The Development of the WLR

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
User avatar
Lonsdaler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 9:50 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:01 pm

Instead of cladding the boiler with wood, which will be difficult, given the domed roof, what about cladding it with brickwork instead, constructing a brick dome over the boiler? That laser cutter really is a marvellous tool - I particularly like the moulding you've produced for the water tanks. :D
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:40 pm

Lonsdaler wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:01 pm Instead of cladding the boiler with wood, which will be difficult, given the domed roof, what about cladding it with brickwork instead, constructing a brick dome over the boiler? That laser cutter really is a marvellous tool - I particularly like the moulding you've produced for the water tanks. :D
The boiler is where I've departed from the prototype in the picture, and gone for an uncovered domed boiler. The top is uncovered as per similar Georgian steam engines (take a look at the replica Newcomen engine at the Black Country Museum).

I had a bit of good fortune today - I started engraving the laser cut MDF boiler housing and realised that the burnt edges provided a lovely representation of blue bricks, when contrasted with the engraved away MDF showing through as light brown mortar. The top surfaces (which are un-burnt MDF) have been painted matt black and rubbed back before drying to try and give a similar effect. A bit of a conundrum now is how to achieve this finish on the chimney - the rubbed back matt black looks okay in small areas next to the nice burnt colour but I'm not sure it'll look the part all the way up the chimney. I guess I could just mix up a very dark brown and try to replicate the finish...?

The pattern I have engraved is over scale for bricks, as I was originally going to paint it as stone, but I like the look. In Bristol, there is the 'Black Castle', folly built in the 18th Century using blocks made from slag from the smelting of brass and copper so perhaps I'll say it's built from that!

I think the detail on the boiler top and the firehole door area here really shows how handy the laser cutter is - all built up out of 2d shapes...

106455068_10164254481380497_3863665096899255108_o.jpg
106455068_10164254481380497_3863665096899255108_o.jpg (90.52 KiB) Viewed 6075 times
107085293_10164254482025497_4800355120078723804_o.jpg
107085293_10164254482025497_4800355120078723804_o.jpg (114.21 KiB) Viewed 6075 times
106462083_10164254482835497_4899143928692627770_o.jpg
106462083_10164254482835497_4899143928692627770_o.jpg (101.47 KiB) Viewed 6075 times

A few other little details added such as pipes to the cooling water tank, and some weathering here and there.

107025712_10164254482405497_4520721750978545439_o.jpg
107025712_10164254482405497_4520721750978545439_o.jpg (144.84 KiB) Viewed 6075 times
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:38 pm

That's about it for now until I come to install it on the line and do t[video][/video]he 'groundwork' - have to say, I'm well chuffed with how this has come out...

I achieved a passable match to the burnt edges of the MDF of the firebox casing on the chimney using quick drying matt black (blackboard) paint. I dry brushed it on, then rubbed it back with a tissue/my fingers to make it less dark. When dry, the bricks were then engraved, and finally it was all shellacked to a) stain the engraved bits, and b) after rubbing back with my fingers to give it a satin-y finish. I did two sides and got bored - need to finish the other bits tomorrow...

The motor is a 1.5-3v one, running via a 12v Hornby controller. The finesse of control just isn't there are I'm running so near the bottom of the power range. I think I shall have to hunt around for either a 6/12v version of the motor, or one with greater gear reduction - anyone have one knocking about that may replace this one? This is 30:1.

Onto the next project now!

106913483_10164258372280497_5191089157980225506_o.jpg
106913483_10164258372280497_5191089157980225506_o.jpg (160.53 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
107102640_10164258373245497_5934378765992708051_o.jpg
107102640_10164258373245497_5934378765992708051_o.jpg (143.67 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
107094325_10164258372875497_8012074297362740393_o.jpg
107094325_10164258372875497_8012074297362740393_o.jpg (151.67 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
106675162_10164258370120497_5264754469624305772_o.jpg
106675162_10164258370120497_5264754469624305772_o.jpg (116.66 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
106494893_10164258370525497_1206130453626378051_o.jpg
106494893_10164258370525497_1206130453626378051_o.jpg (125.33 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
106531870_10164258371495497_712639103385825655_o.jpg
106531870_10164258371495497_712639103385825655_o.jpg (121.58 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
106619368_10164258371050497_6185748935104689556_o.jpg
106619368_10164258371050497_6185748935104689556_o.jpg (119.19 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
107475271_10164258371750497_5397169938935863452_o.jpg
107475271_10164258371750497_5397169938935863452_o.jpg (90.99 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
106702511_10164258373945497_7465637975137363194_o.jpg
106702511_10164258373945497_7465637975137363194_o.jpg (122.59 KiB) Viewed 6051 times
And a few videos...








Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by Peter Butler » Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:00 am

Wonderful work all round, especially the woodwork! Great detailing with the pipes etc. You might find a Lego motor would be a better option, easy to gear down to a suitable speed and much quieter.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:50 am

Peter Butler wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:00 am Wonderful work all round, especially the woodwork! Great detailing with the pipes etc. You might find a Lego motor would be a better option, easy to gear down to a suitable speed and much quieter.
Thank you Peter! I like working with real wood, it saves a lot of hassle painting - I don't like hanging around waiting for paint and glue to dry, I soon get fed up and bored of the project then! To that end, I've always got plenty of quick drying matt black paint, quick drying oak stain, superglue, and shellac about - you can get by with most things with that!

I've had a look on MFA's website and they produce motors of the same footprint and mounting arrangement as this, but with different gear ratios and suitable for different voltages, so (although there are other benefits that you mention) I'm loathed to go away from this type - as you can see, it's all pretty tight in there, and a drop in replacement would be ideal! Re. noise and so forth, it probably won't actually get used all that often, more of a "yes, the coal mine does work" when visitors are around!
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by FWLR » Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:41 am

Impressive build. I like it.

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by ge_rik » Sat Jul 04, 2020 7:43 am

Looks really good and nicely weathered....

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
Lonsdaler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 9:50 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:36 am

steamyjim wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:40 pm
Lonsdaler wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:01 pm Instead of cladding the boiler with wood, which will be difficult, given the domed roof, what about cladding it with brickwork instead, constructing a brick dome over the boiler? That laser cutter really is a marvellous tool - I particularly like the moulding you've produced for the water tanks. :D
The boiler is where I've departed from the prototype in the picture, and gone for an uncovered domed boiler. The top is uncovered as per similar Georgian steam engines (take a look at the replica Newcomen engine at the Black Country Museum).
I looked back at your earlier post and realise I've misunderstood about the cladding. The brick effect is very effective, and prototypical too. Been a long time since I've been to the Black Country Museum. I started my working life just up the road in 'Dudlay' - had to learn the local patois very quickly :lol: Now living in North Yorshire, it seems I haven't completely lost the accent, so my friends tell me anyway! :roll:
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:44 pm

Next! The coal mine needs a ventilation system, so I've gone for a great big fan, and as it's a Georgian mine, it's going to be powered by a Trevithick dredger engine as in the Science Museum. Motor to be hidden either under the engine or in the fan - the design is still rather fluid at the moment!

The next logical step is to put a similar model on wheels and have a 16mm scale model of Catch Me Who Can?... (or indeed any sort of Georgian locomotive).

Currently the bearing surfaces are wood on steel (except the crankshaft) - not sure how well this is going to last, perhaps okay considering it won't get used very often. Certainly, if I was building a locomotive like this I'd enlarge the conrods a tad and add brass bushings.

107370742_10164263006975497_8928005238518011831_o.jpg
107370742_10164263006975497_8928005238518011831_o.jpg (128 KiB) Viewed 5992 times
107099334_10164263007575497_5376531465231334739_o.jpg
107099334_10164263007575497_5376531465231334739_o.jpg (107.21 KiB) Viewed 5992 times
106901645_10164263007275497_8171070892874194855_o.jpg
106901645_10164263007275497_8171070892874194855_o.jpg (134.1 KiB) Viewed 5992 times
106789364_10164263008960497_4613966885776201943_o.jpg
106789364_10164263008960497_4613966885776201943_o.jpg (149.68 KiB) Viewed 5992 times
107447537_10164263008525497_6639460034764122092_o.jpg
107447537_10164263008525497_6639460034764122092_o.jpg (141.96 KiB) Viewed 5992 times
106799370_986074755177356_7772227240500704511_n.jpg
106799370_986074755177356_7772227240500704511_n.jpg (46.78 KiB) Viewed 5977 times

The prototype...

106714515_10164263009185497_1026136753123682935_o.jpg
106714515_10164263009185497_1026136753123682935_o.jpg (92.47 KiB) Viewed 5992 times

It all goes around too!


Last edited by steamyjim on Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:52 pm

Lonsdaler wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:36 am
steamyjim wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:40 pm
Lonsdaler wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:01 pm Instead of cladding the boiler with wood, which will be difficult, given the domed roof, what about cladding it with brickwork instead, constructing a brick dome over the boiler? That laser cutter really is a marvellous tool - I particularly like the moulding you've produced for the water tanks. :D
The boiler is where I've departed from the prototype in the picture, and gone for an uncovered domed boiler. The top is uncovered as per similar Georgian steam engines (take a look at the replica Newcomen engine at the Black Country Museum).
I looked back at your earlier post and realise I've misunderstood about the cladding. The brick effect is very effective, and prototypical too. Been a long time since I've been to the Black Country Museum. I started my working life just up the road in 'Dudlay' - had to learn the local patois very quickly :lol: Now living in North Yorshire, it seems I haven't completely lost the accent, so my friends tell me anyway! :roll:
I'm rather pleased with how the brickwork came out - I'd been fretting about it beforehand! The Black Country Museum is always worth a visit, although I believe their Newcomen engine is currently out of commission requiring work.
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Mon Jul 06, 2020 12:25 am

A bit more painting needed, quarter the crankshaft correctly and to sort out the drive system, but that's the Trevithick engine done for the coal mine. I've backed myself into a bit of a corner with motor/gearbox/drive options...

I think I'm going to use one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Miniature-12 ... Swvg9Xe8ac

But I can only fit gears of 1/2" dia or smaller in the space available, so still trying to track something suitable down. Rik, if you're reading this, where did you source the bevel gears for your railcar build please?

The easier solution would be to hide the motor in the fan and have that drive the engine, but think I'm going to build a version on wheels too so it's worth proving motor mounting out out with this. Should be able to knock most of it out pretty quickly now it's all designed!

There was a video, but YouTube have blocked it on copyright grounds for the music on the radio that was playing in the background...

Square nuts made from card...

107104059_10164268258575497_4435889427654162177_o.jpg
107104059_10164268258575497_4435889427654162177_o.jpg (111.56 KiB) Viewed 5203 times

A coat of paint...

107181416_10164268260740497_8323385037366209200_o.jpg
107181416_10164268260740497_8323385037366209200_o.jpg (94.37 KiB) Viewed 5203 times
106986752_10164268259055497_7051772148697570607_o.jpg
106986752_10164268259055497_7051772148697570607_o.jpg (120.54 KiB) Viewed 5203 times
106987996_10164268260030497_4819993631413805234_o.jpg
106987996_10164268260030497_4819993631413805234_o.jpg (118.22 KiB) Viewed 5203 times
107012903_10164268260420497_4085702015941733705_o.jpg
107012903_10164268260420497_4085702015941733705_o.jpg (121.84 KiB) Viewed 5203 times
107091287_10164268259420497_4027343257778729944_o.jpg
107091287_10164268259420497_4027343257778729944_o.jpg (120.17 KiB) Viewed 5203 times
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by ge_rik » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:53 am

Looks great, even better now it's been painted.

I believe I got the bevel gears from MFA Como
https://www.mfacomodrills.com/pdfs/918D ... es-PDF.pdf

But I've also used Technobots in the past, so I might have got them there
https://www.technobotsonline.com/plasti ... gears.html

I can recommend both sources

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by FWLR » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:43 am

What a brilliant build... Well done.

I like the nut idea out of card, what thickness is it :?:

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by Peter Butler » Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:07 am

I love these early, Victorian style, engineering developments and structures, and you are making a superb job of building them.
Attached is a link to a 00 scale model railway, built by Mike Sharman, which includes incredible scratch-built locomotives and stock. It shows all kinds of lineside accessories of the period which could be incorporated into a 16mm scale layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pquYCNKQy70
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:40 pm

ge_rik wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:53 am Looks great, even better now it's been painted.

I believe I got the bevel gears from MFA Como
https://www.mfacomodrills.com/pdfs/918D ... es-PDF.pdf

But I've also used Technobots in the past, so I might have got them there
https://www.technobotsonline.com/plasti ... gears.html

I can recommend both sources

Rik
Thankyou! I'll have a hunt about...
FWLR wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:43 am What a brilliant build... Well done.

I like the nut idea out of card, what thickness is it :?:
Thankyou!

The card was the first box I could lay my hand on in the workshop! I measured it today and it's 0.5mm thick. I also made the ribs on the cylinder of the Newcomen engine with it. The squares and circles were cut using the laser cutter, but I'm sure you'd find a leather punch that'd knock out the circles if you were to use the idea.
Peter Butler wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:07 am I love these early, Victorian style, engineering developments and structures, and you are making a superb job of building them.
Attached is a link to a 00 scale model railway, built by Mike Sharman, which includes incredible scratch-built locomotives and stock. It shows all kinds of lineside accessories of the period which could be incorporated into a 16mm scale layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pquYCNKQy70
There's some wonderfully bizzare machines to take inspiration from in that period. That layout is a cracker, some fantastic details on it. That era is a very bright and colourful period, and everything is very pretty. Interesting to see widespread use of traversers in that period. I love the broad gauge on there too - would really like to run broad gauge in the garden! How I would love to see one of the replica broad gauge locos hammering down a good length of track!
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:50 pm

Didn't achieve a lot today - got this quartered up properly (the crank disk was slightly loose on the bush which was causing it to keep slipping) and with a drop of oil turns over lovely and smoothly.



And had a bit of a measure up of the available space to make a few modifications to the machine shop ready for laser cutting tomorrow...


Capture3.JPG
Capture3.JPG (62.42 KiB) Viewed 5057 times
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:37 pm

A bit of progress today. Had to tweak the permanent way a tad to get things to line up! I think the building that is still mocked up in card will be shortened an inch and narrowed by half inch to give a touch more clearance. I'm going to embed this section in cement like the engine shed so I want to be sure of clearances!

The tops of the buildings will stay removable with the roofs to allow lighting to be fitted. Talking of lighting, I'm planning to have the option to switch over to steam generated electricity to run the lights around the railway, but I need to clear the railway a bit further to get to that section of the line!

I wonder how you'd go about 'covering' the buildings. I'm probably going to do the lower section in blockwork like the engine shed, but I'm undecided on the upper section between wood panelling or blockwork.

Before I go making a set, does anyone have a set of level crossing gates they'd like to sell?
107403159_10164278086490497_443790394062983208_o.jpg
107403159_10164278086490497_443790394062983208_o.jpg (118.96 KiB) Viewed 5020 times
107379448_10164278087220497_3672495412243494785_o.jpg
107379448_10164278087220497_3672495412243494785_o.jpg (115.52 KiB) Viewed 5020 times
107600614_10164278086775497_4739899334099926417_o.jpg
107600614_10164278086775497_4739899334099926417_o.jpg (109.67 KiB) Viewed 5020 times
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by ge_rik » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:41 pm

I love the notion of steam powered electricity ......
But then, thinking about it, apart from renewables, I suppose the rest of our national grid is steam powered ...... 🤔

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:57 pm

Not a lot of progress as I was waiting on various bits to be delivered, and I've run out of suitable fence panelling to make block work out of, so I've been getting on with a few of my toy steam projects instead.

Anyway, today I got both sides of the fan casing planked and stained - tomorrow I'll add some beading to hold it all together and suss out what to do with the outside face.
109527522_10164307446410497_268830394244142330_o.jpg
109527522_10164307446410497_268830394244142330_o.jpg (135.73 KiB) Viewed 4926 times

The motor and bevel gears to power it have also turned up...

108230396_10164307446150497_5099313899420628166_o.jpg
108230396_10164307446150497_5099313899420628166_o.jpg (99.07 KiB) Viewed 4926 times
Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

steamyjim
Retired Director
Retired Director
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:19 pm

Re: The Development of the WLR

Post by steamyjim » Tue Jul 14, 2020 6:23 pm

A productive day - major work on the mine ventilation engine and fan done. Detailing to be added tomorrow.

I may yet replace the motor with a lower geared one so I can run the motor at a higher speed. The counterbalance on the flywheel is 180 degrees out - perhaps positioning this correctly and adding some weight to it will help too.

109696247_10164310688440497_5006585155457770358_o.jpg
109696247_10164310688440497_5006585155457770358_o.jpg (152.81 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
109789411_10164310688150497_5177446670753165285_o.jpg
109789411_10164310688150497_5177446670753165285_o.jpg (149.76 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
109725960_10164310688305497_3181614868196700450_o.jpg
109725960_10164310688305497_3181614868196700450_o.jpg (165.44 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
108939855_10164310689145497_2830560292443923094_o.jpg
108939855_10164310689145497_2830560292443923094_o.jpg (122.53 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
108777813_10164310688720497_6517896828598459184_o.jpg
108777813_10164310688720497_6517896828598459184_o.jpg (126.5 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
108634965_10164310689350497_3376218356871434460_o.jpg
108634965_10164310689350497_3376218356871434460_o.jpg (70.99 KiB) Viewed 4888 times
109685048_10164310689685497_4395371427232906371_o.jpg
109685048_10164310689685497_4395371427232906371_o.jpg (115.77 KiB) Viewed 4888 times

And a video...


Check out my steam and engineering youtube channel at...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vX4P ... _PnvhldjjA

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests