Mother and baby doing very well, so I'm back on deck!
In
my break I have discovered Alec Steele on Youtube, an excellent
blacksmith that makes knives and hammers. He even did a couple of
sessions at Eveleigh Workshops in the blacksmithing classes! I am sure
you will like his material, hot metal is fascinating to watch under the
power hammer! Vital skills for the big engines.
Happy steaming,
Nigel
Wednesday 30 August 2017
Thursday 24 August 2017
22/8/17 - New loco in the fleet!
We have some news...Evelyn Joy Woolley was born to us in the late evening of the 22nd! Mother and baby are well and healthy.
She is the first girl of ours, being little sister to two bigger brothers Benjamin and Ezekiel.
Talk to you soon!
Nigel
Thursday 17 August 2017
17/8/17 - Pansy and Princess Marina
Busy again machining up some boiler guides for Pansy's boiler. These were done from LG2 gunmetal and milled to shape. The back side was relieved to allow for stay heads.
Princess Marina's eccentrics were being machined also thanks to the assistance of Jono. Good to see things progressing along at a faster rate of speed.
Happy steaming!
Nigel
Monday 14 August 2017
14/8/17 - Holmside
Today's work was to straighten out the running boards (bent) and put an infill piece in around the reverser stand.
The cab was shortened up by 15/16" and brazed. This makes the cab proportions much better and the saddle tank fits!
Jono was manufacturing the four valance infill pieces adjacent to the buffer beams.
The saddle tank dome hole is off centre but the diameter can be opened out to suit the dome cover and will fix all that up. The safety valve slot in the tank is about 3/4" too far forward but a bit of careful platework will be able to fix that too.
Happy steaming!
Nigel
14/8/17 - V class cab
I'm sure many of you would be familiar with the Victorian Steam Locomotive Company's project V499, here are a few photos of the cab being delivered to the Goldfields Railway at Maldon in the last few weeks.
I am familiar with a few questions regarding the loco project, asking why the cab has been done as the first new component. The reason being it was relatively easy to design, and a major visual piece of the locomotive. Some of the challenges of the project is the design work, as the only archive drawings are the General Arrangement, and the springs. Everything has to be drafted in detail from these drawings, or similar Baldwin designs and Victorian Railway drawings that are available from other locos.
My supply has been drafting services, starting with what we do know, and then generate some layout drawings to see how it fits and relates to surrounding parts. The challenge of this is enormous, BUT we are not of those who view everything through the glasses of impossibility. A new build is refreshing as it is all new work and everything is a challenge! If we don't know what we're doing, it's never too late to learn!
We have a General Arrangement of the loco which has been drawn in CAD, and as parts are required, they are pulled off the General Arrangement and designed in more detail. We have also started a drawing numbering system in the same style as the Victorian Railways, to generate the missing drawings in a similar style as the railways used. Suprising how the information becomes available once a start is made!
This new locomotive V499 is entirely crowd funded, the construction and design costs are kindly provided by YOU, the general public. As part of the team I see the excitement building as the first pieces of this locomotive begin to manifest "in the flesh"!
If you too want to get behind the construction of this missing piece of history, why not jump on their website www.vicsteam.com and consider supporting the manufacture of the Smokebox barrel. The crowdfunding campaign has been launched for this item, and the sooner the funds are raised, construction can begin. Your support is very much appreciated!
Yours in keeping the steam alive,
Nigel
I am familiar with a few questions regarding the loco project, asking why the cab has been done as the first new component. The reason being it was relatively easy to design, and a major visual piece of the locomotive. Some of the challenges of the project is the design work, as the only archive drawings are the General Arrangement, and the springs. Everything has to be drafted in detail from these drawings, or similar Baldwin designs and Victorian Railway drawings that are available from other locos.
My supply has been drafting services, starting with what we do know, and then generate some layout drawings to see how it fits and relates to surrounding parts. The challenge of this is enormous, BUT we are not of those who view everything through the glasses of impossibility. A new build is refreshing as it is all new work and everything is a challenge! If we don't know what we're doing, it's never too late to learn!
We have a General Arrangement of the loco which has been drawn in CAD, and as parts are required, they are pulled off the General Arrangement and designed in more detail. We have also started a drawing numbering system in the same style as the Victorian Railways, to generate the missing drawings in a similar style as the railways used. Suprising how the information becomes available once a start is made!
This new locomotive V499 is entirely crowd funded, the construction and design costs are kindly provided by YOU, the general public. As part of the team I see the excitement building as the first pieces of this locomotive begin to manifest "in the flesh"!
If you too want to get behind the construction of this missing piece of history, why not jump on their website www.vicsteam.com and consider supporting the manufacture of the Smokebox barrel. The crowdfunding campaign has been launched for this item, and the sooner the funds are raised, construction can begin. Your support is very much appreciated!
Yours in keeping the steam alive,
Nigel
Friday 11 August 2017
11/8/17 - Holmside
Another great day in the shed working on steam engines. We've finished the driving axles for Princess Marina...keen for laser cut bits to assemble the frames.
Holmside was put on the bench for more work. Jono was busy cutting out some 3mm plates for the cab & bunker floor, and front apron. Front end looks quite nice.
I machined up some 1/4" Whitworth fitted bolts for the reverser stand from an appropriately sized piece of 4140...didn't need to be that tough but it's probably one of the strongest parts of the loco now!
The cab looks like it needs shortening by 3/4" - 1" and this will much improve the appearance of the doorway...much too wide currently.
Happy steaming!
Nigel
Monday 7 August 2017
7/8/17 - Princess Marina
Work was continuing today machining up the Princess Marina's driving axles. Certainly a good help having Jono assist in the workshop with some of the machining tasks! Meanwhile I was on the mill machining up some bronze axleboxes.
How's your projects going? Love to hear from you, drop an email to say Hi!
Happy steaming,
Nigel
Friday 4 August 2017
4/8/17 - Princess Marina
Pony truck axleboxes were finish machined from LG2 and the wheels loctited on the axles. Waiting on the laser cut bits to finish it!
Jono was happily machining up driving wheel axles on the lathe as well!
Happy steaming!
Nigel
4/8/17 - Pansy
A simple little regulator gland follower was made up from bronze for the Pansy. It will have 8BA studs and nuts.
Happy steaming!
Nigel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)