Lady Anne Kit Build

Discussion of Live Steam locomotives should be located here
Jackf88
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 12:48 pm

Re: Lady Anne Kit Build

Post by Jackf88 » Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:47 am

Ah - makes sense! Just wondered as matey has a slomo in the video about timing! 😊

User avatar
Keith S
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1624
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:44 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Lady Anne Kit Build

Post by Keith S » Tue Jul 17, 2018 6:25 pm

The funny thing about that is that when he made that video, he hadn't released the "slomo" device yet... nor had he mentioned anything about it in any of his videos. I was building a "Billy" kit at the time, and apparently so was he, as he had a few videos of the unfinished loco on Youtube. I was astonished at how well it ran. He commented on having bushed the driving and connecting rods, and some other little improvements but never mentioned the "slomo". By the time his valve-timing video came out, some people were beginning to speculate that he must have some kind of flywheel contraption in there, but he still kept quiet, until the contraption was ready to go to market. In retrospect it was a pretty clever marketing strategy.

I had a difficult time with the timing on my engine, not a terrible time mind, but being a bit obsessive I spent a long time trying to get the exhaust beats right. It turns out I had almost microscopically bent one of the expansion links. I remembered doing this because it was slightly touching the lifting arm. I didn't think it would matter but it did. I readjusted the lifting arm and all was well. Seems silly in retrospect.

The other thing is, one needn't have the die-block all the way up or down in the expansion link. I found my engine ran smoothest with the die-block travel restricted to less than full travel. The reverse lever is set so "forward"and "reverse" are ever so slightly less than full travel.

Seems like you are experiencing a good time building your engine. I think having some engines available as kits is a great service to garden railway enthusiasts, definitely assmbling my own engine was the most rewarding activity and gave me confidence to later modify the locomotive the way I liked. I look forward to seeing yours when you are finished.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests