JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
|
Post by JonL on Jan 22, 2022 13:57:37 GMT
I've not been feeling myself lately, sometimes I pop my head in the workshop and do a bit but more often than not just tidy up a little. Hoping to regain my enthusiasm soon. I have periods like that Jon. It does tend to pass with time. I think you are doing the right thing, sometimes even tidying up you can find something that sparks an interest and all of a sudden you are making and doing and back into it again. I tend to avoid touching the technical stuff until I am 'in the mood'.
The dark nights and cold short days don't help, spring will be with us again soon!
Keep your chin up mate!
Tim
Thank you Tim, I think you are right about the seasons, and the urge returning when the interest is tickled.
|
|
|
Post by John Baguley on Jan 22, 2022 14:05:44 GMT
I've been like that for the last couple of months and have hardly touched anything ME related. I blame it on being such a crap year last year (for me anyway) and the cold miserable winter days.
I've recently picked up a couple of new projects which I hope will rekindle the enthusiasm. It must be working as I've spent the last three days in the workshop making bits!
John
|
|
|
Post by dhamblin on Jan 22, 2022 14:58:12 GMT
With you there Jon - had periods where I've not felt like spending time in the workshop. At the moment though I've clicked into top gear as Britannia needs to be working by June, so the deadline has focused my mind somewhat.
Regards,
Dan
|
|
millman
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 297
|
Post by millman on Jan 22, 2022 17:10:16 GMT
I am having the same problems, just cannot get any enthusiasm for anything. I hope that things improve with the coming of spring.
|
|
|
Post by John Baguley on Jan 22, 2022 17:42:37 GMT
Hopefully the Mojos coming back!
Just finished turning these random lumps of bronze:
Into this:
Into this:
Into this:
I decided that I needed to kick myself up the rear and get on with making something. I quite enjoyed it
It's a smokebox front for my Xmas present to myself - a 2½" Gauge Canadian Switcher that has unfortunately parted ways with some of it's bits. You'll probably be seeing more of this later in the year.
John
|
|
|
Post by Roger on Jan 23, 2022 12:12:33 GMT
I've not been feeling myself lately, sometimes I pop my head in the workshop and do a bit but more often than not just tidy up a little. Hoping to regain my enthusiasm soon. I think everyone is the same, especially when you're deep into a long project. It's fatal to stop though, I force myself to get on with something else the project can stall for months that turn into years. Usually these things are brought on by disappointment when something doesn't go to plan. I find it's best to dust yourself off and get straight back into it, even though you really don't feel like it.
|
|
|
Post by davewoo on Jan 23, 2022 12:15:37 GMT
Reading the above has cheered me up a bit in that I'm not the only one struggling with the enthusiasm to get out and make things, I was doing really well with my projects until I had a enforced break to do jury service in November for nearly three weeks. Since then the mojo seems to have deserted me, determined after browsing the site and seeing everyones progress to get out into the workshop and have a good tidy up ready to start work. So thank you for the inspiration sometimes we all need a kick up the bum!
I like the switcher John,is that to the Josslin design? nice compact wide firebox engine, look forward to seeing more of it.
Dave
|
|
|
Post by ettingtonliam on Jan 23, 2022 12:15:44 GMT
From my time when I was working, it was noticeable that workforce morale and work output was lower in the winter, cold, miserable, than during summer months. Theres a name for this effect, but I've forgotten what it is.(Not forgetting the ill-spelled 'expert' report suggesting that winter had an adverse effect on the morals of the workforce) Anyway, it gets me the same, I've very little enthusiasm for going out to the shed, even though theres lots to be done.
I've been (still am) redecorating the study, where at least it is nice and warm. Stripping wallpaper, painting walls and ceiling, painting woodwork, putting up new curtain rail. (Who didn't notice that the new curtains were eyelet ones, so wouldn't fit the existing slide type curtain rail?) Still got to finish some woodwork painting, take up the old carpet, fit and lay carpet tiles and put up the IKEA bookcases.
|
|
samc88
Active Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by samc88 on Jan 23, 2022 12:37:11 GMT
|
|
|
Post by John Baguley on Jan 23, 2022 15:24:19 GMT
I like the switcher John,is that to the Josslin design? nice compact wide firebox engine, look forward to seeing more of it. Dave Hi Dave,
The design is actually by P E Hunt, another Canadian I believe. LBSC gave a brief outline of the design in ME for january 1927. They are probably as rare as hen's teeth. Two were built early on and this particular loco was built by Roy Simmons, a member of the Bristol Club and very early member of the N25GA. It ran at the first N25GA Rally in 1975.
Unfortunately, Roy decided to give it a major overhaul not long before he died in 2014 and that's how some of the bits have got lost. Nothing that can't easily be replaced though.
John
|
|
smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
|
Post by smallbrother on Jan 23, 2022 17:39:37 GMT
No time in the workshop for over a month.
I'm teaching my 17 yr old boy to drive as there were no instructors available. He's been on work leave for 3/4 weeks as his hotel is very quiet. We've got lots of sessions in and he now stands a decent fighting chance for his test in early February.
I've been doing some big rides on my E-bike and dog walking. I have an injection in my knee on Tuesday so after that I may get a bit more mobile.
The cold weather is awful for making my joints ache, but have to say, we've had some lovely days where it's been clear and a joy to be alive.
Pete.
|
|
|
Post by andyhigham on Jan 23, 2022 17:48:32 GMT
I got the Baldwin steam test completed today. Polly safety valves are so sweet, they just open and let the steam out and close again, no noise and no dramas. I did a good few laps of the track to get familiar with the loco. The engine is massively powerful, to coin a phrase "it pulls like a train" I have a couple of niggles to iron out, the water gauge is all over the place with bubbles forming, the steam drain cocks nearly work, the steam brakes don't and the steam pump pumps for about a minute then stops
|
|
|
Post by davewoo on Jan 23, 2022 18:43:53 GMT
Got out of my rut today and had a good tidy up and sort out, finally put up my lathe tooling rack that's been waiting to be finished and sorted out. Some progress at last, starting back on the loco this week!
|
|
kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 566
|
Post by kipford on Jan 23, 2022 18:53:40 GMT
I got back into the workshop after a hiatus since the beginning of November when my wife had a total hip replacement and getting into the workshop was going to be tricky for the first few weeks. However I have not been totally idle. The first two weeks were spent preparing for the first South Hants Model Railway Club Annual Exhibition since 2019, which was very successful. I then took the opportunity to finish the productions etch and casting and then write the assembly instructions for a kit of the LNWR 0-4-2 Crane Tank I designed for London Road Models and then make a single plate wagon and brake van for the prototype loco as a train formation for use on the SHMRC's Hope-under-Dinmore layout (couple of pictures attached). Last week I spent a week clearing out my workshop (estate car of rubbish to the tip) before restarting the boiler for the Aspinall. Oh I did get the Super Simplex out a couple of times and can now go round and round with blowing up, result! Actually the break from the Aspinall did me some good and it was nice to do some other modelling. PS Wife now walking 4 miles at a time totally pain free! not bad for 10 weeks since the op. Dave image3 by Dave Smith, on Flickr image0 by Dave Smith, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by andyhigham on Jan 23, 2022 20:22:01 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Cro on Jan 23, 2022 21:22:59 GMT
Andy,
What are the two valves under the Smokebox for on either side? A friend has one of these and we couldn’t work out what their purpose is.
Adam
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 21:31:34 GMT
Andy, What are the two valves under the Smokebox for on either side? A friend has one of these and we couldn’t work out what their purpose is. Adam If only my memory was better...a member was showing me over one of these he was rebuilding a few months back, he went into some detail on these valves....lol
|
|
|
Post by andyhigham on Jan 23, 2022 21:49:54 GMT
They isolate the cylinders from the steam supply. I presume for maintenance whilst in service
|
|
mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,719
|
Post by mbrown on Jan 23, 2022 22:08:50 GMT
On the big Baldwins, these handwheels under the smokebox held in place the "bung" for the pipe through which smokebox ash was ejected. The bung was removed and a steam jet inside the smokebox turned on, and two small round doors on the upper sides of the smokebox were opened so that a poker could be used to stir the ash up so that it was ejected over one side.
When the L&B first got LYN she was so fitted but the gear was removed when the smokebox was replaced. The histories suggest that "conservative British drivers" didn't like fancy Yank gadgets. But looking at the way it would gave worked in Pilton yard, smokebox ash would have been ejected all over the running line, which would have been a good reason not to use it! However there are lots of pictures of the ash ejector gear in use on the Sandy River Baldwins.
Malcolm
|
|
dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
|
Post by dscott on Jan 24, 2022 1:00:11 GMT
I go off every so often and do house improvements which over the past few weeks has involved taking down inner walls. But the past 2 days with some concrete mixing and laying, bits are being rebuilt.
Very reminded to get something ready for Andover narrow gauge event. A friend has kept me up to date with the sleeper replacement going on. Our wives coming from the same part of the world helps!
David and Lily.
|
|