A loco lifetime

[mugbuilder]

Hello Brian. I originally fitted the screw in petticoat pipe to make it easier to remove the superheater assembly if required. As you have mentioned, it also has the capability of being extended if needed to improve steaming. Before I started doing this I always found it difficult to properly fix the petticoat pipe to the chimney bottom and screwing it in solved this problem. If needs be I can now remove the pipe and withdraw the superheater assembly through the smokebox door without much trouble. I always screw it out for cleaning after a run. Incidentally, the tall chimneys fitted to the NSW engines never had any petticoat pipes fitted but relied on the cast shape of the chimney base to suffice.
Barry

[mugbuilder]

I have started to detail the smokebox. I thought that I had a suitable piece of brass on hand for the headlight but it was too small in diameter. It will be the next job.

[pclass]

G'day Barry, mate that locomotive is magnificent, cheers dennis

[mugbuilder]

Oct 28, 2021 23:19:31 GMT pclass said:

G'day Barry, mate that locomotive is magnificent, cheers dennis

Thanks Dennis, Most things above the running boards are just a bit of an empty shell at the moment.

[matt2534]

Hi Barry

I noticed the round barrel extending right through the spectacle plate and was going to ask whats going on there but you just answered that question with addition of belpair lagging.

Matt

[mugbuilder]

The headlamp is finished and the exhaust covers are in place. There is extra detail added to the smokebox sides including the dummy oil boxes which were fitted below the boiler centre line. This meant that they were leaning down at an angle which was a bit odd but that is how they were.

[Jim]

As always the details are superb even down to the 'dimmer' light in the headlight. Little details like that bring back a flood of childhood memories.

Jim

[mugbuilder]

Been doing a bit of boiler work for the engine before it gets too hot. Summer is on the doorstep And I'd prefer to get it done before it arrives in force. Another week or so should complete it as it is fairly small and a simple arrangement.

[mugbuilder]

A trial fitting of the inner and outer assemblies to see if it all fits OK and to determine the position of the external top water gauge bush. 0so far this little boiler has been an easy build but I had better not speak too soon or it may come back to bite me.

[Jim]

Great to catch up with you at the Club's Christmas getogether at the weekend Barry.

We're now safely back home and I've already been out to the workshop to check out what I need to do to the roof of the 400 class railmotor.

All the best

Jim

[mugbuilder]

Good to see you yesterday Jim. All the best for Christmas and the new year.Hope to see you at the all-comers weekend and or the scale weekend in March.

[Jim]

Thanks Barry and I hope you and yours have a great Christmas too. Thanks to all for a great weekend.

Jim

[mugbuilder]

The boiler is finished and turned out OK. Boilers can be a bit disappointing as it can be difficult to make a neat job. I take my hat off to the professional model boilermakers as they can turn out magnificent work. I managed to get most of it done before the real heat of summer, however, the last heat was on a fairly hot day.

[mugbuilder]

It's not properly mounted yet but just sitting in the frame. The next job is to secure it and make a start on the fittings. I always try to make the layout of the cab fittings much the same with each engine so that I always know which knob to turn.

[mugbuilder]

Getting a bit ahead of myself here. I like detail work and couldn't.t resist doing the stuff on the dummy belpair firebox cladding.
It really is cluttered and there is no room for any more fittings. I can't take credit for the dummy turbo generator or whistle as they are put together from lost wax casting kits , also, the safety valve bodies were turned by Dave. By rights, the turbo should have been a Pyle National one but I had the kit for the Stones version so used it instead. Who knows, the full-size engine may have been fitted with one at some time as many engines had them swapped around from time to time.
I suppose that I will have to bite the bullet and make and fit the regulator and smokebox steam fittings before I get too far down the detail road.

[David]

It's certainly busy around the firebox! Looks great :)

[mugbuilder]

The Boiler cladding is now on. It was rolled up from a 1.2mm brass sheet and a bit of a fiddle to fit. There is a fair bit of detail to be added yet including the dome. In the past I have fabricated domes from copper sheet but as I have a gunmetal casting available I will use that.

[mugbuilder]

The dome casting has been finished and mounted and has a pop safety valve fitted inside it. The four boiler bands have been fitted as well.

[mugbuilder]

It's amazing just how much stuff some engines have hanging off the outside of them. This one is very cluttered on the left-hand side, the handrails haven't been fitted, and there are a couple of thin dummy oil pipes to be added yet.

[David]

The fit of the dome is fantastic. The front of the belpaire cladding is neat too. Pretty glad I did not have to make those exhaust pipe covers too. I guess you've had some practice!

And now I'm reminded that I haven't soldered the feet onto my compressors air box.