Fabricated cylinders for 99 3462

[mbrown]

Well, another couple of weekends work and we're as good as finished....

IMG_20200419_153644 by malcolm brown, on Flickr


The studs for the covers took ages but all look about right now. I started the cleading sheet for one cylinder using 10 thou nickel silver. I have just got enough left for the other one but decided not to tackle it just yet as it may be difficult to avoid the odd ding over the next few years while the rest of the loco gets built. The prototype had the cleading secured with a lot of very small screws - I am not sure whether it makes sense to have so many in miniature and, in any case, even a 14 BA screw is going to be too large. I am going to wait until I get some 14 BA threading tackle and screws and see how they look and what the best spacing might be.



IMG_20200419_153326 by malcolm brown, on Flickr



I have added the stainless stubs that take the steam and exhaust - these will pass through reamed holes in the frames, acting as dowels, and then stick into the smokebox saddle with O ring seals. That way, if a cylinder has to be removed, the pipework doesn't have to be disturbed.



IMG_20200419_153401 by malcolm brown, on Flickr

I still have to make four cylinder relief valves, six drain cocks (four working and two dummies) and six oil check valves.. but they can wait until later in the build.


Anyway, five months work - maybe 180 hours altogether - and very satisfying. I think they look the part.

IMG_20200419_153206 by malcolm brown, on Flickr

IMG_20200419_153257 by malcolm brown, on Flickr


So what to make next? Either the tender frame which is quite straightforward, or possibly the driving wheels. The latter are interesting as they have balance weights and oval holes in lieu of spokes... but these are completely invisible until you go down into the pit underneath. It's a lot of work for something no one will ever see, but I am tempted, if only for my own satisfaction. I will be making the wheels from some steel blanks I have had in stock for about 30 years, acquired for another project that never happened.

But I will start a "proper" build thread when I get going on the rest of the loco. I though the fabricated cylinders were unusual enough to have a thread of their own.

I hope it has been interesting.

Malcolm

[coniston]

Excellent work Malcolm, and a very interesting thread showing some ingenious methods to avoid the alternative of patternmaking and castings. Cant wait to see the rest of the loco build.

Chris D

[don9f]

+1

Don

[mbrown]

Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun to do. What is the point of model engineering if you don't face new challenges from time to time?

Malcolm