Alan's Workbench

[Galteemore]

56 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Another masterpiece in the making Alan!  Hopefully she will make a visit to Brookhall Mill in the near future!

If she does, only one piece of music will do ….

 

[Tullygrainey]

1 hour ago, Patrick Davey said:

 Hopefully she will make a visit to Brookhall Mill in the near future!

Thanks Patrick. Something to look forward to. 

[Tullygrainey]

A smokebox for No.6. I don't think I've managed to make a smokebox the same way twice. 

The smokebox and saddle for this one were built as a single piece made from two matching formers, a front plate which is wider at the bottom than the saddle, a baseplate and a wrapper.

In order to make as much room as possible for the DCC gubbins, the centres of the formers were cut away to keep an open space through the boiler and into the smokebox. The downside is that the smokebox can’t then be easily bolted to the front of the boiler.

The wrapper is 10 thou brass, all the rest is 15 thou nickel silver.

 

A captive nut inside the baseplate of the saddle will allow it all to be bolted down to the running plate, with peg into a hole in the cab front locating the firebox end.

 

As is becoming standard with this build, it took a couple of goes, the first pass generating the mistakes to inform the learning process. Getting the wrapper on neatly was the hardest bit.

 

!**!*!!?

 

If at first you don't succeed, have a cup of tea before trying again. It keeps the big hammer at bay.

 

The finished item was seam soldered to the front of the boiler. A few other details added and some holes drilled, mostly in the right places.

 

We're getting towards the small bits and pieces now. Cab steps 

Alan

 

[Galteemore]

Well done Alan. The Beyer smokebox is a thing of beauty but not easy to replicate, with those subtle curve reversals. Looks great. 

[Horsetan]

33 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Well done Alan. The Beyer smokebox is a thing of beauty but not easy to replicate, with those subtle curve reversals. Looks great. 

No built-up smokebox (or round-top firebox) is easy to roll, as you're doing a standard roll and then having to change direction. Pain in the neck, even with a rolling mill.

[Galteemore]

14 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

No built-up smokebox (or round-top firebox) is easy to roll, as you're doing a standard roll and then having to change direction. Pain in the neck, even with a rolling mill.

Yep. Been there done that got the burnt fingers…..

[Tullygrainey]

20 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Yep. Been there done that got the burnt fingers…..

Some pretty sharp curves there David! Nice bit of riveting.

[Galteemore]

3 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Some pretty sharp curves there David! Nice bit of riveting.

Thanks Alan. Beyer tanks are like that as you know. Simple squares at the back - horrendous curves at the front!! 

[David Holman]

Neat.

VERY neat!

 As another member of the 'Smokeboxes are a real bummer Club' can only concur with the challenges involved, so hopefully a couple of glasses of falling down water have been awarded. Plus it is nearly Christmas after all.

[Tullygrainey]

 

Some small stuff for No.6.  Step this way…

 

A nice little hand wheel etch from Wizard Models (51L CWSHB)...

 

Smokebox door casting also from Wizard (MT329)... Slight flaw in this one. Never mind.

 

Scrap etch for a reverser lever...

 

Some cut down wagon springs from Dart Castings (MJT 2284) plus 0.45mm brass rod

 

Over time I have gathered a small collection of chimney and dome castings, none of which were right for No.6 of course so it was back to cobbling together bits of brass tube, washers and dowel.  The old Black and Decker earned its keep yet again.

 

Trial fitting of some of the bits. Fussy little blighter isn't it.

 

Back to the tender now, I think.

Alan

[GSR 800]

stunning work, gorgeous. 

[Galteemore]

Beautiful Alan. That represents many hours of thought, care, effort - and in all likelihood some choice combinations of words….really captures the likeness of the original. 

[Killian Keane]

You really do put the rest of us to shame Alan! Not only the breathtaking quality of the builds but the pace you're able to turn them out at

Edited December 27, 2024 by Killian Keane

[Broithe]

I've been warned that cataract operations will be happening in the future, if I last as far as them being bad enough to justify it.

I'm not looking forward to someone fiddling with such delicate bits...

I'm inclined to wait until you have some spare time coming up.

[David Holman]

Coming to life!

[Tullygrainey]

Back to No.6's tender.

Taking a leaf from @Mayner's book (thank you John), I attacked the tender chassis again and fitted patches inside the frames to give it two sprung axles riding in slots. Bit of a dog's dinner by the time I'd finished hacking it around but it works and it won't be seen. 

 

Tender frames cut and shaped as a pair before being separated...

 

...then a role for my new toy, a GW Models Universal Rivet Tool. A lovely bit of kit and quite addictive.

 

Tender body sides cut and shaped as a pair then separated for another riveting performance.

 

I made a mess of the second one -  that diagonal line of rivets strayed off line and trying to fix it only made things worse. I had to cut another side and start again.

 

Eventually got a matching pair. The beading along the top edge is 0.33mm brass rod.

 

I thought this tender would be fairly straightforward to assemble but the more I look at it the more complicated it becomes. More soon.

Alan

[Mol_PMB]

Great persistence and a lovely result with that rivetting tool. Looks much better than the NWSL version I bought 20 years ago and struggled with.

[David Holman]

Gets a wow from me because know how difficult it can be to produce a line of straight rivets. Have you tried scoring a fine line on the reverse? You can then use it to help alignment - though the clamps and wheels take most of the strain out of things. Rivet transfers are ok, but the GW press is very addictive!

[Tullygrainey]

Thanks David. Yes, I did use scribed lines to guide the work. The screw up came from not paying proper attention while merrily punching rivets! As you say, very addictive.