Tone's Showmans second lot!

Yes looking very good.

As you say the view for the driver is not currently very good. BUT that will change on not too long.

Hi All,
While having a cuppa, I thought I'd bung up a few pics of the crank shaft...... What a lovely thing it is......... can't stop "twiddling" it!!!
It spins perfectly free & smooth............... Mmmmmmmm!












Now can't wait for the bits that connect to it!! (How's production Craig?)

Regards,
Tony

Hi Tony

Looking very bright indeed. Guess you did not have much problem with your right hand bearing.

Hi Lynn,
Trying to catch up with you............... No chance!!

I had no problem with the right hand bearing as such. However when first assembled, the crank did go "stiff" at one position, on investigation I found that the radious (I know that ain't spelt right......... radius?) at the ends of the ground bearing surface on the crank were "rough" machined & there seemed to be a high point in this area, so out came the fine round file & I carefully filed this radious smooth. (Wish I could have stuck it in the lathe, but it's far too big, anyway it spins nice n easy now, so I think the problem is solved!!)
Have you painted your crank yet?
Regards,
Tony

Hi Tony

Nope. Not had any other items in bright red to do a batch spraying. Not so easy using 2-pak with a brush. You need to wait about 45mins after mixing it to get it in a creamy state then you have about 10 mins to do any brush work. I use the dregs in the mixing pot to do any touch up of previous opsies in that perticular colour. May just do some masking off and mix a small amount of paint. Only trouble is with a very small quantity it does not get to the measuring marks on the mixing cups so getting the 3:1 ratio is much harder. Too much harderner and it starts setting in 20 mins too little and it does not set.

next kit is the cylinder attachments (not motion parts) and its not far off ready.

i'll have to get some pics sorted

Hi Tony,

I know it has already been said, but your engine looks phenomenal. The finish is a real credit to your skill (I can only hope mine is 3/4 as good). Just one question, do you plan on running the engine, as it almost seems a shame to spoil the love that has gone into building it?

Cheers,

Brian

Hi Brian,
Thank you for very kind comments!! Probably the photo's do it more justice than it deserves!!
However, although it'll be hard to do, I will be steaming her when she's finished, infact I think the effect of all that oil & soot will add to the character, provided "one" keeps the "Oh so important brass" shining through all the mess!!
Regards
Tony

Hi All,
Been a polishing tonight, so here's a couple of pics!!

Cylinder head & covers & stars.............. These have come up beautifuly!! They are really going to "catch the eye" on the completed engine!!




The steam chest covers also have come up well, but the photo don't do them justice! It took a while to get them as I wanted them, started with flap wheel in the angle grinder to get rid of machining marks, then orbital sander, finish on buffing wheel!



Regards,
Tony

Hi All,
Put some paint on cylinder bits tonight..........






Regards,
Tony

Hi Tony.

Looking really nice. Like the red behind the stars.

Hi All,
After slight hick up with with cylinder casting, I'm back to building again. Got the new cylinder all bolted up & cylinder kit now fitted.
I've decided to plank up the boiler, rather than use the insulation supplied by STW, as I think it'll be easier to clamp the cleading onto it, rather than the metal bands & insulation!!.................... I may well be wrong!!!

Here's more pics of progress...............









Regards
Tony

Hi All,
Finally got my latest kit today & got to say it dosn't disapoint!!
Bolted wayshaft bracket straight in place & all fitted perfectly without use of jacking screws.
Cut up Draught Guinness can, (having "had to" consume the contents!!) & shimmed cross head bars. It all slides beatifully, no sticking............. I have packing in the glands but no piston rings,( don't want to do what Lynn did!!).
I have now taken to bits & have started doing the "showmans" bit on the metal, ie, polishing everything to within an inch of its life!!

Finished woodwork on boiler:-




First polished crosshead, with second waiting for the showmans treatment:-








High pressure side back together:-







Next job will be conrods & crank!!
Regards,
Tony

Hi Tony

Looking very sparkly indead. DId not think about polishing the cross heads. Hummm Think I will do that also.

Hi Tony,

Secretly, I hope your buffering machine breaks down . I was going to use wooden lats as part of the boiler insulation what are the sizes?

Thanks,

Brian M

Hi Brian,
The slats are from my local timber supplier & are the spacer "sticks" from the piles of wood boards which they simply throw out!!
I asked if I could have a heap of them, dried them out in the work shop & cut them in half on the band saw & cut to fit the boiler!!
They are infact 20mm wide & same thickness as the metal bands which they now replace!!
I was going to use old oak floor boards, but having spoken to some knowledgable steam enthusiast, he said that oak is acidic & would rot the boiler from the outside, infact it was he who sugested the wood "sticks" in the first place, as that is what he had used on his engine!!
Regards,
Tony

Tony King wrote:
Having cut down the studs & fitted S/Steel washers & nuts, I'm thinking it don't look right, so will probably go back to painting the whole lot black!!

Tony

Dumb question but did you remove the studs to cut them down or cut them in situ? It looks to fiddley to cut them in situ and get the ends finished nicely with a chamfer. I am at the bolting down stage myself now (still playing catch up).

Cheers

Brian

Hi Brian,
Studs were cut with a thin cutting disc in an angle grinder after bolting cylinder down. I Simply put a loose washer on the top of the nut & used it as a guide to remove stud top!! However due to problem with my first cylinder the whole lot had to come off!! So, having got replacement cylinder & rebolted everything down, I did give the stud tops a little "tidy up" first!!
Tell you what, these engines are really going to be something when they are complete, the detail in the fabriction & machining in this last kit is stunning, looks fantastic when put together!!
Regards,
Tony

Thanks Tony, I might cut them prior to fitting to make them neat. I did look at the President photos today and as Steve says the cylinders on the big uns are fitted with bolts. I suppose cutting the studs flush with the nuts and the dressing the tops would make them look like bolts.

Regarding the latest kit I can only dream but cylinder accessories next and I already have the crankshaft so almost ready to connect everyting up. I have bypassed the cleading kit at the moment as it is not needed yet. I would rather get the motion on so that the crank position and hornplates are set before playing with the cleading and ashpan. I might even keep going with the gears etc. so that I can get it on its wheels proper before getting the ash pan and cleading.

I do like the look of yours but we may need to have sunglasses to even apporach it Keep up the excellent work and particularly sharing the pictures on the forum.

I look forward to the day when STW host a gathering of all the DCC engines, that will be some event!! We will have to get
ROBFISHMAN to bring his log trailer to pull around and see if we cannt get some trailer drawings sorted for STW to hopefully put one together for us to play with.



Brian

Hi All,
Unlike you lucky people in the south with your hot weather, we up here are facing snow on the hills!!!
Anyway, due to "orrible" conditions, I'm cracking on in the workshop with my engine, rather than doing what I should be doing outside!!
And lovely it's looking too!! So here are the latest pics of progress:-


Finished wooden cladding, & setting up of the con rods.





Having cut & filed & fitted all the cleading, took it off & squirted loads of paint at it. The dining room table being beside a nice warm Rayburn is the perfect place to get it dry quicker!!! Not everyone appreciated this for some reason!!






This pic shows weighshaft bracket etc painted & woodwork held in place with insulting tape!!




The cleading starts to go on, & freshly polished brass bands add to the effect.




All now in place & no scractches ............... YET!!!!





A view of the motion work, pitty this will all be covered up on the completed showmans, but, I know it's there!!!




A view of the other side.




Just have to wait for the paint to harden off abit more, then start with the masking tape to get some lines on!!

I still haven't lined the wheels yet, hopefully the next kit will arrive from STW before then!!!

Regards,
Tony

Tony,

Thanks for the pictures she is really looking smart, I like the idea of the traditional wooden insulation. Having only recently started the build it is good to see where I am heading with this build.

Regards

Ian

looking fantastic

looks great Tony realy good job..

these boiler wash plates will look nice on both your engines

Jo

Just thought I'd put up pics of cleading now the lines are on:-

Very nice indead!

Not done much to take a picture of. Been cleaning up the crossheads, conrods etc. Degreased parts ready for painting.