Garden Railway Forum

That's really impressive, Trevor. They look great!

Rik

While sorting out the beam engine, I finished off the tiling for the rooves and have also been steadily printing out ridge tiles. I needed four different styles of ridge tiles dependent on where they were going to be used. IMG_1087.JPG . Those along the upper two ridges have flanges, ... IMG_1069.JP...

My efforts are nowhere up the the quality and standard of Trevor and Philip - maybe because my printer cost only £80 - or maybe because I'm not so skilled at setting up up properly. Prints which are mostly along the X and Y axis are acceptable IMG_1085.JPG . So these ends and sides of my luggage van...

Looking Good, Trevor.
I notice that earlier you said you don't need to do any rubbing down before painting. Have you found that ABS gives a better finish than PLA?

Rik

Very surprised to notice a date on the beam of 1917. Would that be a build date, or just the date the component was replaced? According to the blurb on the museum website, the beam engine was built in the 1820s to Watt's patent. No info as to why the beam was replaced in 1917 - presumably it had to...

Very good, well spotted Rik. At least now you know exactly what the speed should be. I'm thinking that since they do run so quietly, from outside you'd probably not even be aware of the engine, so do you really need to mess about putting sound in?( Other than for " I know it's there." ) I...

Now blogged the build for anyone interested - https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2020/0 ... ngine.html

Rik

Just discovered a video of the Etruria Bone Mill (on which my model is based) beam engine in steam - see from 2:20 onwards


Rik

20 years survival of wooden sleepered track is impressive in normal conditions, but being regularly soaked is amazing! I remember you once saying that Sydney gets more rainfall than London, which really surprised me.

Rik

Thanks guys
I really appreciate the effort you've all put in to research the background to this little beam engine. I must admit, I do like the ponderous nature of beam engines - the have a certain majesty .....

Rik

GTB wrote: ↑Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:38 pm As I recall the only noise the one in Sydney makes when in steam is a quiet wheezing noise and there's a click from the valve driving mechanism as it reverses the valve at the end of the stroke.

I'll just record myself after I've been for a bike ride ......

Rik

FWIW, I think the speed looks about right at the beginning, before the big hand in the sky twiddled the knob. I did wonder, still it's comforting to know I have a knob to twiddle when I get the urge..... 🤔 ........, perhaps some steam sounds could help to add atmosphere? I was considering adding a ...

What about a clock motor Rik? You might actually need to gear it up a bit! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154029066295 Thanks for the suggestion, Phil, but I've now sorted it out with the miniature geared motor. The ex-toy-car wheel I'm using as friction drive on the flywheel isn't the most elegant sol...

Rik, I was just browsing Thingiverse and I noticed this comment on the beam engine, "Just for information, If you have an old Braun electric tooth brush laying around, the motor from it fits perfectly into this Beam Engine." Don't know if that might help? Thanks Philip I tinkered around w...

Thanks for posting this Rik, what a fantastic thing it would be to see it re-open ed! Petition duly signed. Andrew Thanks Andrew. I'm disappointed that it has only reached 547 signatures so far. When you think about the number of railway enthusiasts in the UK, you'd have thought it would be higher....

Using a chain is a good idea. I too had problems with the belt snapping and, when I over-tightened it, the plastic pulley disintegrated. Mine too is sitting on the shelf awaiting a solution to the belt problem. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ske3SVpNQ8E/U480uBSxyaI/AAAAAAAAZ9c/6Rqs0fMzlVo/s1600/IMG_6753...

stupid question time... I assume that big round vertical thing is the cylinder. If so how come it has a big hole in the side? RE the motor speed, if the gearbox idea is too hard, how about an electronic solution? An esc or PWM using a Picaxe. Yup, it is the cylinder. The designer of the kit seemed ...

philipy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 6:20 pm Thats good Rik.
As you say, a bit fast, at that speed it lacks the 'majesty' of the real thing. If you are using a 3v motor, what is it like at 1.5v?

Hi Philip
I'm powering the 3v motor from a single 1.2v rechargeable cell ..... so not got much leeway left.

Rik

GTB wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 3:40 pm

ge_rik wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:51 am I really like the dummy cell idea to step down the voltage.

You should, it was based on something you wrote about.........

I don't remember ..... but if I did, I'm sure your solution is a lot more elegant than what I would have suggested.....

Rik

Still working on the roof of the Boneworks but, while waiting for the ridge tiles to print out, I put together the beam engine. IMG_1065.JPG . IMG_1064.JPG . IMG_1062.JPG . I haven't bothered too much with the finish as it will be located inside the engine house and so only partially visible. Of cou...