Gauge 1 ‘project’

[Garethh]

Started drilling exhaust ports and steam passages this afternoon, pretty terrifying but luckily everything lined up nicely!

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[Garethh]

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Front cylinder cover is done, just waiting on a 1/8 reamer before I can crack on with the rear. Quick question for anyone with experience, the book suggests fitting lever operated drain cocks, I remember seeing auto ones on the djb site but they don’t seem to be there anymore. Has anyone used them or know how/if they work?

[GTB]

Quick question for anyone with experience, the book suggests fitting lever operated drain cocks, I remember seeing auto ones on the djb site but they don’t seem to be there anymore. Has anyone used them or know how/if they work?

I've not used automatic cylinder drain cocks, but there is a description and some drawings in the files of steammodelloco16mm.groups.io if you are a member.

I'm not convinced they are necessary with slide valves, but I guess they would stop most of the oil and water going up the exhaust pipe when starting off.

Regards,
Graeme

[Garethh]

It’s a relatively large single cylinder and by all accounts the can suffer quite badly from hydraulic lock without draincocks of some kind fitted. My thinking was that auto ones would save chasing the loco to shut them once it’s managed to get started! I’m not a member of that group unfortunately, have managed to find some drawings for larger scales so know how they work, just a little unsure what sort of dimensions to use use when scalining them down for a 3/4 bore!

[Garethh]

Bit of progress since the last post, rear cylinder cover and piston gland all made up, as per the book. With the piston I decided to fit a silicone o ring rather than the graphite yarn packing described in the book:

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Made a start on the steam chest, using the same technique as the cylinder block:

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[Garethh]

Made a bit of progress since the last post, valve chest and valve are now finished

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Followed by a test fit in the chassis, happily it all turns over nicely!

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All becomes quite a tight fit once the trunk guide gets involved though so will have to be very careful where I drill the cylinder for mounting...

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Also made up the drain cocks pretty much as per the drawings, still may have a pop at some auto ones at a later date

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Also skipped ahead a bit and made the lubricator body, because I fancied doing some silver soldering mostly

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[-steves-]

Looking very nice indeed, mine always turn out very rough looking and shabby

[artfull dodger]

Very nice workmanship!! Wish whoever in the UK that built the Project I have would have done that kind of work, and only wish I had the tools and skills to remake a few things like the whole cylinder block assembly. Mine was poorly done and looks like a hack job compared to your fine work. Keep the pics coming as you make progress! Mike

[Garethh]

Very nice workmanship!! Wish whoever in the UK that built the Project I have would have done that kind of work, and only wish I had the tools and skills to remake a few things like the whole cylinder block assembly. Mine was poorly done and looks like a hack job compared to your fine work. Keep the pics coming as you make progress! Mike

Thanks for the kind words, it’s far from perfect though, I think the photos are flattering! Fingers crossed it works! I’d be interested to see some photos of yours if it’s up and running? The cylinder block isn’t actually as daunting as it seemed, if you have access to a lathe with a 4 jaw and a small pillar drill it just takes a bit of thought and care. There’s a couple of suppliers in the uk that make a drop in cylinder unit alternatively.

[Jimmyb]

Thanks for the kind words, it’s far from perfect though, I think the photos are flattering!

Gareth, I do think you are "under selling" yourself, there is some very fine workmanship there.

[-steves-]

Thanks for the kind words, it’s far from perfect though, I think the photos are flattering!

Gareth, I do think you are "under selling" yourself, there is some very fine workmanship there.

Totally agreee

[artfull dodger]

Here is a pic of her on the bench, railway is mostly mud and trackwork needs some leveling and joints unkinked for gauge one running. Mine will be getting SDJR transfers from Barrets in the UK, so its in the deep blue color now. I am planning to get a complete new smoke box assembly as this one is all soldered and I want the front cover removable for sealing things, missing the petticoat so she is not drafting as well as needed and lacks the smokebox door casting. A friend has the shop tools, so since I have the book, I may make the attempt with his help to remake the cylinder block/crosshead tube assembly to a higher standard than she has now. I will see how she runs when spring weather arrives. My boiler bands are just black zip ties right now, need to make up proper brass ones but this works for now. Missing the ladders on the engine and tender still as well, gotta make those as well.

[Garethh]

I appreciate the positive words, just trying to not get carried away until I know it at least runs on air, if it doesn’t work then it doesn’t matter how pretty it looks!

Here is a pic of her on the bench, railway is mostly mud and trackwork needs some leveling and joints unkinked for gauge one running. Mine will be getting SDJR transfers from Barrets in the UK, so its in the deep blue color now. I am planning to get a complete new smoke box assembly as this one is all soldered and I want the front cover removable for sealing things, missing the petticoat so she is not drafting as well as needed and lacks the smokebox door casting. A friend has the shop tools, so since I have the book, I may make the attempt with his help to remake the cylinder block/crosshead tube assembly to a higher standard than she has now. I will see how she runs when spring weather arrives. My boiler bands are just black zip ties right now, need to make up proper brass ones but this works for now. Missing the ladders on the engine and tender still as well, gotta make those as well.

Thanks for sharing the photo, nice to see a finished one and it’ll definitely look the part in sdjr blue, as far as I’m aware that’s the only prototype colour that’s not black!

[ge_rik]

Did I detect hi-vis trousers in one of those photos?

Rik

[Garethh]

Did I detect hi-vis trousers in one of those photos?

Rik

You did, I rent take finished bits to work with me and bolt them together if I get a bit of free time!

[Garethh]

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After much messing around with clamps I finally worked up the courage to drill and tap the cylinder to bolt into the frame, the trunk guide required some filing to clear the con rod but that seems to be normal on these. Just the eccentric strap to go and should be ready for a test on air!

[Garethh]

Found some time to finish off the eccentric strap and do a first test on air. Think I need to play with the timing a little bit dead chuffed it even runs!

[-steves-]

Very nice, it's always a good feeling that first air run

[Jimmyb]

Very impressive, you should be very pleased with yourself, I know I would be if i had got this far

[Garethh]

Ended up with a bit of surprise free time, so got the burner and lubricator and their associated brackets done. With the burner I deviated from the plans slightly and made a threaded brass insert which was silver soldered into the copper pipe rather than threading the copper pipe directly as that seemed like a recipe for future problems.

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