Garden Railway Forum

Peter and Andrew. I agree with you both. If it looks fine then it is fine. It looks like the present FR don't have dimensioned plans of the original van 3 anyway. I will show you how I get on when I start it.
David.

Hi all.
Just thought I would update the group on what I have been doing during these long periods in tiers and lockdowns. At the beginning of last year I built a rake of Slaters and scratchbuilt Ffestiniog slate wagons and then a PDF Models De Winton kit that I detailed with wooden boiler cladding and lined it in red and white. I also added a radio control unit from Locoremote. A quarry hunslet kit, also from PDF Models was next but I built a different cab to represent Sextus. I have again used Locoremote for the radio control.
The original loco was bought new in 1896 and worked in the Groby Granite Quarry in Groby in Leicestershire ( 3 miles from me as i write this) for around 25 years.before being sold back to Hunslet where it was reconditioned. It had its cab removed before being sold on to the Dinorwic quarry in North Wales where it was given the new name 'Lady Madcap'. The scattered parts of this loco are now being collected together by members of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway group in Porthmadog with a view to rebuilding. New frames have been made. I look forward to seeing it back in Groby for its 150th birthday perhaps if I last that long :-)
The following photo also shows progress so far on the rolling chassis for my Sentry Box van. Not being one to do things the easy way I am hoping to add opening doors. We shall see. Firstly i have to build the framework for the sides.
David.
Stay safe. (I have my jab booked for this coming Saturday)

Hi all.
I have been working on my brake van body this week and will post a couple of photos later but i thought i would share how i solved a construction problem at the start. I am building the framework for the body from 4mm square stock but however much i would like to joint it together, I think this would be rather difficult and impractical.
Just gluing and butt jointing the pieces together would have very little strength but I wondered if I could add dowels to the joints.
After simple butt jointing i carefully drilled (1mm then 2mm) a 15mm deep hole down through the joint, and then glued and tapped the centre part of a cocktail stick down into the hole. The stick being 2mm in diam. and made from bamboo I think. I then snipped of the excess, sanded it flush and was left with what seems to be a strong joint. David

Great idea David, simple, effective and strong enough to hold its shape.
I hope you are suffering no after effects from you jab.

Hi Peter.
We are fine now but we were both rough on Sunday. It won't stop us having having our second though.
David

Hi all.
Progress to date. I have cut and glued the side frameworks. Also I have made doors to open and trial fitted them. The below photo shows the sides test fitted to the chassis with an elastic band but please be aware nothing has been cleaned up yet.
David.

River Lin wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 4:48 pm please be aware nothing has been cleaned up yet.

Looks brilliant David. I can't see anything that needs cleaning up!

Very neat..... 'tidy' as they say in these parts.

Hi all.
While cutting stripwood for the sides of the van I was wondering on the best way of cutting the angles on both ends of the 12 angled strips either side of the doors. I have a Dremel type machine that takes small sanding disks but I was not sure how I could hold and sand accurately. Looking at Amazon for sanding disk type machines ( other sites are available) I came across the following Poweka belt sander that I went ahead and bought. There were one or two similar to choose from but this one came with 10 belts and a 7 speed power pack. While looking at reviews on Youtube, some cheaper models were only supplied with 1 belt and no power pack. Read the product description carefully. This seemed to be the best of the bunch. I ordered it at 6pm on Friday, (£46.00 postage free,) and it arrived on Saturday after lunch even though I don't have Prime. It is small, only 150mm high, but it has done what I wanted it to achieve admirably.
I have no connection with Poweka, just a happy customer.
David

That brake's looking fantastic David, a real work of art!

Hi David,

I'm really impressed with the build. The jointing method is very good! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the build.

SVLR Andrew

Looking great so far. That belt sander looks tasty! Can you attach a Hoover nozzle somehow? I assume it will make a fair amount of dust.

Rik

River Lin wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:38 pm . I ordered it at 6pm on Friday, (£46.00 postage free,) and it arrived on Saturday after lunch even though I don't have Prime.

I've noticed that. I've ordered a few things from Amazon and spotted there's usually a small free post option on the final page if you ignore all the links to Prime. Although the expected date of delivery is shown around five days to a week later than the Prime delivery date, it usually arrives only a day or two later.

I prefer not to buy from Amazon if I can help it, but sometimes there isn't an alternative.

Rik

Hi Rick.
No way to attach a Hoover I'm afraid as it is totally open.
David.

River Lin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:07 am
No way to attach a Hoover I'm afraid as it is totally open.

Sounds like a job for a 3d printer to create an attachment that clips to one side of the sanding belt.

River Lin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:07 am Hi Rick.
No way to attach a Hoover I'm afraid as it is totally open.
David.
IMG_20210222_090802.jpg

It's a lovely looking little gadget. I'm tempted, but can't really justify owning one for the few occasions when I might have a use for it.

Rik

Hi Rick.
I agree with you entirely about the initial outlay of any tool really. I can justify it to myself by saying the only cost to produce this brake van is the cost of this tool and just paint and a couple of centre buffers as i already have wood, wheels, bearings etc. And i will have the sander to use for future projects. :-)
A few years ago I bought the small Proxxon circular saw, for just over £90, and I have used it so much on projects since and i am still using the 2 blades that came with it.
David.

went and had a look at this linisher, quite nice, however it doesn't mention if the table tilts to sand at angles, of this is achieved by angles on the bench, please can you advise, many thanks.

Hi Jimmy.
If you look at the photo of the machine on my workbench you can see the screw that holds the table to the body. This can be loosened with the supplied Allen key to allow you to tilt the table up and down. I will add a photo in a few minutes.
David.

Hi Jimmy.
The table tilts about 20° up or down.
There are a few different models available and they may be different in this respect. If you decide to buy also be aware that some models come with only one belt and no power pack.
David.