Lynn Robinson. Showman Scenic

Petroleum Jelly works very well. Keeps Crystal clean and my hands soft.

Been out tending to Crystal. She is drying out nicely last couple days been plus temperature. The tubular heater arrived today so hope to get the firebox wire brushed out tomorrow. Ash pan back in and the 60W heater installed. Also going to add an earth strap just for safety.

Cleading back on this evening so will be lining it tomorrow. Then that will allow the belly tank back on and the steering. Then she will start to look proper again. Once she is all back together I will get a new set of pictures done outsid on the first dry sunny day. That could be next march for up here.

Hi all

Productive day has today. Got the NTET disc yesterday. Today fixed fathers car again. Simple one this time alternator belt renew on a 95 Astra 1.7 diesel. Then time spent with Crystal

Cleading, brass rings back on. Time to line out. Once one of my solid state PCs finishes uploading the videos. I will link them in as they show me doing the lining.

Had a bit of fun with the GoPro today.

Showing how I do the lining on Crystal. These videos are raw unedited.
(2nd video is still being processed. 3.2G upload )

Hi All


Some more pictures from Crystals first road run.

Hi Lynn,

She is beginning to gain a very nice patina now you are using her
Ian

IanL wrote:Hi Lynn,

She is beginning to gain a very nice patina now you are using her
Ian

Otherwise known as dirty

Most of the muck has been removed but yes the paint is getting that worked look to it. It does look nicer in an odd way. Instead of pristine and new looking.

Spent a few hours yesterday out in the garage. Checking she was nice and dry in the boiler. Now put all the plugs back in and closed up the cylinder block. After checking the valve settings and security. Regulator re-attached and adjusted. New packing in the glands ready for next year.
Still got the steering to put back on but going to paint the chain shaft before refitting so that the area that is not under the chains gets some protection from the rust beetle. All other pipe work now checked for water and reconnected. So she is sealed up again and nice and dry.
The cover is still of the top of the tender as I need to create a level gauge.

She is snoozing happily in the garage. Nice and dry with the fleece blankets over the top of her and a small heater in the firebox.

Hi Lynn,

The steering chain shaft I have blacked using the Frost kit. Also did the steering column both look very good I used a length of guttering to act as a long narrow trough. There was enough fluid in the kit to submerge both items. I am hoping this process will hold the rust bug at bay.

I have also made a water level gauge for the tender, not having a lathe I was wondering what brass fittings would give me a suitable hole long enough to hold the rod vertical. Looking through my box of spare bits from building the Cobra I found a male and female brake pipe fitting, which when screwed together gave me exactly what I was looking for with approx 5mm hole through the centre and about 20mm long. I used a length of aluminium rod but in hindsight a plastic knitting needle may have been a better choice as the Ali is likely to bend too easily and jam. Plastic rather than a steel needle due to weight. What material to use as the float, several people have suggested avoiding expanded polystyrene as it can absorb water and loose some buoyancy, soi am still looking for a suitable material for this.

Best wishes

Ian

I soldered a small float up from 10 thou brass with a brass nut on the top to fit the ally rod. The hole in the nut also lets the heat out when you do the last seams.

Mike

Been in the engine house today. Refitting Crystals stealing gear sine the belly tank was off for the cleading to be refitted and lined out.

Stealing stiffness is much reduced now. I shimmed the bearing castings. Got the chains still to put back on. Then I think I will paint the wheel rub blocks as it is a nice dry day but very cold.

Getting less bits to clean. Been out cleaning and polishing.

New stars on the block.



First sanding done. Polishing kit next.

i did my hub caps purely with grades of wet and dry up to 2000, then finished off with peek and they are like a mirror. I would of thought with those being flat sided it would be much easier? This cap took about 10mins, obviously isnt finished yet but you can see how quick it was:

Just a trial fit this morning

Single seat fitted



Watch the tube orientation so that the thickest is vertical and keeps the pegs level. I will be drilling through and taping to add a bolt to secure.

Fitted the left hand motion cover and started thinking I should stop as the head is not working correctly. No prizes for guessing what is incorrect.


Well the star fits. Just need to put it on the correct side when the covers are painted.


Just a shot of the siren fitted and chained up.

Well Steam Traction World have done it again. Outstanding job and accuracy on the brass stars. All went on with no spaces or filing beyond cleaning off machining marks. Just need to polish them now. Possibly do it tomorrow if I fell better.

The seat frame is very nicely done also. It fits very well on the tender edge. I will be putting some leather strapping under the channel to protect the bunker top. I may make up a couple of spacer tubes to make sure the seat frame does not move upwards on the tow hitch if the twin seat is fitted and very out of balance.

Well it's been published. Today received my copy of Old Glory and the STW Christmas advert is in itloiks great, complete with the image of Crystal speeding along the road, and other great builds. Welldone everyone.

Spent a small time in the garage today. Got all the motion covers and the sat frame into primer.

Looking great as always

Ian

Go for it Lynn, gotta give that Kev a run for his money!!!( & keep up the showmans end!!)
Hope your feeling better.......... abit of a "work out" on Crystal will work wonders!!
Regards,
Tony

Spent a hour polishing stars and half rounds. Now for some lunch. Will try and add some pics later

Looking great Lynn.

Robfishman wrote:Well it's been published. Today received my copy of Old Glory and the STW Christmas advert is in itloiks great, complete with the image of Crystal speeding along the road, and other great builds. Welldone everyone.

What page of the magazine is the advert? Couldn't find it in the digital version.

Tim

don't have the iPad digital version?