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Post by Jim on Nov 8, 2011 12:09:34 GMT
Hi Shmiffy, I hic! can't undershtand how toooooo many shoo, sooshing alse ales could do thhat.  |
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Post by Jim on Nov 9, 2011 23:03:52 GMT
Not a lot has been happening to Boadicea that's of much interest of late apart from watching paint drying. Yesterday I decided to sort out the alignment of the smoke box prior to bolting it to the saddle for hopefully the last time. As it turned out it was askew and needed shimming to align it with the frames and to raise the front. The job was done with a chalk line to a datum board on the cab end which was also used for making sure the footplates were properly aligned after adjusting the smoke box. In the rather poor photo a rod can be seen poking out of the chimney. It's there to make sure that the chimney/petticoat pipe remained properly aligned with the blast pipe while the adjustments were being made. The next job is to replace the temporary piston valves with the proper working ones. That's a job that will give me a chance to try a new LH tangential cutter that's on order, correction, has just arrived.  Jim  |
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Post by Jim on Nov 12, 2011 10:34:23 GMT
Still not much is happening but with the smoke box in place and the steam delivery pipes attached a tentative start has been made on the boiler. A cardboard profile drawn to the boiler plan will be used to check overall dimensions and the alignment of the steam dome and clacks.  With the boiler barrel rolled I just had to 'see how it looks' when in place. The tubes have been cut to length and are bundled behind the work bench  The first job will be to silver the butt strap then start work on the formers for the plate work. I'll also have to keep an eye on the lubricator covers as they already seem to get knocked off or askew very easily and Boadicea hasn't even left the shed! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 11:07:23 GMT
Jim
Excellent!
It's what LBSC called seeing a 'Distant Signal'. I do a lot of that and end up with a load of unfinished bits!
JB
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Post by Jim on Nov 12, 2011 12:17:56 GMT
Hi JB, It's certainly a distant signal, our club boiler inspector will need more than a couple of soothing ales to get over the shock when he learns that I have actually made a move on the boiler  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 14:00:51 GMT
I agree with JB..... Looking great Jim.... Pete |
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greensands
Part of the e-furniture
Building a Don Young 5" Black Five
Posts: 409
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Post by greensands on Nov 12, 2011 16:22:59 GMT
Hello Jim - That smokebox looks superb. Can you let me in on the secret of your paint scheme and painting methods
Regards
Reg
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Post by Jim on Nov 13, 2011 0:18:35 GMT
Hi Reg, The real expert on painting locomotives is Chris Vine, a contributer on this site who has published a book on the subject, 'How (not) to paint a locomotive' It is full of much valuable information. If it's any help I use automotive aerosol cans where the colour matches seem right to me, eg the Blood & Custard BR Mk1 coaches on this thread. For Boadicea's BR green I supplied a paint sample provided by a mate and had the colour specially mixed in an aerosol can for me at a local automotive paint suppliers shop. I guess in the UK Halfords may have a similar service The smoke box was sprayed with 2 coats of heat resistant engine gloss black applied directly to the clean bare metal. After a string of 'What's that burning Jim?  failures on my traction engine's chimney I found the system used on Boadicea's smoke box the one to withstand the heat while maintaining a deep gloss black which I like. The lining I do using a draughtsman's bow pen (see p3 of this thread) and Humbrol Enamel Painting a model for me is an intensely personal thing much like painting a picture. I find painting brings the model to life which is why I paint as I go. Others have different methods and approaches which is what makes this such a creative hobby. Not sure if this helps but please don't be afraid to have a go. Paint can always be removed to start again...I know but don't ask how. Jim |
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Post by Shawki Shlemon on Nov 14, 2011 6:47:04 GMT
Jim , it looks great , Let me tell you a secret , don't tell anyone , THE BOILER IS NOT AS HARD TO MAKE AS THE REST OF THE ENGINE .  |
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Post by Jim on Nov 14, 2011 7:08:41 GMT
You're a true blue mate Shawki, thanks for letting me in on that secret. I promise I will get cracking asap and give everyone a surprise  Jim |
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Post by Jim on Nov 21, 2011 7:06:53 GMT
The last couple of days have been spent completing the piston valves for Boadicea. My valves are based on two particularly helpful articles in Australian Model Engineering (AME): one by John Wakefield (March/April 1996) the second by Shawki Shlemon (May/June 1996) The pictures show the original test bobbins along with the start of the brass valve body and the bored out Teflon.  The first ring was mounted on a mandrill and machined to a gentle push fit in the valve bore which left a wall thickness of .085".  The lands for the rings were machined to .003" undersize so, as John Wakefield explains, to allow for any excess expansion of the rings while maintaining a good steam tight fit. John by the way is the owner builder of a superb 5"g South African Railways 4-6-2  The completed valve. Jim |
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Smifffy
Statesman
Rock'n'Roll!
Posts: 943
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Post by Smifffy on Nov 21, 2011 22:43:56 GMT
Hi Jim, Some nice work there. I see that the design of your Bobbins is significantly different than mine, particularly the ends, where on your design the Bobbin 'body' runs well past the PTFE rings. On mine, the Bobbin body is flush (ish) with the Rings. Mine are not quite complete as I need a spell in the oven (for the bobbins, not me) to judge how much I need to turn them undersize. My Bobbin build is here: www.markfsmith.com/html/valve_bobbins.htmlCheers Smifffy |
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Post by Jim on Nov 22, 2011 1:25:13 GMT
Hi Smiffy,
Looking at your site which I must say is rather nice, we seem to be following very similar paths.
My end caps are tapered up to a knife edge, bit hard to see in the photo I know, so as not to add to the width of the Teflon bobbins.
In Shawki's article (using the oven method) he says cold, the bobbins have .013" clearance which quickly becomes steam tight when steam enters the valve chest.
Mine are a nice sliding fit cold and are a gentle push fit after a short spell in hot water, which is where I'll be if I don't get SWOMBO's shade cloth up. ;D
Jim
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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2011 10:09:05 GMT
Not a lot has been happening in the workshop what with Christmas and all the usual last minute panic I'm afraid. As a change of pace I decided to complete the assembly of the standard reverser, a Doug Hewson kit. All went together without problems but the cast bevel gears required a lot of fettling to get the reverser working smoothly when turned in either direction. The worm drive actually has quite a bit of 'Ooomph' at the drive shaft end so should have no problems raising and lowering the links. The photos show the reverser painted and just waiting for the rest of the engine to be built. The second photo? well that's raw material for the next job....the boiler.   All the best for the New Year Jim. |
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Post by Geoff (Carlisle) on Jan 9, 2012 21:29:23 GMT
Dear Jim I've been admiringyour piston valves for your Britannia. At the moment i've got the piston valves on the bench belonging to my Enterprise loco. Now compare these with J Perriers drawings, Perriers drawings don't seem to have a lot of steam space around them to supply a large bore cylinder. whereas yours seem to be adequate. Whats your sizes ? Geoff(Carlisle) |
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Post by Jim on Jan 9, 2012 23:49:24 GMT
Hi Geoff,
I'll send you a PM on this.
Cheers
Jim
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Post by Geoff (Carlisle) on Jan 10, 2012 17:06:55 GMT
Hi Jim I will be able to reduce the waist thickness of the bobbins whatever it is it will a lot better than Perriers example. I am pleased that you agree with me on the subject of the bobbins. I have had a look at your new thread and liked it. Incidently its not a Britannia i'm building but a B.R. Clan as i used to fire and drive them years ago. The only difference being the boiler and the frames. Once again Jim thank you. GEOFF(CARLISLE)  |
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Post by fostergp6nhp on Jan 10, 2012 19:40:07 GMT
Hi Jim I will be able to reduce the waist thickness of the bobbins whatever it is it will a lot better than Perriers example. I am pleased that you agree with me on the subject of the bobbins. I have had a look at your new thread and liked it. Incidently its not a Britannia i'm building but a B.R. Clan as i used to fire and drive them years ago. The only difference being the boiler and the frames. Once again Jim thank you. GEOFF(CARLISLE) |
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Post by Jim on Jan 10, 2012 22:47:23 GMT
That's a nice looking site, thanks for the link.
Jim
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Post by Geoff (Carlisle) on Jan 11, 2012 17:33:39 GMT
Hi Foster Many years ago at Swanage the Hengist group recieved articles from me and in return i recieved a lot of usefull information. GEOFF (Carlisle). |
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failures on my traction engine's chimney I found the system used on Boadicea's smoke box the one to withstand the heat while maintaining a deep gloss black which I like. The lining I do using a draughtsman's bow pen (see p3 of this thread) and Humbrol Enamel
