April, May, June 2015 production photos...

That's great news...thanks...

ok, last weeks photos...

as promised, the 2inch name rings. i should get these drilled over the next couple of days...



more 2inch parts. the finished chimney bases...



first two ops of the smoke box hinge...



and more front forks...



the SCC cylinder blocks are back on. this time the second face...



and the drive cogs ready and packed...



and i've just finished the key-way guides in these ones...



no, this is not a digestive !! its the 6inch foden pressure gauge plinth...



and last off, 1000's of rivet nuts...

Are the 2" Burrell name rings ready for dispatch yet ?
Thanks

yes, they were ready last wednesday !!!!

oh, and i forgot to post up last weeks pics, sorry peeps, will get it done tonight

last weeks photos...

just started work on these, the 6inch foden brake shoes...



these are gonna take some time...



another long running job is a batch of a few hundred showmans valve rods...



just starting on the 2inch name ring boss. more on these at the end of this week...



showmans brake wheels, also used on the 4inch wagon...





and another batch of boilers fresh from pressure testing...



next time i'll have more news on the SCC cylinder block as Mark is setting them up on the 4th axis machine, basicly doing about 5 ops in one go !!!

Is that a 4.5 Foden Boiler i can see perched on the end there

yes, it is

Lovely to see all the progress, theres always something going on! But where are we at with the first batch 6" Fodens?

They should have been finished last year if the original schedule had been followed, but understandably as a first time kit delays have occurred as things have needed to be corrected or taken longer than expected. Thats all part and parcel of the job

However earlier in the year it was suggested we'd be out steaming this season. At present I see lots of bits for the second batch going through but nothing for the first lot. Its very frustrating sitting here with a Foden that basically needs a few pipes an injector and safety valves to steam and wondering if we'll get it out in steam this year. In February we booked it in for an event in June, we've cancelled that now. I'm wondering if it'll be safe to enter it for Old Warden in September. My sister and her other half have of late put a tremendous amount of effort into getting the thing ready to go out and are fairly downcast about the current state of affairs

Please could we have an official line on when we can expect the final kits?

Do you know when the foden boilers will be ready for dispatch, last time spoke to dean he said he was hoping for this month

to reply to your questions... i really only get the information on the next 3 or 4 kits to make, i don't know about long term schedules. i would suggest you phone or Email

this weeks photos...

a better photo of the two inch name rings, showing the various stages of production...



and i've tried to get a closer shot of the 6inch foden rear brake shoes...



this is the contact pad that goes on the end of them...



weld prep on the 6inch foden boiler fire door surround...



more latch pin plates for the wagon...



and the bulk item on the bar-feeder this week is pipe nuts...



and the progress shots on the SCC cylinders. now on the 4th axis, we can do five separate faces in one operation. this runs for two hours per block and took mark the best part of two days to set up, including fixtures. these photos show the 5 areas worked on...

Thanks for the pics Craig! Interesting to see the blocks on the machine.

it's June already !!!!!

here's the latest photos...

to carry on from last week, the next op on the SCC cylinder blocks is to mill a 1 degree angle on the saddle !!!!????



the next op on the 6inch foden brake shoes is the pivot point...



an the showmans valve rods are freed from the material...



showmans steering wheels...



2inch burrell rear hubs cut from solid in two halves...



and the 2inch smoke-box and smoke-box ring have been started...



first op on the normal lathe...





and then onto the new Hass machine where the turning will be finished and all the holes drilled...

Hi Craig.
Great looking photos, always intresting to see how things are made.

Any news on the 4.5inch Foden parts out of intrest?

Phil.

last weeks photos...

the 6inch brake shoes are on the 4th axis for drilling...



and the brake shoe pivot pins...



brake arms...



and adjuster...



2inch smoke-box...



and smoke-box doors...



and 4inch hinges...

last weeks photos...

the last of the 2inch kit 3 parts, the door ring...



SCC cylinders almost done on the machines...







4inch foden boilers on the mill...



and more work on the 6inch foden brake kit...

Thank you for the update Craig, Its nice to see some progress on the Foden boilers been looking forward to this part since dean was on about it back in April, Will the inspection hatch on the top be a fake or will it actually be removable to inspect the inside of the boiler

Russ

Any update on Kit 4 availability for the 2" Burrell ?

Hi Russ,

I think you'll find the "inspection plate" on these boilers is only for show, ie it's fake!!.... At this scale it's really too small to act as an effective inspection hole, plus it would add considerably to boiler manufacturing costs & it's another place for leaks!! So best kept a fake!!

Regards,
Tony

Hi all,
Mine's is real - but not a great deal of use and an awkward bu**er to remove/replace
Awra Best
Tom

Thanks for that Tom, It may be awkward when assembled but for winter maintanance and cleanign of the boiler does it not make it easier to do

Russ

only if you remove all the motion guards, crosshead guides, regulator, connecting rods and valve gear.

If you don't remove you mudhole for your boiler inspection you need to change boiler inspectors because he isn't carrying out a thorough inspection of the pressure vesel!!! Models are an awkward thing to keep the boilers clean especially if you dont wash it out right. Not washing though the top mudhole will leave a tremendous amount of scale round the tube nest and over the firebox crown. Speaking from experience of a 4 inch foster a 4 1/2 burrell that we have put a new boiler on, both were full of scale most od the way up the sides of the firebox. Plus our Aveling roller always gets a bloody good wash out. KEEP THEN CLEAN GUYS!! They will soon fill up with shit and you will never shift it.

jamie

some photos from last week...

the SCC cylinder blocks were finished packed and sent out...



the 6inch foden brake kit is just about ready to go. putting the brake arms on the shaft...





brake adjuster clevis..



brake arm cams...



and pins...





and 2inch wagon wheel hubs...

Speaking as a total "non expert" on the subject, I seem to remember people using "endoscopes" to do the internal inspections, which actually will give better overall results than just checking through the "mud hole" plate!!

However, I'm sure Jamie is correct in all the other observations regarding proper washing out of the boiler & the way the "crud" builds up inside the various parts of the boiler!... Tis a universal problem, particularly with steel boilers!

Regards,
Tony

Thanks for the updates craig, hows the 4.5 Foden Boilers looking any news on a rough delivery date,

Yes Tony they do use a endoscope for internal inspections, i hava friend who has a model works burrell and there is a bung in the front of the smoke box that is removed for a inspection

Russ