My Winter Projects 2 F Dock Tank, and No 54 LC&DR.

[dscott]

YES last Winter Number 54 got all the attention. She being an earlier version of ASIA marketed by Reeves.
Now I have done and worked with Drawings all my Professional life, and with both Locomotives here Drawings are the reason that so few have ever been built.
A MASS of notes and sub pondered photocopys arrived with the part built kit of bits that I exchanged for some cash. Water Jet cut Frames and almost everything else. Most parts superbly machined. Bought from the Midlands someone who knew machining. But not how to cope with bad drawings!

Sheet one mentions John Hill who I know from my days in Exeter and armed with copy's of everything Les Saxby was given, began a rework.
Many pondering's going on in the evenings at the end of watching stuff on You Tube and coming on here.

I like to work on 2 locos at once as set ups help in getting something done quite quickly. And makes setting out a jig or former far more rewarding. So a Twin Sister to Jinty. Bits being sold by the Guy who knew Les Saxby. Our Summer holiday this year was a day in Folkstone.

I grabbed some steel for the front bufferbeam and was soon there. Only the buffers ready done, overhung the curved ends.
A search of The Steam Workshops Archive showed that this was common on the 2 models there?
By the next evening a clean sheet of card was clamped onto the drawing board and as Twin Sisters had been wonderfully designed to 1" scale. The more modern 1 1/16" to the foot scale chosen. By the second night the wonderful news That the Jinty Boiler slightly shortened could be used as they were in full size.
An internet search found several photos of the Ten built in various positions.
The search on Station Road Steams archive counted the so very few that had been built over the years. Plus the scattering of just frames with wheels.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

This was my first indication that not all the drawings were telling the truth.
ESPECIALLY THE BOILER!



Words tell a thousand pictures!!!



Here recreated as I had some extra length of steel not used on the new length to Suit
1 1/16" to the foot scale over the 1" Scale of the bottom buffer.
Only 68 ish years out for sale and possibly the first thing you begin to make has a
COCK UP!!!

The Buffer stocks are Pure Butch and a superb thought entered my mind about personalizing
a true to scale model, so that if it ever did fall into the wrong hands...
Or someone tried to upload her onto an Internet selling site.
You and possibly others could tell at a glance that all was not right.
To be totally confirmed when YOUR POSTCODE Was reviled from hidden parts on as many bits
as possible!!!

Now having got all the castings on a Mix and Match. I could measure and add them to My drawings.
Using existing ones being far more useful to all than creating new.
Twin Sisters uses a very complex steam chest cover which is a large diameter screwed bung.
So we go and use Butches.

Back many years according to measurements taken and castings compared. And thoughts about the
time she came onto the market for Kennion's. A quick up on the drawing board, and a tracing taken
of the Twin Sisters outline, And BUTCH emerged as a much easier model to build.
Also shown by the numbers built.
I enjoyed meeting up with Charles Kennion every year at Wembley.

Both a lovely size and yes before anyone asks "Yes I have driven a twin Sisters, She never got finished
but there was a Major influence on my life as the Owners Wife was of course Chinese!!!"

David and Lily.

[dscott]

The Operations Center.
Wonderfully once the slightly bigger scale was chosen The Jinty boiler emerged as very suitable.
Lucky as the Cylinder ratio is close to Perfect. This is why the Simplex runs out of steam part
way round the track. And according to Friend Tom Parham "The Jinty does not!"
His Mum Sue is one of the Best Drivers I have met!
Even here I am cheating with the boiler going into the cab well beyond its scale distance.

Talking of scale and SIZE. Going up a scale means that the frames are 2 1/4" longer.
Yes adding a 1/16" to every inch does add up!
The frames have had most of the drawings done and the stretchers worked out.
Then came the rear axle and of course the ASH PAN.
While I pondered I did 5 frame drawings? Yes an outline. Scattering of dimensions *Major. Ha Ha!!
Scattering of dimensions *Minor bits. A construction one showing all the inside bits.
And an outside one showing all the outside bits and where they go. Very uncluttered.

After weeks the ash pan comes in two parts either side of my now favorite BOX axle horns.
Then I wanted dampers!
A superb solution emerged requiring of course 2 more holes in the frames each side.
These stay in position while the boxes drop down.

Some days the grate is solid... Some days it hinges!!

David, and Lily in charge of inspiration.

** Almost forgot Twin Sisters was done as a simple Minor and a more complex Major.
Both need all the bits The Major having all fluted rods and bearing Races to the axleboxes.
Steel tires to the wheels.

To save confusion 2 F Fowler Dock Tank will only have one version.

The big slab of inner frame material white sticky labeled up is of course for the New version of Asia.
These stretch the full length as per the original Built By Sharp Stuart of Manchester. (Mum was from Manchester)
And enables a sub assembly approach to be adopted on her final painted up put together.

[dscott]

It is easy to complain about various mistakes made in Locomotive and other drawings without doing anything about them.
But in fact Mr Austen-Walton did come up with a lovely Design full of original ideas which are superb.

The twin axle pumps with a Yoke driven by an eccentric is lovely.
The superb rear bunker being detachable so that your driving access is wonderful.
Hydrostatic lubrication from the cab with a neat place for the tank.
And of course two versions trying to make a quicker build.
Yes she is called BUTCH!!! (That's three versions or the Three Graces)

Not forgetting a very compact model suitable for all tracks.

David and Lily.

[don9f]

Hi David, as you know I completed “Jinty” last year and although only steamed a few times, I have to say that the boiler and the smokebox draughting, built as per the Martin Evans design, steams very well indeed. Obviously the ashpan is not an airtight fit to the inner firebox extensions, but I chose to fit a “fixed” damper door to the rear of the ashpan, taking a stab guess at an opening of about 20% of the total area of the rear of it.....this seems to have worked out just right. It also helps keep the rear axle boxes cleaner than if the rear of the pan was completely open (as the drawing shows it).

By the way, I haven’t forgotten about the manifold you asked for....
I’ll get round to posting it one day!

Cheers Don

[dscott]

Thank you Don. Yes I revisit other projects when I have the odd moment or two to fill in
coming up to a Nibbling of something with TEA. Lunch or Dinner/Tea.
Here we are revisiting my Jinty Wheels Thankfully the Boiler is superb. Wrong wheels from The Reeves Girls again!!!
These are from Blacgates and even if I only do 4 spokes, that is progress.



Now having done 5 of the Small 4500 Class GWR wheels to a new standard. Jintys rears, had to follow!



Getting back to the 2 F Dock Tank she came with a set of wheels superbly turned but a day each
with the files had them looking much better.
Oval spokes please.
Plus not knowing the make of the paint it is best all removed.

David, and Lily watching DVD's and the non turn up of the Snow today.

[davewoo]

David
Very pleased to see you have made use of the buffer stocks and wheels from the Butch chassis, As you know they came from my late friend Stan the mans workshop clearance, I know he would be delighted they are to be used. Glad you enjoyed your days holiday in Folkestone when you and Lily picked them up! Wheels look much better for your tidying up work, watching the thread with interest.
Dave

[dscott]

Do not worry as all of it is being used and the frames will be coming back as a small Diesel.
2 years ago B & M did a very large stainless Hip Flask which does make a wonderful top for the bonnet of one
of these. The idea is that THE WAGON needs something small and looking underpowered pulling it. Small Diesel.
The Wagon has a flatbed and strapped down we find 3 loads. The middle load quite big is a 25 cc 4 Stroke
powering all 8 wheels of the bogies via belts Angle Grinder Gearboxes and one way clutch Bearings.
Yes the scary bit is that I have all the pieces!!

David and Lily.

[dscott]

Having a rest from the 2 F Dock Tank I cut and cleaned up one of the 2 pairs of inner plates to slowly mark out in the evening. This also proves the drawings.



Shows Progress after 2 nights.
It also shows a wonderful ponder and a method of strengthening the frame where it goes thinner in front of the motion Plate. For here the early models had a splash plate to protect the motion from the front wheel.
As at the time these came out there seems to have been much Rain and lack of Knowledge about super sticky oils. I plan on milling it 1 mm thinner here on the outside.
Talking of splashers I have extended the inner frames into the three wheels which adds to the weight and saves bolting them on later.

I would so love to get hold of the drawings before Reeves altered them to sell more castings!!!

I even managed to continue milling a piece of them this afternoon when I had spent the morning putting the Mill back together. The new Pot Speed control coming in the post first thing.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

I will need a poor tiny under-powered worn out heavily weathered and going rusty Diesel.
To pull a very heavy loaded up bogie wagon behind. Hiding in the load is the power plant disguised as cargo.
4 stroke 25 cc revving at about 6,000 revs when the clutch bites in so there is no need for a sound system!!!



The original chassis was drawn round some steel plate that turned up with holes where the wheels are.
It seemed such a shame to not use the Butch frame for anything so some artistic licence gets us these. Far more industrial with the Horns on the outside. And very possibly in her original paintwork, she must look worn out. Now the shape length and form of the tank/top of bonnet came first of course.
B & M and a very LARGE Hip Flask about 2 winters ago. This also got drawn round. CHEATING!!
The rest of the side vents dreamed up from M 8 studding cut to small lengths and slid in slots in the end posts. Or M 6 as I have some in Stainless. self colour.



Now for our Australian Friends the tank on top can be filled with XXXX of course.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

Current progress is back on the mill with a 9 inch slab of inch thick steel.
Only a 3/4 by 3/4 inch section to remove to go over the rear axle.
I know this is 15/16" thicker than the original but will be a better balance at the back.

Got watching Obscure Dukes of Hazzard bits yesterday with someone getting the first ever Dodge Charger
they ever used and crashed. In fact to stop the car diving froward they poured concrete into the boot.
Trunk. The back space.
We are trying to do the same and give her as much tractive weight as possible balanced.
This counteracts the weight of the Cylinders and also makes a super frame stretcher.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

So with the Milling Machine back in action with its NEW MOTOR and improved vent holes and impending cooling extractor fan.
I returned to milling.



Making sure there was enough space for some chain drilling.
Then it was down to 4 1/4" for both of them.



It is all about weight and the middle stays were done at the same time.
This is where doing two comes in handy.



A close up of the back. Noting that I need to take a bit more off.
Today's lower stretcher in place, this will have a turnbuckle in the middle
to hold the ashpan in place.



The front showing the superb cylinder that turned up in the abandoned kit of parts.
Interestingly lined with cast iron.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

I have just done a tour of Reeves and realise that as I now do not need 3 of the castings for Europa Class 54.
We save £41.50.

Also fresh from Model Engineers Laser site.
Noted the TOTAL lack of parts done for these two locomotive Designs??
Such a great indication that not many are or will be built.

The Steam Workshop have just sold a Twin Sisters as soon as she was listed.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

With the Milling Machine back in working order. One of the first meals was to nibble out the
frames for the Dock Tank. Here I am just going up to the line and moving down a bit.
Later when filing this helps to keep it all level.



A quick chain drill and two cuts each sees the spaces for the horns.
Just a quick check against the drawings.
Out of over 100 holes just one drill died.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

More Progress on the 2 F Dock Tanks frames.
Quite a lot of milling as I decided not to cut down the long top cut outs.
Lovely that they have different radi at each end.



Now it is ready to get the rear horns and the buffer beams.
The original calls for six 4 BA bolts for the end brackets!
But I think 6 BA would look better. The coupling hook goes into a stretcher so is very strong!

Then it is a return to Jessie but with drawings being done in the evenings.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

Returning to the Buffer beams we go all out on there construction.
Of course trying out the drawings mostly for proportions and dealing with a shortage of 8 BA taps for the Dummy bolts.



The 3 5/64 rivets for the steps look convincing!
Moments to add or take off for track running.
Jessie has the same for the guard irons swapping them for guard rails.



The sunshine today got the frames added and the first view of what we are looking forward to.



A side view showing most of the holes.
The middle and front horns being the next ones to add.
Also many 6 BA holes transferred and tapped out.

David and Lily.

Quoat. "It's Not Big Enough!!!" Lily Scott upon me looking for the next lump of steel to make into some more bits.
Very Funny.

[norfolkandgood]

Looking Good.
Guy

[dscott]

I was lured Back onto E-bay by a tip off from pieman59 on here about an Asia Chassis.
We waited days after I had sent the seller an interest Letter. They sometimes do a Buy It Now thing.
I had to wait.
Lots of work done in the Workshop.
Glanced over the other sellers of bits. Rusty Modelworks cast offs minus boilers were up 14 bids. For instance.
Asia No interest.
Saturday arrived and it was a long way to 14.05.
More Workshop.
Lunch.
Computer fires up. Well the older one and still no Bids. Some people hold off till the very last minute! Nerves.
£430 The MOUSE IS CLICKED.
WE WIN.



Sunday I do a raid on 2 Banks and we drive to Kent to collect.
Sun most of the way and no problems. Except parking.
I lug her to the car and we return for teas.

AND A TOUR OF THE SUPER WORKSHOP.
AND 2 HOURS OF CHATTING.
MAINLINE DRIVING.
WIVES 1 AMD 2.
what i did.
WHAT HE IS BUILDING.
WHAT I AM BUILDING Southern bias.

Then it starts raining as we get to the car.
M 25 is a mess with 2 prangs.
Driving rain all the way back.
20 mins without as we stop in the services.
No. rain as we dash to the car.
Bracknell's prang is down the embankment almost opposite the Fire Station. Some of them must have walked. 4 engines?



She is certainly worth the journey.



Superbly Built and several bits noted in the design which is to the letter.
Just as I suspected there is a 3 turns of the reverser Backlash from movement forward to movement back.
Difficult to put together. No splashier protection that an inner frame would provide.

David and Lily.

IT IS STILL WINTER!!!!

[norfolkandgood]

Well it certainly floats my boat! I'm glad your happy with the quality of the engineering, from experience the initial excitement and anticipation surrounding a prospective new project can be responsible for more of tolerant attitude being taken of poor build quality. I for one have 'bought in haste and regretted at leisure' Good luck with your new engine
Guy