IRIS 4.5 Foden SWB

phil gomez wrote:Hi Russ.
Looking good, but it's a shame you had to fix a problem that should never have happened in the first place (STW).

Steve did say that he would make anew one for me to rectify the problem but as of yet i haven't seen it, so my mate said he would have a play to see if he could help me out and hey presto it worked,
Ive got a lot of catching up to do with my engine, will keep the pictures coming as soon as i have something to update

Russ

Thanks Russ.

Iris has been off her wheels for a few month whilst had a few bits repaired, and had a lot of painting done. She is now back on her wheels with the horn plates fitted rear brake fitted, as well as a lump of wood to hold the steering shaft and two threaded bar links to hold the front axle and stop it flexing forwards and backwards, but still being allowed to flex if she should hit a pot hole. The reason for that is she is off to her first show this weekend and is hopefully going to be towed behind a 4 burrell, I have got the smoke box but unfortunately no boiler to fit it to so i have had to have a towing eye made to fit one of the holes that is on the front of the boiler cradle. Will hopefully get some pictures when out at Whissendine this weekend, but for now here is how she looks now





Russ

Earlier this week i received the boiler, here are some pics of the boiler being lowered in position and resting with one horn plate fixed. I have had to do a little bit of grinding to the steering arm as i have had the same fault that pretty much every Foden builder has had where the arm hits the firebox on left hand lock. Other than that all went well ready for prep and paint hopefully all done for next weekend and cromford steam rally





Russ

Last weekend i attended Cromford steam rally, there were about 5/6 Foden steam lorry's there some modelwork origin some John Rex and one or two other makes, Sunday all the fodens went in together so iris got towed behind a rather nice Half Size Foden C Type



Russ

I have been looking around a few full size and miniature engines and have noticed some have cast chimneys some have riveted ones, I decided that i wanted to have a smooth finish on mine so have done a little bit of modding

The Chimney with out its screws fitted



Three screws fitted and the chimney in place



Top and bottom of the chimney welded and shaped test fitted with the copper top in situe





i have also finally got my rear bras hub caps i made engraved and fitted and they look superb, here si a photo of the front and rear


Rear Wheel


Front & rear

Finally i leave with a question for other Foden Builders, what are your chimney caps made off mine is copper but on other builders photos they look brass??

Russ

I received a kit the other week which consisted of Tie Rod arms, Firebox Door and Ashpan and fire grate, upon test fitting the tie rod arms other than the fact they didn't seem to want to articulate very well with the axle and kept trying to twist the bracket welded on to the boiler, one of the welded ends hadn't been welded on very well and had snapped off (shown in photo). This gave me the chance to do some modding using rose joints attached below is a photo of STW design and my modded one which articulated brilliantly even to the extreme point where when the front end was lifted and the axle dropped on its hangers it still sat properly with no strain on any parts, I have also finished the chimney off i had STW change the copper top for a Brass one as i felt looked better and have also fitted the Coat of arms, the photo was when i had first coated with paint and had a few runs have since rubbed back down and repainted

Looking very nice Russ.
Intresting to see your mod on the tie rods. Glad it worked.
Still waiting for a kit to turn up (any kit will do) the dust is really starting to settle now so no update on Rosie.
Phil.

I like the rebuilt tie rods Russ, I had thought to alter mine. Not for the problem you had but to get the ends at the axle to bend down a little so the steering rod will clear and give another 5 degrees or so of lock. I Are the roses you fitted standard car fittings?

Mike

Hi mike , yes they are just standard 10mm Rose Joints, i purchased from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M10x1-5-Female-Rose-Joint-Right-Hand-RH-Thread-Bronze-Liner-Rod-End-Bearing-10mm-/391005701280?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 , They work wonders and have helped the steering rod clearance

I have welded the nits in place once they were set up made it look tidier and looks like one solid bar again here is the finished article



Russ