dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Mar 23, 2006 8:33:54 GMT
Dear fellow builders,
On such a complex and long project I have found the best way is to tackle at least one part each week and suddenly you can look back at a drawer full of parts ready to go on to your engine.
Another help is to have a simple loco to do at the same time, turning 6 wheels to final size in a lunchtime for my Toby tram, inspires confidence.
David Scott.
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Post by Andy Clark on Mar 23, 2006 11:34:22 GMT
Oh how I wish I had time to do something for myself every week! Whatever happened to the early retirement plan? Good advice though! Nice to see the odd post here to keep the thread alive.
Andy
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Alan
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 287
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Post by Alan on Mar 26, 2006 21:32:34 GMT
Yes . i agree. make something every week. also . make a simple loco along side the complex one such as the prairie. is a good way of gaining confidence in difficult machining operations.
Also. Limit the amount of distractions away from No 1 project (the prairie) my consevatory is falling down and my kitchen desperatly needs replacing, but my blinkers are still on.
Alan
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Mar 27, 2006 8:09:35 GMT
Dear all,
How to spend the weekend,
Saturday saw us up in Bridgewater at the Steam Itinarants annual dinner which was all about crank axles, superheaters and which pudding to have, our wives talked about something else!!
And Sunday saw me putting the floor back in part of the second bedroom and starting on the replacement door. The imminant arrival of our conservatory, and a reminder of the state of the kitchen puts an end to Easter.
But this morning in early to beat the traffic saw me complete a filing jig for the Bulldog.
So all is well with the world.
David.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Apr 23, 2007 21:43:02 GMT
Here I am one year on, sitting in our conservatory, beats the decking that it replaced especially on a rainy night!
Well, fabricated cylinders for the Prairie? one lump or two, big questions, but something for the lathe to chew on for a while.
I thought one lump as the smokebox saddle can then be made in one curve.
And the steam exhaust pasages can be welded up like walls.
Any thoughts on these?
David.
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Post by Laurie_B on Apr 25, 2007 20:05:26 GMT
Conservatories make such good workshops don't they.
Interesting post,David.Yes fabricated cylinders would be quite possible I'm guessing.On the full size 41xx's there were I think,'two lumps' bolted on the centre line and also forming the saddle.
The other day my mind was wandering (as it does) towards a 5" gauge Churchward 'County' class.I think these locos had roughly (pun intended!) similar cylinder/saddle arrangements.
Then the thought occurred,why not have three lumps,i.e., the two separate cylinders,and a central block (or lump!) for the saddle?With some ingenuity they could be all bolted together,even to a more conventional front end frame arrangement than the bar frames so beloved of the GWR.
Have you seen the cylinder castings Polly Model Engineering/Practical Scale are producing for GWR loco models?They look to be very good quality.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Apr 28, 2007 21:03:25 GMT
Dear Laurence,
There was a lovely model of a county at Taunton earlier this month, I had intended to take a photo of it, but got sidetracked by other models as you do.
If you contact the Taunton club, I am sure that someone could track down the builder for you.
I have seen the cylinder castings for the Grange which were very interesting, it comes down to the hours each way of doing something, adds up to in the end/ being happy with the result.
A rough running engine can produce more steam aparantly as the bubbles of steam are shaken from the tubes faster, and the fire is constantly moving.
David.
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Post by Laurie_B on May 2, 2007 11:52:34 GMT
Dear David,
Thankyou for the info.I shall keep an eye on the Taunton MES website in case a photo appears there.Maybe it will be at the Thornbury show later this year.
I saw a very nice 3-1/2" gauge 'County' at the recent 'Large Scale' exhibition at The Fosse.It was painted and fully lined out in pre-1906 colours,i.e Indian Red for frames,wheels etc.It looked superb!Alas I didn't manage to take a photo either!
I shall be interested to hear what you decide about the cylinders for your 'Prairie'.
It is very true that the vibration of a running loco would shake bubbles of steam off the heating surfaces of the boiler.Maybe Churchward's 'County' class were a good example of this.
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