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Post by springcrocus on Jul 25, 2019 8:00:11 GMT
You've done a great job on that. It looks like you managed to keep the flange continuous over the bend. Where did the copper go that wanted to push to the outside? I can't imagine having done it without taking a wedge out of the flange at the fold line. No wedge, David, the copper fattens up and spreads sideways at the bend. In the second picture, although it can't be seen there is a wedge under the end of the plate to stop it trying to straighten itself out. Regards, Steve |
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Post by delaplume on Jul 25, 2019 17:09:05 GMT
Hello Steve,
At this point of your boiler construction I like to ask you to pause for a moment and consider NOT using those 3 Girder-type stays as shown between the inner and outer firebox crowns but use round, snap-head as per the rest on the loco....
When you have the assembly dry constructed and ready for soldering you will see just how far forwards those Girders go into a confined space which makes it very difficult indeed to get the gas gun nozzle up to operating temp and to keep a stable flame as well..........
Also a bonus of adopting this is that the water circulation will be drastically improved at the very point where it's needed ie}--- above and around the crown plate....
As you know I designed my 5" Bear boiler myself and consulted such folk as John Ellis, Helen Verral and owners of Torquay Manor, Mk.1 Simplex, a B1 etc and didn't find any probs at all.....Remember full-size locos went through this same procedure....Early locos had a form of chain link bolted vertically at one time...
My Bear's firebox is almost identical to the Brit in shape and size having a full-width grate, a short combustion chamber, 3 main flues with single-pass superheaters and stood a 2 x WP shell test of 200psi for 30 mins....
I'd be happy to post a few photos on here for your consideration OR is it possible to send images via the Private Message system so'as not to clog your thread ??..............
My best intentions at all times--
Alan
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Post by ettingtonliam on Jul 25, 2019 17:53:33 GMT
Gets us into the minefield of 'deviating from the published drawing' again, and the willingness of an individual boiler inspector to accept the proposed modification, doesn't it?
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 25, 2019 17:54:55 GMT
Hello Steve, .... My best intentions at all times-- Alan PM sent, Alan. Regards, Steve |
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Post by delaplume on Jul 25, 2019 18:21:12 GMT
Your Eagle has landed !!
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Post by delaplume on Jul 25, 2019 18:27:27 GMT
Gets us into the minefield of 'deviating from the published drawing' again, and the willingness of an individual boiler inspector to accept the proposed modification, doesn't it? Steve and I have had some discussions and I'm happy to leave it at that so no response from me, but let's get back to the main thread core matter}---- Steve's Diary of Events... Alan |
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 25, 2019 21:58:00 GMT
Discussions, Alan? Not quite!
Would anyone else like to advise me how to proceed or would you prefer to read my story?
This is my loco, my choices, my story. If another person would like to tell it, then fine. I will step back and let them continue. Otherwise, just read the story, the good and the bad, learn how (or not) to build a Britannia to the drawings. If I get it wrong, I tell you so you don't repeat my mistakes.
Much more interference and there will be no further updates until the boiler is finished. And if it all goes tits up, you'll never know why because I will have stopped recording progress.
By all means comment, or ask questions. I will answer as best I can. Hit the "like" button occasionally if you find the story interesting. But tell me what to do and I depart, it's very simple.
And if you are not enjoying the journey, then please hop off the train. It stops at every station.
Steve
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,990
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Post by JonL on Jul 25, 2019 22:36:47 GMT
I'm learning a lot, keep it up.
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Post by delaplume on Jul 25, 2019 22:48:59 GMT
Sorry Steve--By "Discussions" I only meant the PM's that we recently exchanged--nothing more than that............
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 27, 2019 7:41:25 GMT
Moving on, the barrel was offered up to the front throatplate and a pencil line drawn around to mark the cutaway. A felt-tip pen was then used to mark inside this line and was used as a drilling guide.  The workpiece was mounted on the mill under timber packers and a 3mm PCB drill loaded up. Because of it's rigidity no centre-drilling was needed. I stitch-drilled the first half of the plate - no measuring, just eyeball positioning.  The upper section was drilled in two stages, swapping the single clamp to the other side half-way through.  To clear the waste from the centre, I chose to use some old Abrafiles that I have and had to modify my hacksaw to take them as the original frame has been lost during various moves. The advantage of these is they can be used at any angle and don't break if the saw frame is angled.  About five minutes work to cut the centre section away.  Then it was onto the careful job of dressing to make a nice fit around the barrel. This will take quite a time as I dont want to go too far and have to try and fill any excessively large gaps. Emery bands in the Dremmel for this job.  More on this later. Steve |
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timo
E-xcellent poster
Completing 3 1/2 Rainhill .Building 5" Railmotor and waiting to start 3 1/2" King
Posts: 234
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Post by timo on Jul 27, 2019 8:43:51 GMT
Good work Steve. You are going to go through a lot of the emery bands! I find they don't last that long.
Tim
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Post by delaplume on Jul 27, 2019 8:58:54 GMT
That's good progress Steve.....are those Abrafiles still obtainable ??
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 27, 2019 9:49:19 GMT
That's good progress Steve.....are those Abrafiles still obtainable ?? No, unfortunately, and the so-called replacements suffer from the same problem - the need for a large pilot hole to get the blade loaded through the workpiece. The common alternatives are tile saws, or Axminster do a fretsaw blade (or abrasiver wire, whatever they call it) but it has giant ends. Abrafiles go through a 3mm hole. Many people mourn the passing of Abrafiles. Regards, Steve |
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 27, 2019 9:54:30 GMT
Good work Steve. You are going to go through a lot of the emery bands! I find they don't last that long. Tim Yes, but at two quid a hundred, who cares? linkRegards, Steve |
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timo
E-xcellent poster
Completing 3 1/2 Rainhill .Building 5" Railmotor and waiting to start 3 1/2" King
Posts: 234
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Post by timo on Jul 27, 2019 11:14:39 GMT
Steve,
Thanks for the link. Must admit I am still using up the free ones that came with my dremel and also the previous cheap dremel lookalike so I hadn't looked around for replacements. I have been using them for cleaning up bits on the Tauco drill where they have a short but merry life! At that price its definitely worth getting some in stock.
Tim
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Post by ettingtonliam on Jul 27, 2019 12:30:06 GMT
Reading the link, they are intended for nail care and pedicure? Never having had such a treatment, do they use Dremels for that?
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 27, 2019 21:34:37 GMT
Reading the link, they are intended for nail care and pedicure? Never having had such a treatment, do they use Dremels for that? Good heavens, Richard, you've not had a pedicure or manicure with a Dremel? You must lead a sheltered life.  And there was Ron and I about to compare merkins (What I've done today, Thursday I think).  Please don't google it! I managed to get the front throatplate filed up to a good fit today but, as expected, it took a lot of effort to get a really nice, tight join. This first picture doesn't really show the fit except for the lack of daylight around the edge.  This will be soldered into place sometime next week and the outer wrapper fitted around it.  And, like all kids with a new toy, I couldn't resist temporarily setting the parts on the loco to get an overview.   Steve Edit: Wednesday, actually. |
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timo
E-xcellent poster
Completing 3 1/2 Rainhill .Building 5" Railmotor and waiting to start 3 1/2" King
Posts: 234
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Post by timo on Jul 27, 2019 21:41:30 GMT
Steve,
The loco is looking really good. There are a mind bending number of rivets on that smokebox!
Tim
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,922
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Post by jma1009 on Jul 27, 2019 21:48:21 GMT
Hi Steve,
Given that the butt joint of barrel to throatplate is problematic in a 3.5"g Brit boiler - as John (Simplyloco) will no doubt confirm - I wonder why you have done this on the much larger 5"g version? You did a double flanged inner firebox front plate to the combustion tube.
You can do a search for John's original boiler on here. Have you had a look on here what Jim did?
Cheers,
Julian
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Post by springcrocus on Jul 27, 2019 21:53:33 GMT
Quite right, Julian, but I have a plan! All will be revealed a little further along the build.  Regards, Steve |
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Please don't google it!
