you strip, clean and set this up well, I purchased a CJ18 from them and it has taken an awful lot of setting up and fettling to get it to run anywhere near my expectations. Caveat Emptor!

[jma1009]

hi marc,
wait till Simplex arrives before embarking on anything else!
enjoy running the loco and learning how to drive and fire it! im sure your parents will help out with travel to the 'local' club.
then count to 10 and decide what you want to next!
i had to build my own loco at your age, and had to wait! however in the meantime i was taught how to drive by very experienced club members, and allowed to drive their own locos. i must have developed a bit of knack for same as was quickly allowed to drive some very fine (not easy to drive or fire) rather special locos that had won many cups and honours.
go to your library and borrow every book you can find on driving and firing fullsize locos!
cheers,
julian

[monkeyhero97]

Hi Julian
Thats is exactly what I am going to do, and partially what I have done. My dad is willing to take me so I have no problems getting there. It was surely just for the home test. Regarding driving locos, I 've had the honour of driving probably one of the most beautiful, powerful locos, a SAR 15F 5", at the Swiss vapeur Parc. It was a dream come true and I cannot wait to be driving my own loco with passengers. It is all so exciting. The simplex is my main focus at the moment. Of course since I'm in my remaining years before uni my studies are extremely important, and take up a lot of my time. We do have to a creative activity each week though, which for me is model engineering. Think of it as a school project if you like, so the Toby is also an obligation aswell as being helpful for my own knowledge.
Marc

[Deleted]

Hi MARC-----------If you want something to make yourself then how about a simple horizontal Mill engine of the type that both REEVES and STUART TURNER supply castings and drawings for ??.........They contain contain most of the Engineering basics you'll need to learn EG}----Casting work, marking out, Turning, Drilling, Valve design and setting, lubrication and so on...........and you don't need a track to run them on !!---------

[Deleted]

Just going back to your SIMPLEX for a moment}------ anyone noticed that the R/H tank appears to have been converted into a coal bunker ??

[monkeyhero97]

It is a water tank swell, but thats the beauty of my simlex's extended tanks, more water and have coal on board . I think I will want to decorate it though, as it potentially could be made to look like one of my favourite looking engines, Embsay's NCB loco no 140.
www.google.ch/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=jQ0Y5xr89WV7cM&tbnid=85HNdAsZwcz1MM:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.martynbane.co.uk%2Fmodernsteam%2Fnday%2F140%2F140.html&ei=iRIfVMvUJ46wPIGngJAP&bvm=bv.75775273,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGB6xf5XSltq4dS86VRIA5CZNW9lw&ust=1411408900131951


www.google.ch/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=DHMqebS_x2ZU0M&tbnid=5l4iprqcnG_jCM:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsengine.info%2Fleeds%2Fhisthc.asp&ei=tBIfVOKwEoKDO4LjgNAI&bvm=bv.75775273,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGB6xf5XSltq4dS86VRIA5CZNW9lw&ust=1411408900131951

I rode on the footplate of it when I was 7 and its appearance has stuck in favs list. Of course I cant do anything about the different valve gears but I could redesign the cab of my simplex and paint to to get a pretty similar loco. I saw your NCB simplex Alan, any chance I could get some photos of it finished? I would love to it!



www.stuartmodels.com/inprod_det.cfm/section/casting/mod_id/17

This one seems ideal for me, with all the materials being suppied with it. It could also use my scrap railmotor boiler as a low pressure steam source, or I could just use my air compressor. Maybe I might save the toby for another year, maybe during uni where I could double it up to be a very attractive but simple 5" ng loco.

Thanks for the idea
Marc

[Deleted]

Extended tanks ?? -------- Oh so they are !!... I hadn't noticed to be honest..Certainly gives the loco a more chunky" look, doesn't it ?........... I've had a few weeks away from my own NCB Simplex ( Working on a 1980 Triumph Tiger 750 Bonneville ) .......Having seen that No.140 I'm wondering if my lettering is too big ??......BUT, the NCB didn't appear to have any set rules regarding their livery and markings so I think I'll leave it as it is for the moment...........For the next few days I'm putting together a couple of "Packages" for sale ( Reduce my clutter and help towards machine tool funding) so don't expect more progress for the next week or so..........I think you'll find that little Stuart Turner ideal to get started on...A proven design from a well-known company --- you're on safe ground there.............

[Roger]

That looks like a nice Stuart engine, well worth making. In the end it's what you fancy making that matters and that's all. Sometimes we look at what others are making and wonder why those locomotives appeal to them. None of that matters, it's a very personal thing and you have to answer to no one.