Member postings for vic francis

Hi I accept that, however I think that perhaps if it had been scanned first and posted online first the original author would have preferred the idea! rather than as a exhibit or stored one. Unfortunately with google scanning procedures involves cutting into singular pages... however its value lies in what it contains , and its free access; so even if it just ended up on display exhibit with covers... it might be a small place to pay.

Personally Henry Maudsley’s lathe should be on Display; or even Mr Robert’s Planer.... as Important Early machine tools; unfortunately they are not but in store.

During the school holidays I stayed with my Grandparents who lived near the sea; on one of my outings I walked out on a concrete causeway which extended out the sea and was for small boat landings ect; At the end i looked over its edge and saw a perfectly preserved Prehistoric axe head , with its distinctive outline in the grey mud! I was delighted by the find!! Treasure almost.😮 I took it to Junior School and did a “project” on it, however a Teacher expressed doubt about its purpose and thought it might be a natural Rock shard ; My Mother then carted me upto the Natural History Museum , and duly found the Curator who took delight in saying Yes it is genuine! From the pressure flaking of the edges ... it was man made.He also said it was a fine example and they would like it for the Museum; Thus my Axe head was proudly displayed in the School display cabinet ( Locked) with my Project doodles! At the end my project was returned; but unfortunately minus the Axe Head...no doubt a rotten Teacher has it “mothballed “somewhere! The Museum cheated out of it!

Kind regards

vic

Yes Fine boilers! You was lucky! I had a boiler ( and looking for history) as inspected by Brandon smee; but after a very long correspondence; it seems the records were destroyed by a fire!! Maybe their fire safety is the same as their testing! 🤪

regards

vic

Yes Fine boilers! You was lucky! I had a boiler ( and looking for history) as inspected by Brandon smee; but after a very long correspondence; it seems the records were destroyed by a fire!! Maybe their fire safety is the same as their testing! 🤪

regards

vic

Hi soaking in paraffin or oil is good but you need the application of heat! This cycle needs to be repeated 2 or three times! In fact last week I had two! a seized wheels on axles (2 inch clayton ) , not moved for maybe 20 years... wd plus heat , then leave for a day ; took three attempts both now free!

regards

vic

Hi, I am not sure it is worth donating anything to the Science Museum; from what I have seen they have only a fraction on display, the rest is blythe house, and wroughton storage. What the point of just mothballing? It is hard to get access if not on display.... True it is a great place. Just the Academics who run it so poorly in my opinion.There is more gallery space for entertainment than exhibits unfortunately.

regards

vic

hi its vol 186/ 187 of Me, ok its not a Br one but the basic structure could be used.. I made one; regards vic

Hi , Keith Wilson Did a series in the Model Engineer on building the gwr Toad brake van in 7 1/4 g... i think i have it somewhere.

regards

vic

Wow great project! Well when he returns to school see the Design Technology technician; most likely the school should have a laser cutter or possibly cnc router... if so explain your project and take a drawing to get them interested! As laser cutter will cut lite ply to 5mm , if you draw your gears ( search the web for a gear catalogue) and use their line cad drawing of suitable gear( thanks Jason))... it should be possible to enlarge or reduce the dxf drawing on school Techsoft software or the laser cam software : then laminate together after cutting and preferably do the central bore for the shafts to the centre and perhaps a small hole offset for a dowel pin so that the gears sandwich together and teeth arrange in rows! Which helps on assembly

The whole gear assembly could be given a coat of cellulose dope to toughen the fibres!

No need for lignum or hornbeam ( I have used it; too hard to work) and feel it would be to hard to use for a young person unless supervised and access to equipment.

Incidentally I have seen 3d printed gears which may work... but think wood best. Same for Flywheel!

It depends upon what scale the model is being made at? But the thread suggestion above is possible ie air running! Or electric motor...

Great Project.

Regards

vic

Wow! Fantastic, on the back of the crane driver it says over 35 years experience! And it shows... great work Werner👍Another observation ; let your garden return to nature = productive work on your engine!

Hi yes that is the 3 inch Suffolk Dredging tractor boiler by John Haining... I think Darren is making in a bigger scale and instead of copper as the John Haining design is using steel fabricaton... Darren has all of my info from Bob ect.

Certainly the boiler is a impressive part of this wagon design. The Yorkshire wagon was adapted to many uses ... from Gulley cleaners, crane jib lifting, cylindrical tank container, brewery platform, box removal type too many to list!

Hi interesting answers. a couple of weeks ago I had to make a 6tpi 60 degree worm for a model traction engine which had unfortunately dropped off in transit... after a few trials to determine the size ect changewheel setting I cut it:however I out of all if the machine die chasers I did not have a 6tpi so ordered a unc set of four off off ebay for 10 quid ex coventry type most likely for pipe... if you use one of these in a spring tool holder that will give you the correct form after sc roughing out...( grind some of the teeth off) no need for die nuts and 3 shredded wheats... however screwcutting is hard on motors and switch gear... err anyone got a spare brooks motor!? Good luck!

This comment above needs to be ignored for who has enforced copyright infringement for original drawings which are 100 years old!! especially as the Company is not in existence. Darren’s new cad drawings are his own work; and a new scaled version... the economic loss argument does not apply to infringement.I think The Hunslet Company would be pleased to see their design honoured in miniature form.

Hi John I have sent you a message; kind regards

Yes its a good method and used it myself on acrylic sheets ect however the quality is variable... cheap stuff glue goes bungey and hard to remove and needs solvent/ brasso works well!; the red translucent expensive stuff works great, and leaves no glue film behind... i used used to soak in warm soapy water over night and the sheets prised apart easliy... super glue is good for small parts ; found that clamping while gluing works better; no idea why but less failed joints!

good luck!

Hi if you can locate someone with a laser engraver, it gave super results when I used one for detailing brickwork and mortar, ok it was in 1/8 scale, but I was able to do the same for loco shed gwr )windows using acrylic , it was also super quick as well ... err i even reproduced a few cracked panes ... bah vandals! The mortar line is also much finer than vee cutter....

regards vic

Hi Everyone, useful comments about buying secondhand engine wether it is loco or traction... it is a lottery with only experience to guide you... Even a steam dealer is no Guarantee... The Ransomes 2 inch I bought from srs website had to be returned ; it had legions of faults and soft solder / and stay bodging ...where it should not have.... the project then becomes a mountain of work....so could not recommend them at all.My advice is to go in person with someone who knows! Hopefully when this terrible virus goes...

good luck!

Hi there sent you a pm, re Juilet updates...regards vic

Hi Derek, keep up the good work I have used the brushable Maxitrak high temp black for smokebox ect, and even car exhaust/ bulkhead spray paints as well..most people use enamels and colours can be blended with each other then brushed or better sprayed if you have the equipment. For display models cellulose was always used... but it can bubble with heat... but easy to respray... depends on the insulation material? regards vic

Hi Nigel, very cool! Look forward to your progress and interesting methods. Regards vic

Hi Steve there is a nice tom senior listed on here today, with quill feed and inverter. These machines can be stripped down to moveable to be carried by two people,as we did... The one on here is a much better one than mine!There was a super rare Ton Senior in denford marketed guise... that’s the best version!

However, big is better no doubt about that all. Like the Beaver you mention.

On the smaller machines like the Tom Senior, a better machine is the Van Norman; often overlooked and ungainly looking, but it can shift metal for a machine with a small footprint. I would say ; if buying secondhand is what quality accessories are available withe machine, and how well has it been looked after, and what if it needs something? Ie feedscrew ect?? ie spares!

kind regards and good luck!

vic