28/4/17 - Pansy

The regulator flange, stuffing box, and steam supply for the manifold was designed in such a way for function and resembling the full size counterpart.

The outer wrapper finishes at the cab front wall and there's no room on top for a bush, and so a design was thought of to screw the manifold into the top of the flange...the GWR Pannier tanks have a design where the manifold and the backhead flange is all one piece, but leaves us with fewer options so we've opted for what you see here.  It was machined from LG2 round bar.  A 1/4"  copper dry pipe bronze brazed to the backhead will feed the manifold and locates in the top hole and the flange is to be silver soldered to the boiler.

Happy steaming!

Nigel

26/4/17 - Tram

Well hello again...been a big break for us over Easter, and getting some needed rest.  However the rest was shortlived as I have managed to complete the Toby tram for my mum in that time. It has plenty of power and regenerative braking.

See below pictures

Happy steaming!

Nigel

7/4/17 - NSW 6 wheel bogies

Yesterday the milling of the remaining 124 spring chairs was completed, the quantity in total being 240 plus a couple of spares.

Hunter Valley steamfest at Maitland is on this weekend, and next weekend is the AALS Easter convention at Lake Macquarie Live Steamers so plenty to see in the next 2 weeks!

Happy steaming!

Nigel

Repairs to digital readout

The digital readout on the mill decided to pack it in this morning, although powered up it was skipping numbers and not giving accurate readings. The usual beep when it starts up had become a feeble squeak and the LED display was pulsating. Discovery found the build date was 1998.

In the last couple of weeks it was becoming noticably sluggish to turn on but would come good after a while.

The unit was pulled off the mill and box opened up to see what's inside...the suspicion was an electolytic capacitor may have had its day, and best to change them out now incase they are all crook.

The circuit boards were pulled out and a necessary trip to Jaycar was made to get some replacements. There were 16 to replace plus the onboard battery. 

After some mucking around replacing all the capacitors, the battery was removed from the board and was seen to be breaking down releasing some powdery substance. This was replaced and also the keypad was given some repairs being glued back onto the front of the box.

Some of the original capacitors looked suspect and deformed, not sure whether it was a rough install to begin with or signs of damage.

All went to plan and the unit was re powered up and now remembers the position after being turned off and back on again...something it didn't do before.

Happy steaming!

Nigel

31 - 4/4/17 - NSW carriage bogies

Over the last few days some progress has been happening on the NSW carriage bogie "spring chairs".  This is a repetative milling job previously described on this blog, milling part of it away to fit rivets and to clear the leaf springs...another 60 done of the 120 to go!

Happy steaming!

Nigel