greenglade

Hi everyone, yes I know, it's been a while...my apologies for providing no updates since early October and being quiet about it. Some of you guys will know the reasons why, but without going into detail my health took a dive last October which meant I couldn't do any machining and nor could I drive. Things have improved and I now feel able to continue with 4472, I've even been for a drive too, things must be looking up... Ok, so to business, in the last update I said that the next part would be the radius rods and so they are. This is a reasonably short update for me as I ease myself back into the task at hand. It's a good start though and the critical parts have been worked out and machined. i also hope to in the near future cover the making of the ashpan which will be made from 1.5 mm stainless steel. considering how much swarf I'll be making for the next stage of the radius rods I'm very much looking forward to being able to do a little fabricating for a change. Thanks for looking in chaps... 4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/radius-rods/ Pete

Of course, Richard I'll show a few to give some idea of the work involved... As with everything that I build there will be an awful lot of extra detail, to help with this I have added the excellent PE kit by Pontos which has 1000's of small etched parts along with complete rebuilds of many major parts from the kit. This PE kit was made with close consultation with the HMS Hood Association for the latest info on the ship as sunk in 1941. On top of this I will be adding a lot of scratch built parts. Some of the extra work involved remodeling the hull plating to be more too scale, hawser pipes, portholes repositioned etc. .. the list of extra work is pretty extensive. Currently, I am making the PE bulwark (hull sides between main deck and shelter deck) which will box in the main deck under the shelter deck area. I hope that the photos give some idea of what the model will look like, I have ordered a large custom built case which should be delivered during the next few weeks. Once I have this and the model is screwed down to the base I can start adding the finer detail as it will be protected from dusk by the glass case. Kind regards Pete

Hi Tiger I am ok thanks, had a set back with one of my eyes so been resting up a little. Having said that what do I do to help relax, go back to doing a little more work on my 1/200 model of Hood', the parts are tiny and really testing my eyesight, at least I have been sitting down in comfort while watching TV...:) Hope to get back to 4472 in the next few weeks, have an appointment with Moorefield's next Thursday, we shall see what they say.. Kind regards Pete

Evening all, tonight I have the union links, these have taken much longer than they should have, purely as I had to wait 10 days for a suitable woodruff cutter, the first company failed, sending me an email a few days after ordering to say they were out of stock and not expecting any new for 4 -6 weeks?? The next company I heard nothing from, contacted them yesterday, promised to call back, and didn't but did send a confirmation email of the order? The cutter arrived this morning so good on them for realising they had clearly forgotten my order and swallowing the cost to send it out next day delivery. So that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it... here's the link http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/union-links/ Pete

Evening chaps/chapesses Tonight I cover the making of the combination levers, I am beginning to run out of motion parts to make although those few parts that are left won't be a five-minute job to machine, however, I am getting closer to that all-important milestone of running on air, assuming she will actually run that is?...:) It will probably be the union link next plus all the required pins but I have some things to do first in preparation for making the ashpan which means the boiler needs to be removed. This is no bad thing as it needs to come off anyway so that I can remove the running boards to fit the now finished combination levers.... it seems that there is no end to how many times the model needs to be taken apart...:) http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/combination-lever/

Today I have played around with balancing the chassis and have to say that I am very happy with how this has worked out. The model is now getting pretty close to the correct scaled percentage weights for each axle. I could take it further, perhaps even getting it spot on but see no need as the weight will continue to change and grow by a fair amount before the model is complete. I'll do the final tweaks when finished, the important thing is that the weighbridge and adjustments to the springs have proved themselves very able to hit the required targets when that time comes. I have given full details in the blog, hope it's of interest... http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/locomotive-weighbridge/ Pete

good day all, last time I posted I said that I was going to spend some time weighing the axles to get the model close to the prototype percentage-wise as a baseline. I haven't finished yet but am getting close with mainly the rear and main driving axles needing attention. Once those are closer I'll then measure each wheel independently to get the axles balanced on each side. I have filmed another video showing the weighbridge in action, if you compare the last readings with the targets given in my last post, I hope you can see that I'm going in the right direction. Pete

Evening all.. I've decided that my next task is to set the chassis up as well as I can at this stage in the build, there will be a fair bit more weight added but it shouldn't involve too much work in adjusting the springs to suit. Going by the current weighbridge results I have a fair amount of playing around to get the chassis balanced. Why do this now I hear? simple, during transit on Saturday I broke a top leaf spring on the left-hand side trailing axle. All my own fault, I had tightened the spring hangers to the max to bring the weight down at the rear for when fitting the pistons/rods so that I could roll the chassis without needing to push down hard on the rear to get the chassis level, what I forgot to do was loosen the springs when the boiler was fitted and thus putting them under a lot of stress, with zero movement left in the spring during transit it was inevitable that hitting the first pothole would not end well. Some may recall that I have slowly been replacing steel for Tufnol on the rear Cartazzi springs as the weight increased and I had a better idea of how much springing I need. Going back even further into the build when the springs were first made, it took over 100lb to get the springs to sit at their ride height, clearly, the springs were far too strong but I left for the reason above. So with all the weight greatly increased and suffering a broken spring ( only took an hour to make a new one and it could be fitted without removing anything else) it is time to get the chassis close to balanced and going by the results today, it has a long way to go. This picture is weighbridge MK2, nothing wrong with the first except for me leaving it outside in the rain resulting in the screen no longer working, I could still see the weight via Bluetooth but wanted the screen to be working too. I have made better use of the original casing this time around but the basic design is the same as before. I have made better rising plates which now have a machined recess so that they locate better on the weighing plate, as with before, with two plates fitted this weighs the axle, remove one plate to weigh the opposite wheel to it alone. I have the prototype's axle weights from one of my reference books which I then scaled against the model's total weight against the known axle % rates Prototype weights are engine 92 tons Front bogie 17 ton Leading driver 20 tons main driver 20 tons rear driver 20 tons trailing axle 15 tons percentage split, 18.5%, 21.7%, 21.7%, 21.7% and 16.3% respectively using the above percentage splits and a little maths I can get a ballpark figure for the model model weight (currently) is total of 231.4 lbs (more than I had thought, this makes the boiler alone over 90lbs empty, IIRC the volume is 9 Ltrs full, so nearly 20 lbs with perhaps 15-16 lbs running weight) Front bogie leading-axle 33.8 lbs Front bogie trailing axle 35.8 lbs leading driver 20.8 lbs main driver 27.8 lbs rear driver 69.4 lbs trailing axle 43.8 lbs What I need to find with the current total weight approx is front bogie (total weight) 42.8 lbs leading driver 46.28 lbs main driver 46.28 lbs rear driver 46.28 lbs Trailing axle 37.71 lbs So I have a bit of work ahead of me in adjusting the spring rates to get them closer to those above. At least when looking at the current axle weights and noting how tail heavy the loco currently is I can understand why the trailing axle spring failed when it had been left badly adjusted at full deflection, it's not surprising that the top leaf snapped on one side. I should also add that my son's van is lowered with large alloy wheels and the side nearest the loco's broken spring has its own suspension issues with a damaged spring resulting in it sitting lower that side. Something that I wasn't aware of at the time of loading and had secured the loco down on that side as it was the opposite side to the driver and thus trying to equal the weight and also following good practice and not sit with a heavy weight behind me. This info isn't on the blog, two reasons, one where the server is located is having some maintenance by Virgin and thus it's down and two I have been asked to do an article covering the weighbridge for the mag which will be in much more detail and will hopefully include the final measurements and pictures of the weighbridge construction. Hope this is of interest, it's very much early days and the final figures will change. The current weight shows that the model is certainly going to weigh a fair bit more than Don's design, at 231 lb now ( design weight with tender is listed at 230lb), and with still a lot more parts to be added she's not going to be light. All those extra details and the modified boiler will see to this for sure.. Pete

a short video Just to show that gravity sanders do work in 5" even on a dreadfully wet and damp day...:) Pete

good day all A few photo's from yesterday's club event, managed to take these during the short breaks between the rain when the sun did show itself... Pete

Hi guys I have now got the model to where I can say she's ready for the event tomorrow, since it's a given that these photo's will all show upside down I won't post the actual photos, if like me it probably does your head in trying to look at them. However, all is not lost, I also filmed a short video shows the details with another walk around. I think it's safe to say the video link will be the right way up...:) pete

Reassembly continues.. only one photo worth showing today but it does mean another tick in a box. After having a great day at the club, after returning home I found a couple of hours tonight to do a little more. I had to remove the upper running boards as I had forgotten to screw the saddle down, it's a pretty tight fit anyway but playing safe I have fitted a couple of screws on either side for peace of mind. After replacing the boards I then fitted the main steam pipe covers, as with most of the other reassembled parts I have only used a few screws.. no point in a total screw down as it's all got to come off again. I also paid a little more attention to the cab, I thought it would be a nice touch to give the roof a coat of satin black, it will be redone properly when I finish the cab (lots of detail work to be done there still) but it adds a little definition to the cab rather than just grey all over. Things are looking promising for Saturday, the weather is a concern as although the motion has been oiled the model is far from protected from the elements. George the organiser for this year has kindly offered to find a place for the model up at the station where it will be under cover. The added bonus to this idea is that it won't get covered in ash like in previous years from sitting in the steam bay all day... with this, in mind I may take the display track to sit it on, we shall see. So jobs lefty to do tomorrow, fit the cab and connect the two cab levers to their various cables/rods, clean the tender (not touch for a few years and very dusty) touch in a few gloss black marks on the wheel centre's and lastly give the entire model a clean...I think that's everything... Photo for tonight is to show the main steam pipe cover fitted, I have, of course, chosen the R/H side with the ejector elbow for added interest. Pete

Today's progress on reassembly ready for the weekend.. Pete

This one at least should be the right way up...

Thanks, guys.. well, I promised more photos today, this time there are 7 as I try to take various shots down the length of the model plus a couple closer up. I didn't manage to get the smokebox and boiler back on today as hoped but I have been busy nonetheless. Job's done are to finish off the cab side sheets where the draincock and gravity sander bolts go through, these have now all been filled, sanded, and primed. Unlike today there are very few bolts/rivets showing on the outside of the side sheets other than the row below the windows which hold the window runners on. Today, FS seems to be plastered with extra bolts/rivets all over the cab, she was much more a speed machine with little sticking out during the first 15 years of her career. I also painted the steam sander filler tubes which I'll fit tomorrow. I have now fitted most of the small hex 10BA bolts that hold the front running boards on, I haven't fitted all of the 10 BA CSK screws down the length of the running boards yet, I'll leave those until last in case I run out of time. The nameplates have been refitted and for the first time, the now painted/lined cylinder cladding sheets have been fitted. I have touched in some of the marked paintwork but still have more to go, most of the black is done in the various depths of satin shine, there are 3 different levels of satin on the model. I have included a close-up of the nameplate, not to show the plate so much but to point out the brass trim, here you can see how it's not wide enough to cover the splasher trim. My fault as briefed yesterday, all is in hand though and Ed (MEL) will get them sorted once he's back from hols, at least the photo gives an idea of how it will look when fitted with the correct sized trim. All being well I hope to have the boiler refitted tomorrow, we shall see... NB: It seems that I wasn't paying attention when fitting the nameplate, I'll straighten it up tomorrow. I'm afraid the photo's are upside down again..lol... also I can't post all as it goes over the limit....

good evening all.... as mentioned last week I'm hoping to put the model on static display at my club this coming weekend. to do this involves a fair bit of work in not only making the model more presentable but also the time in putting everything back together. As these stages will probably be of more interest than some of the other recent updates I'll post pictures as she comes back together. two for tonight, as can be seen the running boards are back and I have to say the new coat of paint is a massive improvement to last time. I have painted the splashers Doncaster green but alas won't be able to line them before the weekend. i was planning on attaching the brass trim which I'd do before the lining anyway as they give a good guide for the lining. Unfortunately, at the time of discovering that 4472 still had her brass trim in 1938, I ordered extra laser-cut trim without paying much attention to how the parts were to be assembled. The trim fits under the outer shell and thus is not wide enough to use for the brass trim fitted over the inner trim. No big deal, I'll sort this in due course. I have fitted the splashers anyway. Tomorrow I have a hundred or so 10 BA bolts to fit and various other parts, I'll also take a look at the boiler and temporarily fitting the smokebox to it, note the saddle has already been fitted. The lining on the valance is a little heavy, I shall deal with that another time once it's fully cured. I'll hopefully post more pictures tomorrow. Pete

Good evening everyone, tonight's blog entry shows the 2:1 gear temporarily assembled to the frames. Lot's more to do here and only a few of the securing nuts have been fitted but it's good to test fit these parts. Forgive the mess as things are getting very dusty and I have been using the macro lens, a bad idea.... I am hoping to get the model to the club weekend after next for one of the regular annual meets which haven't been allowed since covid so for the next week I'm going to try and reassemble the model and spruce it up a little, trust me, it needs it. http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/valves-spindles-cross-drilled-to-fit-valve-crossheads-valve-guides-painted-and-temporarily-fitted/ Pete

Yes...I bought an all singing, all dancing Samsung 21 Ultra...the macro ability is crazy not that I used it here. They say the camera never lies....as an ex TV/Film man I know this is not true....:)

Hi Tim Not in so much as 'shine', the prototype was burnished steel so they are about right for colour and shine. The photo highlights marks but these are very difficult to see in the flesh...the macro on the camera can be very cruel and exagerates things a lot.....:) There will be hundreds of small jobs to do on completion, if the covers stand out I'll address them then. Kind regards Pete

Evening all... yes I have a proper update, I must be feeling better... this entry covers the fitting of those lovely spun stainless covers that 360spin spun for me. well those and some other important parts, http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/final-fitting-of-pistons-dummy-cotter-joints-cylinder-covers-front-relief-valves-and-stainless-cover-plates-trimmed-and-fitted/ Pete

Morning all.. I'm back in the workshop and trying to get on. One thing that has been in the back of my mind in recent months is how well the loco rolls, yes everything is tight and intentionally so but I was a little concerned by how much force I needed to put on the chassis to keep the wheels turning, you may recall my previous video a few months ago showing this. So to get back into the swing of things I did what I had been meaning to at the time and that was to place the boiler on the chassis and test again. I have a picture and a video to share, the picture shows how much the rear of the model was being lifted at the rear, not so obvious when sitting on rails but very much so when sitting on the wheel flanges. The picture only shows the rear driver but in fact, both the rear and middle drivers were clear of the bench. Now to some extent I was aware of this as I had left the trailing axle springing at what I guessed might be right for when the model is finished, admittedly I hadn't realised it was going to be this bad once the 3 cylinders had been fitted at the front end? I, therefore, today placed the boiler on the chassis and asked my good lady to help film, I must first explain my impressive weight gain, alas right now there's not much that I can do about it, any form of exercise is unwise and strictly advised against in my current state of health, Anyway, enough of my crap, the video hopefully shows that 4472 does roll very nicely thank you...:) https://i.imgur.com/7VECTgt.mp4 Pete

Thank you guys, it really is appreciated.... I must give a big thank you to Craig at '360 Spin' for his superb work in spinning up the two outside cylinder covers for 4472. A perfect fit and they look superb, I couldn't ask for more... http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/cylinder-stainless-cover-plates/ Pete

Good afternoon everyone... first of all my sincere apologies for not publishing a new blog entry since mid-May. Some of you will be aware that my health took a bit of a dive in May and alas hasn't improved much since, going by my time spent in Cardiology it's not likely to get much better either. So I was forced to take a step back with light duties only, I am feeling a little stronger but not much and therefore am trying to get back into the build slowly. To do this I chose some light machining, to begin with, and the rod/slidebar oil pots seemed to fit the bill. So here we are, first blog entry in nearly 8 weeks.. http://4472flyingscotsman.co.uk/rod-and-slidebar-oiling-pots/ Pete

Thanks for the help Terry, I did reply to your msg.. I have corrected the image for the one you supplied.. Thank you Pete

Sorry Terry I've given up trying to get images the right way up on this forum...:) Pete