Garden Railway Forum

Definitely a bit different to 16mm, has given me a hankering for something coal fired, just something about that smell...

Boiler test was all good, which was something of a surprise to be honest, so I’m currently cracking on with the smokebox so can get the boiler fitted to the chassis.

Today was a good day, got down the local club on pre-season steam test day, tested my boiler to 120psi for 20mins, all good so pretty chuffed! 68E3674F-1E5F-4744-AC36-3B51284F41C6.jpeg Then got tasked with steaming this for its steam test, bit different to 16mm so that was a learning experience. Eve...

Cracking loco, looks great, you'd never know it was plasticard! What sort of paint did you use, and how did you do the rust? Thanks Tom! It had an undercoat of red primer, which I then brush painted in the areas I wanted to look rusty with rusty brown acrylics. I then stuck some salt to these areas...

They’re the nail art domes someone on here recommended in a thread somewhere. There’s probably a better way to do it, I just drew a line with a pencil and the picked them up with a scalpel blade to superglue on

Thank you, I do like a bit of rust! I agree on the cab, I’ll probably order some detail bits next time I’ve got enough bits together to be worth paying postage!

Ive had a bit of a side project on the go for the last few months and now it’s nearly finished I thought I’d share it on here. It started when I received an ip engineering chassis kit as a Christmas present. I put it together as per the instructions and wasn’t entirely happy, the cranks and rods see...

Maybe something like these could help if you’re not confident soldering the boiler? https://maccmodels.co.uk/product-category/live-steam-fittings/elbows/ I’m not that local unfortunately but happy to help if you wanted to post the bits that need boring. Although I wonder how accurate the meccano bit...

Lovely bit of work that! I really need to work have a look at thread cutting, not 100% happy with the results I’m getting with my tail stock die holder but my lathe doesn’t have a gearbox so it’s a pain setting up when free time is limited!

Thanks for the kind words, I’m lucky enough to know people far more experienced than me to ask for advice when it’s needed!

Finished up the boiler this morning before work, couldn’t resist a quick test fit of all the fittings that have been kicking around in a box since I made them.

Keith, I’m not going to pretend to be knowledgeable on the subject, I just followed the drawings! I would assume the idea is to increase the surface area available for heating water though!

I recently had some bits for my g1 project loco’s boiler laser cut, due to minimum order requirements I have some spares so thought id see if anyone wants them. B43579E4-6BF3-4A01-9E4E-DD9A181DD517.jpeg Smokebox throat plate is sized for a 2” 20 gauge barrel, flue tube is 3/4” and the other 2 holes ...

Bit of progress with the boiler, firebox assembly is soldered up and barrel prepped to accept it, just need to find some time to start soldering them up! I got the plate work for the boiler laser cut to save some time, ie, smokebox tube plate, backhead and throat plate, have some spares if anyone’s ...

Progress has slowed a little due to time and money constraints, still moving along though

Flue tube made up and barrel trimmed to length:
Sandboxes which will be used to mount the running boards

Lovely looking loco! As for the pipe, why not just cut it off and solder a new nipple on? Pressure gauge will sit a little lower but not a big deal? Otherwise you could fit a new nipple and a union to a bit of pipe with a nipple each end?

Axle pump is now fitted with its eccentric and strap B03A4246-F3B2-4FD0-8465-78C5D6E5E373.jpeg And I’m gradually working through boiler fittings, clack valve with bypass, the functional part of the dome, and the regulator/blower valve: 2FAF561E-A398-4F85-BAED-569A1FD4ABF3.jpeg Decided to use hex for...

Lovely, big fan of a schools class!

Axle pump done with its ram and banjos, was a little unsure how much movement the stainless balls were supposed to have, but shoved it in a cup of water and pumped the piston and it it moves water, so assume I guessed right!

Beautiful job, makes my attempt at an eccentric strap look distinctly amateurish!

6457485A-784C-4AC6-8647-F2AE5EF14A1E.jpeg The hex rod was then put back in the lathe and the bores drilled, meaning everything is nice and concentric, after which the assembly was cut off, screwed into another bit of hex threaded 1/4 x 40 and faced off nice and neat. Seems to have worked nicely thu...