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Post by flyingfox on Feb 13, 2023 17:08:23 GMT
Greetings, interesting discussion. Over the course of the years, I have built 2 Robroys, and experienced locos that were not easy to steam. Apart from the tube discussion as above, I am convinced that the ashpan was not allowing enough air into the fire, so eventually, I cut large parts of it away, leaving enough to catch ash, and support the grate, which made some improvement. Opening up the firebar spacing also gave a noticeable improvement, and the final thing I wanted to do, but never did, was to have a single superheater flue tube, with a radiant superheater pipe, all other tube sizes remaining as the design.
I am convinced that Robroy, built as suggested in my text above would have been a good performer, and knowing Martin Evans, discussed it with him, and he thought so too.
I would be interested to know about the outcome of your rebuilt boiler.
Regards
Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Feb 13, 2023 7:32:50 GMT
greetings jo479,
You will learn that one of the biggest discussions in Miniature locomotive building are Superheaters V no superheaters and radiant type v non radiant type.
Volumes have been written about the merits of each type, and their effectiveness.
regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Jan 29, 2023 13:45:43 GMT
Greetings Isaac, some time ago I built an 71/4 Bantam Cock, basically a doubled up LBSC design, and it is still running well at the Edinburgh Soc of ME, and might even be seen in one of their videos.
I understand that the next project for the group producing "Prince of Wales" the LNER P2 is to be a V4, might be worth asking them.
Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Jan 9, 2023 7:38:51 GMT
Greetings Malcolm, good work on the engine, perhaps you would like to build mine when yours is finished? I noticed you are machining the columns individually and wondered if the six (4 + 2) columns could have their lengths machines together? This seems to be the critical length. Also, not sure if you noticed the set of machined cylinders and base on eBay at the moment. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Jan 3, 2023 7:43:49 GMT
Greetings Brian, the dome ring is a good place to stamp the number, the idea is that it needs to be fixed to a solid piece of the boiler which would be straightforward to find after a catastrophe. It is also a good place because it is easily seen, whereas, I have found, many numbers, stamped on the foundation ring require serious dismantling of the footplate or cleading to be seen.
Re the grate, mine are mostly 71/4 gauge, inserted via the firehole, and I have made a simple hooks to lift the sections in and out. A pair of cheap, long nosed bent end pliars are also useful. Most important is a good torch so you can see what you are doing.
Regards
Another Brian
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 27, 2022 7:32:35 GMT
Greetings Rich, I have had bad experiences with Aluminium used where it may be in contact with water and copper/brass materials, with strong electrolytic corrosion. I understand how expensive one off casting in iron are, but they are tried & tested. However, I have spoken to a number of people who have successfully machined various parts, including cylinders, from solid cast iron bar and round stock, which is of very high quality, and machines easily. So for my next 71/4 locomotive, the cylinders will be machined from solid bar, at a cost of £55.00 each, much less than the quoted figure for castings. Yes it will be more machining, but is that not what the machines are for? I will use bar for end covers. Not wishing to put you off, but all the Winson/Modelworks cylinders were made this way, and they seemed to work when machined properly. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 25, 2022 7:34:32 GMT
All the very best to you all, and wishing you a happy & prosperous New Year. Regard Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 24, 2022 7:43:51 GMT
Seasons Greetings Malcolm, I had a very similar problem when building my 5" GNR 2-8-0 (Nigel Gresley), when I made the front set of rods 1/16th too short. with a piece silver soldered in, just butt jointed, cleaned up, nobody has ever noticed, and that loco has done 2 IMLEC's, and hundred of hours passenger hauling. All that was 35 years ago. I am sure your elegant repair will be fine. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 17, 2022 7:38:40 GMT
Welcome, i hope you will find this an interesting site. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 6, 2022 7:52:30 GMT
Greetings, a suitable cone removal toll is also described in the Laurie Lawrence articles in ME reprinted at various times. Failure to use such a tool usually results to damage to the cone, which becomes immoveable & thus scrap. As me how I know! Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Dec 1, 2022 7:53:04 GMT
Greetings Jason, if you look on page 70 of the topic "Everything EV related", you may find your answer. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 27, 2022 7:27:32 GMT
Good luck to you in your new dwelling. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 22, 2022 7:47:32 GMT
Peter,
I think you were probably talking about the electroless of water, and the reigniting of the resultant Hydrogen & Oxygen. Problem is the gases generated are absolutely at the correct ratio for the most energetic reaction, and the igniting of these gases, generated in this way are mostly banned by Education authorities, were in Essex anyway, mainly due to the strength of the explosion. Igniting hydrogen, generated by acid reaction in a test tube is quite safe to "Pop". Hydrogen has very wide explosive limits with oxygen, 3% to 97% I seem to remember, and a very low ignition energy. Something else to worry about with Hydrogen fuelled cars.
regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 10, 2022 16:19:26 GMT
Greetings, I understand that the authorities supervising the PV Regs consider the requirements of those regs to extend to include the pipework up to the cylinders. Adam, greetings, surely we do test some pipework up to check valves or stop valves. regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 10, 2022 12:45:07 GMT
Greetings Steve, to answer your question with another, did the designer specify it fitted with a dome? Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 10, 2022 8:23:22 GMT
Greetings, Whilst there is a lot of discussion about this, and I personally think it depends on the type of brass used, I am not sure that a piece that you "happen to have" will be of the correct specification.
Where there is a published design, the inspector needs to ensure that the boiler is made to that design. Thus if the designer specified "Brass" in the construction of the boiler then its use would be presumed to be OK.
If the Inspector decides that a change to the boiler design or spec is OK then he, the Inspector, is signing the certificate and presumably accepting the risk involved.
So, what was the original specification of the dome?
Regards
Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 10, 2022 8:09:27 GMT
All the very best Chris. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 9, 2022 7:27:50 GMT
Welcome James. you seem well into it already. Might I suggest that the best thing you could do would be to join a club. In Essex there are several clubs which are active, and where you would find help, encouragement, and advice. What part of Essex do you live in? Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 8, 2022 13:03:17 GMT
Greetings Steve, the use of brass in boiler construction is not permitted, no matter (in your case) so obviously well made. Brass is unstable & liable to decomposition in use as part of a boiler. Regards Brian B
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Post by flyingfox on Nov 4, 2022 7:45:56 GMT
Greetings John, so pleased that your castings are of decent quality. Re boring head, I can see no sign of chatter on the bores, so the tool can't be that bad, but for bores like this I prefer the between centres boring bar, which is very rigid, and should give a parallel bore, particularly when the saddle travels in both directions. Keep up the good work, you are encouraging me to unearth my set of castings. Regards Brian B
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