Good First Live Steam Model Locomotive

[Jim]

The Burrell Single Cranks are, as you say David lovely engines with very graceful lines and I do tend to drool over their copper chimney caps. The Burrell Museum at Thetford is well worth a visit too.

Jim

[flyingfox]

Greetings James, welcome to this wonderful hobby.
Rather than specify a design, or even a gauge, I would like to make a few points, the first of which is I think a design with outside Walsharts valve gear are easier to build than designs with inside Stephenson valve gear, and that slide valves are easier for a beginner to make, and set, than piston valves.
Finally, bigger pieces are easier to make than little ones, especially when you get older.
Good luck with your build, keep at it.
regards

[kipford]

James
Don't rule out 5" gauge because of size. A 5" 0-6-0 Speedy (without outside valve gear) is the same length as a William. Space wise I am building my Aspinall in a standard garage, where it lives, along with lots other things like kayaks in addition to my lathe, mill etc.
Dave

[gwr7800]

Hi James welcome to the forum, the only advise I can give is when you can join a club,wealth of information in the membership more often than not members in normal times would be more than happy for you to have a drive with supervision at first, also preparing the loco for running,cleaning down afterwards etc.
The only other suggestion while I was building my first loco I picked up a built loco to learn with and run at the track this kept the interest up, learnt a lot at the same time as well!
All the best in whatever you choose.
Regards
Chris

[dashik]

So, looking into things a bit more, I'm still liking the Tank engine locomotives for a first build. How about the 5" Speedie? Are the plans reasonable and are the issues well documented? I'm thinking larger model, but not massivly so, compared to the Rob Roy and so easier to make the parts for. Same skills and a popular model so plenty of help potentially?

[terrier060]

Great choice. A powerful locomotive that is well proven and lots of info on this site about it. Two can lift it and it fits in the back of an old mini clubman!
Ed

[tigermoth]

Well we all gain experience two ways, 1/ By trial and error, 2/ By asking people who might know.

1/ Ok you make mistakes, we have all done it But you also learn by those mistakes.
2/ I think every one on this forum is quite prepared to answer even the silliest sounding question, as we all have been there, I know I have, I was very lucky in knowing a fantastic bloke who put me on the right path, but he also let me make those mistakes that make up the learning curve.

When I started I had never used a lathe, even at school (I took cookery as that was where the girls were) so I had not the faintest idea what I was letting myself into.

What ever project you decide on take your time and do your best and if things do go wrong do not despair there is always someone on the forum that will help.

Norman.

[Gary L]

Feb 12, 2021 18:34:47 GMT terrier060 said:

Great choice. A powerful locomotive that is well proven and lots of info on this site about it. Two can lift it and it fits in the back of an old mini clubman!
Ed

There are certainly 'issues' with the LBSC drawings, as there are with many others, but the Speedy issues are well-known and well documented, so it is a great choice for the reasons Ed states.

Gary

[terrier060]

I should also add that it is very comfortable to drive, especially in long stints, as you sit upright and the controls are near to hand. No bending over tenders or reaching for the controls. Very importaant as you get older and the bones and muscles start to ache!
Ed

[dscott]

I have done the frame drawings to scale using Paddington ones and about 100 photos of 1501 on our various visits to her and rides behind.
Speedy frames are 5/16" too wide and in full size could never be that size. WHY? The big mill of shaper could not handle anything bigger.
Just like our equipment We cant all build a 7 1/4" Black Five.

There are 2 problems with Speedy in that the reversing lever slams your mouse finger into the boiler!!
And that the cab is very cramped for firing.

The boiler is bullet proof and I got 5 or 6 laps without a fire at the end of a super day of driving a borrowed one.





Another of our wonderful meet ups with 1501.

David and Lily.

[dscott]

Just found it.
Slightly angled Cylinders and a bit of a cheat of 3 mm longer to get the brake hanger holder in.
I tried all sorts as the cylinder is a bit big for scale.

The frames are cut out and drilled and I have just been making the enclosed box for the rear axle
to save it from the ash.



Several details emerging ready to make which all go to add authenticity.

David and Lily.

[dashik]

Hi again everyone, Thanks for the excellent replies and pointers

[terrier060]

Love that picture David of 1501 - very atmospheric! Make a nice B&W print.
Ed

[dscott]

I did 5 or 6 as she came towards us and this one came out perfect.
Some times it does not work!!


But on looking closer she is growing on me.



Yes they are a lovely Model Locomotive to drive.
This one has the very original Valve Gear.
No problems with it at all!!! Glove on the right hand for the rev LEVER in full forward!!!



YES. Even the guy in charge of the Boiler Shop at Ropley on the Midhants has built one.

David, and the middle photo by Lily.

[borderer]

I am a little concerned to see Speedy being recommended to a beginner.

It is indeed a very good working locomotive. However it is not an easy one for a novice to build. It has piston valves, a tapered boiler, and a Belpaire firebox, and the drawings and construction notes are not LBSC's best.

For a loco of similar size and power a Simplex would be a better choice for a beginner, although perhaps not so interesting.

[dashik]

Feb 14, 2021 9:48:34 GMT borderer said:

I am a little concerned to see Speedy being recommended to a beginner.

It is indeed a very good working locomotive. However it is not an easy one for a novice to build. It has piston valves, a tapered boiler, and a Belpaire firebox, and the drawings and construction notes are not LBSC's best.

For a loco of similar size and power a Simplex would be a better choice for a beginner, although perhaps not so interesting.

Hi Borderer,

Its fine, I am well aware of the potential challenges and thats what makes it interesting.  There is plenty of support including some VERY generous help from an anonymous source.  All I can say to respect their privacy is it's been very helpful.

I'm pretty much decided on the Speedy now and all I need to do is build a couple of stationary engines to get my hand back in, Finish Building the workshop and buy an assortment of tools while doing appropriate research. It was never my intention to start machining parts next week and there is no rush to finish. I'm looking to start in around 6 months to a year having collected most of the power tools and other associated more expensive tooling before I start. A power hacksaw comes to mind. I'll then see about stockpiling materials and potential castings etc.

Happy days. Its all fun, the research is interesting and I'm only just starting!

[dashik]

Just a thought, Allowing for the errors etc in the speedy plans is it worth buying the 7 1/4 guage Paddington plans and scaling them down?

[borderer]

Feb 14, 2021 14:55:02 GMT dashik said:

Just a thought, Allowing for the errors etc in the speedy plans is it worth buying the 7 1/4 guage Paddington plans and scaling them down?

I'm not sure whether that is a serious question, but you can't scale an existing design either up or down simply by applying the appropriate factor, because many aspects do not scale directly - plate thicknesses, fastenings, boiler internals and fittings, wheel and axle standards, for example. It's a slippery slope.

The glitches in the Speedy design are well documented and can be overcome, as the number of complete running engines proves, and though not totally accurate it is a very good representation of the prototype.

[dashik]

As they Say Borderer, If you don't ask.....

I thought about the plate thickness and boiler, the other thing that came to mind was bolt head clearances around all the holes etc. I was just asing the question lol. And its better asked now than later. I plan on modelling the locomotive up in Fusion 360 prior to starting so I can always faff about with clearances and then see how we go. 


Anyone got a source for the original workshop drawings?

[dscott]

I have a full set of PADDINGTON Drawings got from a man in Didcot who was always going to do it.
So I continued on a new sheet (See earlier post above)
Plus almost 400 photos of every part.
Roger Froud has done a new Boiler on here and his EPIC covers every aspect of construction.
The best source of wheels is Blackgates. Reeves are not the right ones.





The same wheels were supplied for Jinty! Jinty has the balance weights cast in and counting with
my eyes shut came up with 15 on the full size.
The Black wheel will only fit one locomotive which has 14 spokes and small center boss.
Stroudleys E1 And yes there is one preserved.
Then they did an E2.
YES.
Then again someone dressed up a Jinty as an E2 and in Childrens eyes He is Perfect!

David and Lily.

Yes I met The Reverend and have 2 signed Books.