Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

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tom_tom_go
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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Dec 12, 2018 2:56 pm

Keith S wrote: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:26 pm I'm curious about the "pop" safety valve you've got. All the ones I've seen make a raspy, impolite sound, but yours is almost silent.
It is a WeeBee safety valve:


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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by daan » Wed Dec 12, 2018 7:08 pm

An absolutely great locomotive. As someone said earlier, very tidy and clean built, but still with the looks of a locomotive in active service. The boiler is very controllable indeed, impressive performance as well. Really fun to watch and see it working. Thanks for posting the video, I whish I could smell the coal as well.. :thumbright:
"En schöne Gruess" from an Alpine railway in Holland.

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Dec 20, 2018 4:19 pm

Sometimes it pays off to keep things simple:

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The push rod can now operate the exhaust drain valve leaving my spare Rx channel for adding a servo to the blower (when I find a way to squeeze it all in that is!)

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Big Jim » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:44 pm

I am a firm believer in the KISS school of engineering.
That looks fine like that. Why make work for yourself?
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:24 pm

Testing the valve again on a larger line than my own:


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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by FWLR » Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:58 am

That sure is a mightly impressive loco Tom.

Happy Christmas... :santa: :santa:

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Sat Jan 12, 2019 5:13 pm

As this loco is meant to look like a regular workhorse I have decided to see how I can go about doing this on the working parts of the loco without the use of paint.

First to get the chemical treatment is one of the front cylinder covers:

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I am going to try a different brand of blackener as I want the colour to be darker but at least unlike paint it won't chip or flake off!

This cover has had four extra holes drilled and then these have been tapped to take modified smaller bolts than the ones used to screw into the cylinder itself:

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The covers have not been drilled by me using a hand drill as you can see! New or existing covers can be modified with new scale bolts supplied as shown so if you are interested in having this done PM me for details.

Here's a pic of the same cover fitted to my Silver Lady before I blackened it as a comparison:

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by bambuko » Sat Jan 12, 2019 6:37 pm

That definitely looks more realistic :thumbright:

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by FWLR » Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:18 am

I agree. The toning down has made it a more work like loco.

Did working locos keep their colours. Most photos I see of the old working locos are black/dirty black. But now when you see them on heritage lines, they are coloured, as well as black.

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Big Jim » Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:21 pm

FWLR wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:18 am I agree. The toning down has made it a more work like loco.

Did working locos keep their colours. Most photos I see of the old working locos are black/dirty black. But now when you see them on heritage lines, they are coloured, as well as black.
It depended on where they were and who looked after them and possibly what time period. Some industrial engines were kept very spivved up for all their working lives in some rather fetching colours. Some were kept going with a wing and a prayer and ended up looking black even if their might have been another colour under the grime.

I suspect that for many industrial concerns the option to take an engine out of service for a repaint was probably not an option.
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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Big Jim » Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:22 pm

Stunning work on the cylinder end caps Tom. That makes a huge difference.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:33 pm

Big Jim wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:22 pm Stunning work on the cylinder end caps Tom. That makes a huge difference.
Ideally, using studding and nuts would look better but as yet I have not managed to source scale looking metric nuts to suit.

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Big Jim » Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:21 pm

I think to get the scale look, you would have to make them yourself.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Jan 13, 2019 10:14 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:33 pm
Big Jim wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:22 pm Stunning work on the cylinder end caps Tom. That makes a huge difference.
Ideally, using studding and nuts would look better but as yet I have not managed to source scale looking metric nuts to suit.
Small sizes, no problem. I have had good service from here

https://knupfer.info/shop/index.php/deu ... stahl.html
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Jan 13, 2019 10:21 pm

Looks much better, well done. I reckon I am going to do the same to my loco
I used 10BA studs and nuts for the steam chests and I wish I had done this for the cylinder covers, next time.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:39 pm

You little ripper Dazza :thumbup:

Will post when I get it all fitted!

Looking to do the same with the top cylinder covers so watch this space...

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Fri Jun 14, 2019 8:05 pm

I tried the supplier Dazza mentioned a while back but the metric nuts were quite large in thickness.

As Jimbo mentioned you would have to make your own to achieve a scale look when using metric threads.

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:30 am

Thanks Ian.

'Smokey Sophie' has moved on to a new railway to help fund my 5" gauge adventure. The new railway is currently in development and as the owner and I have become friends (and his dog who supervised the sale while keeping Milo in check, I think he was quite taken with her) I may see the loco running again on this much larger railway unlike my former line!

If you want to go coal firing in this scale then you cannot go wrong with a Riverdale boiler and Roundhouse chassis.

I hope the thread has been of interest to those who have followed it and I have certainly learned loads along the way.

Cheers,

Tom

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by DonW » Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:45 pm

Very interesting build and a great result. I noted the discussion about the boiler only having two tubes. I have to hand a DJB bolier to fit on an edrig chassis ( job awaiting proper workshop set up) which has four slightly smaller tubes. All we need is for someone to make two otherwise identical boilers fitted to two identical chassis to see whether there are any benefits in the size and number of tubes. I doubt there will be a rush of volunteers.

Don

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Re: Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:41 pm

The Riverdale boiler due to only having two flues has more space for water and doesn't require an axle pump as it can carry enough water for a decent run. The large flues allow the blower to be very effective!

Together with a deep firebox and large lubricator runs of over 20 minutes are possible without having to attend to the fire or adding water.

It is the best coal fired boiler in 16mm and 7/8ths scale in my opinion.

Tom

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