Western Star Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 (edited) Safety valve castings for engines with top feed are "oval" and arranged long axis (of the oval) across the boiler... castings for engines like 6400 and 4800 are square and might be arranged with the bridges either across or along the boiler axis. I cannot remember how the bolts for fixing the square castings to the boiler casing are arranged and that is the source of the answer to the question. Edited May 20, 2016 by Western Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Im going to bow to the inevitable and turn them through 90 degrees :-) just need a quick drink first, I did a good job of soldering them on :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Ok...couple of glasses of the hard stuff and the safety valves have been tweeked :-) Here are a few pics of a little more progress, boiler hand rails, tank bottom rivet detail, tank top beading in place. Looking at these photos, I can see why this little loco brought me back to steam...... 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 22, 2016 Author Share Posted May 22, 2016 Couldn't resist a quick pose before my layout moves on.... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 I had a break from nickle silver and attacked some plastic today... I fitted a sound decoder in to this little AC rail bus. Should have taken 10 mins, but remember it is a Heljan so took 45!! They kindly provide a tube for the speaker wire to work its way from the decoder in the roof space to the speaker position in the chassis. What they omit is a hole for the wires to come through to attach to the speaker :-( Anyway all done using a different route and had a quick play. To be honest, the sound card doesn't sound much different to my 121 !! Old meets the new.... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) Due to a recurring medical problem, modelling is bumping along slowly :-( Hopefully, things will improve over the next week and I can get stuck in :-) However, she's coming along nicely, the lamp brackets, tool boxes, tool hooks and smoke box pipe covers are on. Edited May 25, 2016 by Mr Grumpy 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 (edited) Just a little more indulgence!! My Lionheart auto trailer arrived today :-) Edited May 27, 2016 by Mr Grumpy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Im still on restricted modelling time, but have made a start detailing the front buffer beam. My Proxxon pillar drill has been a life saver, drilling the multitude of tiny junction boxes attributed to the auto trailer equipment. It's strange that in the photos, the brake stretcher looks out of level, it is in fact perfectly level :-) While on restricted modelling time, I have been researching the Tetbury line. My 64xx that I have bought from MOK, will in fact be built as a 74xx, as there is plenty of photographic evidence of 74s running on the line. So, no auto gear to fit :-) 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 I got the vacuum and steam pipes fitted today. I ran them in copper wire and they both went on very easily. I really enjoyed it! I reluctantly decided not to wrap the steam pipe as I couldn't think of how I would keep the wrapping dry when giving the lock a good wash down. MarkJJ kindly sent me some nuts and bolts for the boiler strap. They are slightly too large, but look very effective. I have all the conduit junction boxes drilled ready to fit but I am dithering on how the conduit should be represented. Looking at photos of the 14xx in service, some of the conduit runs look down right shabby. I shall probably go for something a little tidier though :-) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 The auto train and ATC conduits are on, I couldn't believe it took 6 hours!! I bet if didn't take that long to fit out the real one :-) I also got the cab side window screens, hand brake, ATC bell and a couple of valves fitted. I just realised I have forgotten to fit the hand high level hand rail on the fireman's side. Once I am happy with the fit, I will solder on the boiler and fire box, then I can get the whistles and shield fitted. The back head looks a tad involved ! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAD Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Great build. I like the very nice work on the piping and ATC conduits. Just a cpuple of questions though. I note you have two washout plugs either side of the boiler next to the firebox. I've never noticed that before in photos so was it limited to particular prototypes or more generally applied to the class? Also do you know why they had them in such close proximity? Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) Hi Dave,4866/1450 at Didcot certainly has the two. However, I have seen photos of the14xx with only one washout plug in this position. I toyed between one and two and decided as I had been given lots of detail shots of 4866, I would go with the two.Also as the top feed was introduced, a loco so fitted may then loose the top feed during its next boiler change. I don't think the top feed adds to the aesthetics, so mine won't be so fitted.So perhaps, a loco with two washout plugs may be fitted with a boiler with a single plug and vice versa. The boilers were prone to leaking, so maybe this has some connection with the two wash out plugs ?It would be be interesting to find out, I'm sure someone out there has the answer!! Edited June 6, 2016 by Mr Grumpy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Western Star Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 The boilers were prone to leaking, so maybe this has some connection with the two wash out plugs ? As you say, someone shall know the answer... especially as to your comment about the boilers being prone to leaking - please tell us more! If you omit the top feed from the boiler then you shall have to include the clack boxes on the boiler backhead - we are watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 As you say, someone shall know the answer... especially as to your comment about the boilers being prone to leaking - please tell us more! If you omit the top feed from the boiler then you shall have to include the clack boxes on the boiler backhead - we are watching. Good morning Mr Western Star! I was rather hoping you may come along with the answer From my understanding, because of the duties the locos were rostered to, with lots of starting and stopping and short runs between, this somehow contributed to the leaking boiler problem. The boiler design itself may have contributed as I'm not sure the panniers suffered the same affliction. I had better look up clack valves on my A-Z of back head fittings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K14 Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Good morning Mr Western Star! I was rather hoping you may come along with the answer From my understanding, because of the duties the locos were rostered to, with lots of starting and stopping and short runs between, this somehow contributed to the leaking boiler problem. The boiler design itself may have contributed as I'm not sure the panniers suffered the same affliction. I had better look up clack valves on my A-Z of back head fittings Useful illustration of a backhead-feed Pannier here:— http://modeleng.proboards.com/thread/8680/help-speedy-valve-gear-issues?page=229 Items 8 & 20 are the clacks. See also this photo of 2516:— https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/GWR_Dean_Goods_0-6-0_2516_cab_Swindon_Museum_1975_(10197533613).jpg Much the same general position - shoehorned into about the only space available.. As to the leakage claim, I wonder if it was common amongst backhead-feed locos. Stuffing cold water into one of the hottest parts of the boiler must cause a fair bit of thermal shock, and boring extra holes close to a pressed curve that's already full of holes next to a hole-bestrewn riveted seam won't help either. With top feed the water was passed over long sloping trays, which must have reduced thermal shock considerably. The quality of rural water supplies may well have had an effect too. Pete S. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 Hi Pete, Many thanks for the information! I don't have an excuse for not fitting the valves now :-) Also interesting thoughts on the boiler leakage problem. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daifly Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 2516 more recently! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) Hi Daifly, That's a cracking photo and will be of enormous help!! I realise it isn't quite the same set up as a 1400, but I can get a good gauge of the size of the pipe work. Thanks very much for posting! Edited June 9, 2016 by Mr Grumpy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 (edited) Armed with the relevant back head info, I made a start drilling out all the valves and cutting up some copper wire. The manifold casting is quite intricate and very nicely cast, except that the coach steam heat valve pipe entry is incorrectly placed. (Sorry for the appalling photography) The red arrow shows the pipe entry as cast, the blue arrow shows where it needs to be.... So I cut it off, drilled a 0.5 hole in to the rear of the valve and through the remaining support, pinned and soldered with 227 degree solder for strength in the correct position. Some one will undoubtedly tell me the original position was ok, but from the majority of photos, I don't think it was the normal position. Then I made a start soldering the different sized 'pipe work' in to place. Still a lot to do. I want to fit the washout plugs in the back head followed by the door lever, then spray the front and hopefully solder all the pieces on from the rear quickly without damaging the paint. ....(Clack valves not yet soldered on) Also needs a good clean up!! Hope to complete the back head over the weekend :-) Edited June 10, 2016 by Mr Grumpy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 As the weather was fine, I got the back head painted, then soldered all the bits on. To be fair, I have left of a couple of minor pipes! The pipes to the gauges will be added after the cab is painted. The manifold and regulator are still to be painted, but I couldn't resist a quick try in the cab.....its a bit of a squeeze! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 My loco is ready for the paint shop (garden) but the weather says otherwise :-( 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 I have stripped the chassis, and I'm glad to say my mods all worked and the brakes and rigging all came off as hoped :-) The chassis is now in etched primer and I'll get it painted in a day or so when the primer had done its stuff. In the mean time, I have had a rummage through my kits and decided to have a go at the JLTRT Hymek. I loved these as a child and until I discovered 33/1s pushing their coaches around, were always my firm favourite. Even now, I think the design looks fresh and modern :-) Here's the cabs....it took around 8 labourious hours to get my DJH 47 cabs looking as good as these...... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 I have always been partial to photos of new locos in works grey. Here's mine, but as usual, the primer highlights something missed, such as the mould pips on the buffer stocks.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Ooh! It's so tempting to go 7mm ! Excellent work so far G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grumpy Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Ooh! It's so tempting to go 7mm ! Excellent work so far G I have said it before... resistance is futile! 0 gauge has such a great presence! If I had the room (indoors) I would go for gauge 1!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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