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Post by simplyloco on Jun 25, 2020 22:07:33 GMT
Brilliant, John. We both like a bit of controversy but you've excelled here! 
How you've managed to evoke such passion from a simple hook and three-link chain is amazing. 
Absolute cobblers, yet we all love it. Fantastic.
Regards, one-of-the-herd Steve.
 Pmsl The marketing people will tell you that all you need is the right hook! Regards John |
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 4, 2020 16:48:36 GMT
Cab StepsI started these this afternoon but we have American guests later as today is some sort of celebration... I just have to add the little steps tomorrow. I like this sort of job. Nice shape and sexy with it. Just like I used to be...  John Cut the basic shape with my trusty jeweller's saw. 22G galvo. Blade is 66 tpi!  Two back plates completed.  Curvy bit made from thin brass. Cut out with the saw and rivet holes drilled on the Proxxon.  Rivetted together. Not a bad fit but some Isopon will hide the gaps!  Starting to look the part!  
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 6, 2020 17:42:39 GMT
Titanium Rules OK! I've decided to use Titanium for these steps and the fairings. I do not like working with brass as it is flimsy and damages easily. It doesn't like paint either! This will be far more elegant. I just love the crisp sharpness of the Titanium.  If you use steel rivets and an ally backing post you don't have to make a specially long snap as the metal conforms to the rivet head. I love this one!  |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,990
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Post by JonL on Jul 9, 2020 15:47:34 GMT
Is it difficult to cut and bend?
When I was a boy (long before I lost the troublesome leg) I had large titanium pins stuck out of my thigh, screwed into my femur. After the operation to install them they sent round a man with some large bolt croppers to cut the long ends off. I could only stand one as the titanium shattered rather than cutting. They offered to grind the ends off the remaining 5 but the thought of pins screwed into my bone getting hotter through the process was more than I could bear, so I left them long for the two years I had them installed. I always assumed titanium wasn't going to be good to work with since then!
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 9, 2020 16:45:26 GMT
Is it difficult to cut and bend? When I was a boy (long before I lost the troublesome leg) I had large titanium pins stuck out of my thigh, screwed into my femur. After the operation to install them they sent round a man with some large bolt croppers to cut the long ends off. I could only stand one as the titanium shattered rather than cutting. They offered to grind the ends off the remaining 5 but the thought of pins screwed into my bone getting hotter through the process was more than I could bear, so I left them long for the two years I had them installed. I always assumed titanium wasn't going to be good to work with since then! Hi Jon The 26G sheet that I have works just fine. It cuts like butter on the guillotine, also with sturdy shears, and bending is OK provided you don't localise the stress i.e. try and bend it evenly at one go along the bend line. Drilling is same as with stainless: sharp tools and pressure! Lovely stuff. John |
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 576 
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Post by kipford on Jul 9, 2020 18:15:27 GMT
How easy Titanium sheet is to bend/work depends on the grade you have. John is lucky in having one of the grades designed for cold working which are of a lower strength, but he is not worried about that. The higher strength grades need to be hot worked to get any significant bends into them. The point being if you are offered Titanium sheet, they aren't all the same.
Dave
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stevep
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,073
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Post by stevep on Jul 10, 2020 8:48:43 GMT
Dave, can you explain this please?
I must assume that if all titanium sheets are not the same, they are not made from titanium, but an alloy - the other components of the alloy providing the different qualities. Is that so?
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 576
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Post by kipford on Jul 10, 2020 12:56:07 GMT
Steve There various grades of 'Titanium' some are pure titanium and some Titanium alloys. This link gives a good explanation of the most common grades. Same as Aluminium and Steel they are not all the same. www.supraalloys.com/titanium-grades.phpDave |
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Post by Roger on Jul 12, 2020 20:54:15 GMT
I suppose the only downside of using Titanium sheet is that I presume you can't Silver Solder it. You can TIG weld it though, but that's going to be challenging if it's thin. Does it paint ok? I know Titanium forms a hard oxide layer which is what gives it that yellow hue. Does paint adhere to that?
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 576
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Post by kipford on Jul 12, 2020 21:32:18 GMT
Titanium is dog to weld because of the oxidation issue. Normally (certainly in Aerospace) it is welded in an inert chamber. It does paint ok providing you use the correct primers and like Aluminium it can also be anodised. One downside is being half the density of steel, in a model loco where a bit of extra mass helps adhesion it works against you, plus it is bloody expensive! unless like John you get it gratis.
Dave
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 13, 2020 17:54:45 GMT
A Perfect Paint Match! I sent the part painted tender off to the paint shop to get a 2K colour match on the Phoenix Dark Loco Green. It is available as a FIAT colour, Verde 301, and I now have 250cc of same... The Phoenix colour is the one on the right, or is it the one on the left?? Happy days!  John  |
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,875
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Post by Midland on Jul 13, 2020 20:13:55 GMT
A Perfect Paint Match! I sent the part painted tender off to the paint shop to get a 2K colour match on the Phoenix Dark Loco Green. It is available as a FIAT colour, Verde 301, and I now have 250cc of same... The Phoenix colour is the one on the right, or is it the one on the left?? Happy days! John This is all so very green (dark) and depressing, it is giving me mental health issues and I will need to see my therapist. My Karma tells me that Red is the spiritual and uplifting colour and if you were in touch with the Loco Spirit he/ she/ it would direct you to a Crimson Lake for your spiritual fulfillment, four coats of red lead and seven coats of lake followed with three varnish Derby style rubbed down between each coat, lined of course with gold etc etc. Your disciple |
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 15, 2020 18:50:08 GMT
I've been getting our Hymer motorhome ready for the great escape, but I managed to do some more work on the cab steps. I just have to make the rear facing plate from guesswork using this picture of my chosen loco. Nearly there! John   |
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Post by coniston on Jul 16, 2020 19:46:18 GMT
Looking good John, just love all those curves and it's green, the proper colour for a loco, not some tin plate toy red colour  (ducks out of way of flying cab side from 'Midland' Chris D |
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 16, 2020 22:11:39 GMT
Looking good John, just love all those curves and it's green, the proper colour for a loco, not some tin plate toy red colour (ducks out of way of flying cab side from 'Midland' Chris D Do not worry, he is very proud of it after all that hard work! John |
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,875
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Post by Midland on Jul 17, 2020 8:51:47 GMT
Looking good John, just love all those curves and it's green, the proper colour for a loco, not some tin plate toy red colour (ducks out of way of flying cab side from 'Midland' Chris D Chris You must show me how to do a 'dislike'!!! D |
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 19, 2020 8:34:22 GMT
Livery Differences!Now I'm the last person in the world to know much about loco liveries, but my limited knowledge from research tells me that much interpretation goes on with Stirling Singles! This pic is from a lovely 3 1/2" loco at Station Road Steam. It looks great from a distance, but the cab steps paint is awful and the lining isn't supposed to go right around the backplate...  I've used the Leech and Boddy 'Bible', and this is how it is supposed to look, apparently! Nice and simple. I trust you all agree? BTW The marker pen has dried out and I'm waiting on a new one. John 
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Post by lankyyorky on Jul 19, 2020 15:14:39 GMT
Hi John, Have sent you an email with cab end drawing and a photo attached, hope it reaches you ok as the attachments total 26mb. Dave
BTW the tender had safety chains as well, sorry about that |
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Post by simplyloco on Jul 19, 2020 15:23:35 GMT
Hi John, Have sent you an email with cab end drawing and a photo attached, hope it reaches you ok as the attachments total 26mb. Dave
BTW the tender had safety chains as well, sorry about that Email received. Many thanks, but not for the chains info... John |
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Post by shedman on Jul 19, 2020 15:41:39 GMT
Livery Differences!Now I'm the last person in the world to know much about loco liveries, but my limited knowledge from research tells me that much interpretation goes on with Stirling Singles! This pic is from a lovely 3 1/2" loco at Station Road Steam. It looks great from a distance, but the paint is awful and the lining isn't supposed to go right around the backplate... I've used the Leech and Boddy 'Bible', and this is how it is supposed to look, apparently! Nice and simple. I trust you all agree? BTW The marker pen has dried out and I'm waiting on a new one. John |
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(ducks out of way of flying cab side from 'Midland'
