Simplex returning as a Fowler Complex!

[dscott]

Yes and I did drive a Simplex for over an hour on Saturday!!! Mostly pondering the problems!

I got a super Boiler and most of the chassis got abandoned except the wheels which look as if they were
the only bits done by the first builder. The cylinder is currently in the clubhouse as a how many things
can you find wrong with it quiz? Some of the motion is fine! Everyone needs a SCRAP WAGON for the rest!!

Yes the only way forward is with a clean pair of frames and some sessions with the drawing board.
Obvious to bung the rear wheels backwards so that we get a super ashpan with a straight drop.
Plenty of air with a damper. Box round the rear axle as per my 1500. Cylinder far forward so we can have
a break... Sorry front Brake. You get bigger tanks with going narrow gauge also cab with lots of room.
3/8 Diameter NEW Cylinders, bang goes my workshop doorstops but to a good cause!
The height of the boiler has been raised and metal has begun to be cut from the surplus pile.

She comes with a super ornait smokebox which is almost complete so this fits in perfectly with what we
are doing.
Go to Steam Workshop. Click on Our Work. Click on Purple box Projects. Go down to SW rebuild No.15
and yes Lily has chosen the colour to match!!!

David and Lily. All good FUN.

[JonL]

I look forward to seeing the results.

[dscott]

YES! I cut out all the stays Tuesday and Thursday and having a big mill it ate them for Dinner!!!
I have gone for 10 mm plate for box horn stays which also add weight and stop ASH from going into the axleboxes!!
I then clamped them as a sandwich and faced the whole lot in 2 swipes so they are all the same length. That's simple ex!
Friday 19th I milled the new cylinders out of the big lumps I had. I worship face mills and they are just like smoothing butter!
I am now looking into the possibility of having the ports in the middle of the space and not to the side!
Inclined cylinders as well of course!

More work on the buffer beam angles and rivet spacing tonight, as well as another look at the ashpan and grate.
I now have them fixed so that the pan can be emptied without dropping the grate... The grate can be dropped later from the footplate!

All great stuff.
David and Lily.

[dscott]

This week I completed the Narrow Gauge look buffer beams. They are chunky lumps made from 10mm by 80mm steel plate.
These reach down to almost rail level and also act as guard irons and should keep her upright if she comes off the track.
Then another turns up with the lathe I purchased on Sunday. A Super 7. And the Club has 2 on offer. And a Friend is hinting
that he has one that I may be interested in!!!!
I now have the set of Model Engineers with the original articles in them... Drawings... AND a list of problems!!

A pattern is emerging with all of them being built up to almost the same stage and then Everything Stops?
Just how many were started?
They do need a redesign and into the possibility of using the Jinty boiler which has an extended firebox to a level grate.

David and Lily.

[builder01]

Any photos?

David

[dscott]

A day off to visit Thornbury Model Railway Show... Some lovely model layouts on display!
A new Pannier added to the collection and the detail is out of this world. O Gauge of course. Show bargain. 2 wires and she runs down the track. Does not chuff, does not need a computer!! Little worlds out of their careful packing and set up in hours. Cant see the join!!!

Back in mine today and the turn of the frames. All done except the cut out section? I have decided to cut out by hand in 5 inch bits and machine while I have something to hold onto. Then do another section. I am doing a mirror of the shape in the tanks which looks very nice. I clocked in the biggest vice and have just used this. A BIG Mill was the way to go.

I am taking photos of progress and an interesting pair being a Jinty boiler stood side by side with the Simplex! Now why is the Jinty such a more successful runner? Friend Tom Parham of Maidstone Model Engineers has put his Jinty run up on Facebook and it is superb!!! Then again Tom and his Dad build some superb models!

Tomorrow a part day in the workshop and help out at Public Running!

David and Lily.

[builder01]

May 4, 2019 22:43:15 GMT dscott said:

I am taking photos of progress and an interesting pair being a Jinty boiler stood side by side with the Simplex! 

So you do have photos, excellent! Where have you posted them?

David

[dscott]

Hi David,

They are still on the card in the camera!
Which is the best site to send them to?

David and Lily.

[builder01]

Well, you could post them here! Or, Flickr is where I post mine and use a link to allow them to show up here. I don't know if it's the best site or not, but, it does work.

David

[dave f]

I also host from FLikr.
It's very easy

[dscott]

Currently working day and night to get something ready for the weekend at the Stoke Row Show which is superb for everything Mechanical steam diesel and other! Reading are having a Model Tent and the now LUMP will be going!!! RG8 7PU
Someone remind me to fit wheels to her PLEASE.
Did 7 bits of metal Tuesday and sorted out angles difficult on drawings. The cab is 10 1/2 inches wide so there is lots of room for everything. An open back keeps things simple!
Twin axle pumps are on another sheet! Easy access organised!

Rugby and Dreaming Spires the current deadlines for the project! Mad fool!!

Best regards.
David. resting from a hot drawing board.

[builder01]

Any photos of this Simplex? Sounds pretty neat! Would love to take a look!

David

[dscott]

Now we are up and running with a new PHOTO SITE here is my solution to masses of Simplex problems.



Here are the NEW FRAMES resting on the big surface plate of the milling machine. I glued and screwed them in stages checking as I went.
Also milling bits out for weighshafts etc.





To get more ashpan space I moved the boiler up. This also gives more space for the tanks which are level with the top of it.
These are almost copys of Midge tanks. (YES OUR CHRISTMAS 2020 PRESENT)
She now has front brakes and a lovely place for the crew to stand emptying the smokebox.



Showing the 2 boxed in Horns to prevent ash getting in the bearings. The steel plates giving a superb place for mounting 2 opposed axle pumps. Nothing new? As found on Twin Sisters. Another current re design but slightly bigger at 1 1/16" to the foot.

David and Lily.