70036 Boadicea

[Jim]

Thanks folks for your comments and suggestions, they are much appreciated I can assure you and in fact they give me a sense of belonging to a very friendly ME club that extends across the world.

To you and your families have a wonderful Christmas

The new dummy spring assembly is now completed and to finish the final bit of fairing to the bottom of the brackets I used automotive body putty. Handy stuff too.

With a coat of grey primer the new dummy spring assembly blends in well with the original castings, provided the light's not too bright.

The basic body of the spring.



and all puttied up beneath an original casting.



The warmer weather is with us Geoff so shall use the time to join you with glass of Yellow Tail while I think about the next step on this happy journey



Jim

[dj]

Hi Jim

Where did you get the spring castings? I have stalled on the tender for the Black 5 because of the complexities of the springs.

Boadicea is looking good by the way.

Had a splendid afternoon steaming the Simplex and taught my right hand man to drive - everything worked perfectly and with some ice in the injector feed tank, it was faultless as well - so a happy old geezer tonight.

DJ

Bit early, but happy xmas gruntings from the south China sea

[RLWP]

Dec 5, 2012 10:05:20 GMT @dj said:

Hi Jim

Where did you get the spring castings? I have stalled on the tender for the Black 5 because of the complexities of the springs.

{snip}

Dummy springs are actually pretty easy. I couldn't get the front springs for Petrolea, so I had to fabricate them. An afternoon's work with steel sheet, a pair of tinsnips and a bit of imagination and I had these:



I think they are better looking than the castings on the tender:



Cheap and cheerful, and you could always buy castings if they don't work

Richard

[dj]

Full marks Richard ---

So why didn't you make the springs for the tneder too as it's a mere afternoon's work?

DJ

[Jim]

Thanks John,

As far as I know the original spring castings were from Wilwau. I was given the castings by a friend who'd got them as a job lot with a lathe he'd bought. Sadly some of the castings had been lost along the way including one of the tender's spring castings so I had to bodge one up.

It's hard to beat a good days steaming behind your loco isn't it?.

Richard, those springs are magnificent, they really are. Great work.

Jim

[RLWP]

Dec 5, 2012 10:42:24 GMT @dj said:

Full marks Richard ---

So why didn't you make the springs for the tneder too as it's a mere afternoon's work?

DJ

Because I bought the tender springs when I was about fourteen, and made the front springs when I was about thirty

Richard

[dj]

That sounds a pretty good reason Richard

DJ

[Geoff (Carlisle)]

Hi Jim, well its Yellow Tail merlot at the moment from down your way. I ventured into the workshop to-night (fri) with the heater about 3" off the back of my legs. Their was production mind you on the handbrake and the W.P.U. What i would like to do is send you photos of the alternative method of the linkage from the handles to just down below ,which is a far better method. The rest below is just the same.I'll be in touch shortly,and keep up the good work.

Geoff (Carlisle).

[Jim]

Yellow Tail Merlot, I'll raise my glass to that Geoff.

Re the simplified linkages I'd much appreciate any input you have Geoff.
If you haven't got it I'll PM you with my email address though I'm sure pictures posted here would be appreciated by other BR Standard builders.

You could pop over to my workshop if yours is a bit chilly, you'd be quite at home and the temp is heading towards 27C .

Jim

[Geoff (Carlisle)]

Hi Jim, before i start Merloting i have'nt quite finished the alterations to the hand brake and the WPU ,but it now looks promising. It should take about one day but there is a very icy blast coming from Siberia ,called the beast from the east at -16 c and if it is that bad the workshop won't see me. Any-way i'll keep you posted.

Geoff (Carlisle).

[Geoff (Carlisle)]

Hi Jim,here is the alternative drawing for the WPU & the hand brake. I've had such a job trying to get the WPU to lift futher up out of the way. Firstly i cut 1/4" off the 1/8" dia rod. I then cut a slot in the bottom plate to allow more clearance for the operating rod. But i think the plate will have to come out again and cut a larger hole for the lever to go further up. The fork is screwed to-gether with 4- 8BA Csk brass screws which makes a better job than rivets. To-night Jim its YT shiraz.

Geoff (Carlisle).

Attachments:

[Jim]

Thanks for that Geoff and as I'm not far off tackling the WPU it will save me a lot of frustration. It wasn't until you pointed it out that I saw the problem with JP's arrangement for lifting and lowering the WPU.
I may in fact make mine non working as a safety precaution.

Best wishes

Jim.

[Jim]

Between soothing ales, Christmas pud, mince pies and falling asleep the tender frames have advanced a bit with the springs, stretchers and horn blocks now in place.

Each time I check the plans it refers to casting number 'whatever' which of course I don't have hence the slow job of fabricating the parts. The next casting to be fabricated will be the front buffer beam/drag box assembly.

Before anyone asks I have always painted as I go and as parts become completed units. Building a working model is a long process so for me it's nice to see a glimpse of what it will eventually look like.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and may the New Year bring everyone, more happiness and contentment in the workshop.

Jim

[peteh]

Marvelous job Jim,
must be a bit cooler in ACT than Perth

Pete

[Jim]

Thanks Pete, actually it's not quite as hot as where you are but hot none the less..helps the paint to dry ;D

I've been lurking on your build thread, you're doing Northumbrian proud and should be very pleased indeed with what you have achieved.

Hope a cool change comes through for you soon so you can get back into your workshop without cooking.

All the best for 2013,

Jim.

[Shawki Shlemon]

Very nice Jim , Pete is doing very well too , Happy New Year .

[Geoff (Carlisle)]

Hi Jim, every thing looks good so all the best to you and yours for 2013.

Geoff (Carlisle).

[Jim]

G'day Reg, I'm trotting along in your footsteps here. Today's not as hot so got in and completed the rear stretcher that also anchors the buffer beam. The stretchers are among the growing list of castings I didn't know I was missing, but not to worry, it's all great fun.

Jim

[Geoff (Carlisle)]

Hi Jim, you are in an ideal position to insert a piece of steel 1"x1/2" to take the strain as mentioned on my thread No.6 ,I won't be having a yellow tail to-night as i don't feel up to the mark and that was nothing to do with new year as i've seen plenty of them in the past, all the best Jim.

Geoff (Carlisle).

[Jim]

Hi Geoff, Sorry to hear that you're not your usual sprightly self, I hope you're quickly back on the mainline.

The photos are of the tender buffer beam which I made a long time ago and the rear stretcher it locates on. As Geoff suggests something a bit more substantial would be a wise idea if hauling passengers. Our code has specifications that encompass Geoff's suggestion which I'll be following.

Sod pays a visit! As is always the case I only discovered after I'd fitted the non slip checker plate steps to the buffers that in fact were a dimple pattern.