Member postings for Darren Conway

Hi

I read this thread and saw the feedback on the cheap-as Chinese base and arm. I went out and stoned the important mating surfaces. It made a significant improvement to the feel of the motion. Probably not as good as a Noga, but good enough.

As a side note, I know there is often a lot of bad opinion of Chinese made stuff. I buy a lot of stuff off Aliexpress, and my experience is that price is a good indicator of quality. If you pay more, you get more.

I'd like to bid but the seller doesn't post international and e-bay blocks attempts to contact him to ask if he would make an exception. Very frustrating.

Dazz

Hi

I am a professional engineer and I have spent time punching sprays at the face of full sized marine boilers. It is rare to find pressured copper boilers outside of model engineering. I am not saying copper should not be used. I am saying that I would prefer not to use copper.

As previously stated, I haven't yet figured out how to make the boiler. No options are ruled out.

Dazz

Hi

That might be a really good idea but there is no danger of me getting access to a copy of that book.

Dazz

Hi

Copyright of the original drawings is of no concern to me. I am not using them in a way that would breech any copyright.

The CAD drawings I own.

Yes, I do want to build a maintainable, repairable steel boiler. That includes rolled-in tubes.

I have not figured out if that is achievable yet. I think I will need to make custom tube rolling tools to fit in the available working space.

Dazz

Hi

The original drawings are over 100 years old and copyright could apply.

I am sure I own the copyright for the CAD drawings.

Darren

Hi

The Yorkshire steam wagons have a unique boiler design quite different to a typical Foden, Birrell or other traction engines. I still haven't figured out how I am going to build it.

Dazz

Hi

I am in the process of converting the paper based drawings to CAD. I have completed about 70% of the engine. Still a long way to go.

The work required to convert the drawings will be save in the time needed to make the patterns. I have purchased a 3D printer to produce the patterns.

I am producing files to a 4" scale but with CAD it is easy to scale the drawings.

I hadn't considered selling the drawings.

Darren

Hi

Just the sort of advice I was hoping for. The design of the 1925 versions of the wagon was highly refined. The easiest path is to simply down scale the factory drawings rather than convert the design for a model. I will only need to covert to metric fasteners and thicken the castings. Some of the full sized castings have a thickness of just 5/16". Too thin to cast to scale.

I don't plan to use found components except maybe tyre-saver wheels. They are quite close to period pneumatic tyres.

Dazz

Hi

I have copies of the factory drawings for a 1925 Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon delivered to the Lyttelton Borough Council in New Zealand. The prototype is still fully operational in New Zealand, but no longer owned by the Council. I want to build a miniature version but I haven't decided on the scale.

I have the tools to build to a 4" scale so that isn't an issue.

Although there is a 33% increase in dimensions from 3" to 4", the weight difference would be an additional 77%. I would need a trailer for transport.

The cost difference is expected to be a similar ratio. That I can justify if the resale value is sufficient. I don't build models to sell, but at some point the model will be sold. My off-spring won't want it.

What is the most common scale for this type of model?

Dazz

Hi

I have received the critically important drawing list for the specific wagon I am aiming to build. This is supplied by the Leeds archive. It is a promising start.

Dazz

Hi

Where I live, metric is easy. Anything else is really difficult. I might be able to find Whitworth but no chance for BA.

So for visible nuts, making metric versions is probably the best option for me.

Hi

I am planning to build a miniature steam wagon with a scale of about 4". The original 1925 prototype probably used BSW fasteners. For me the most accessible range of fasteners are metric.

What do others use for scaled models?

Dazz

Hi

I have contacted the son of the late owner of the York Wagon. The family still owns the wagon and there are a number of drawings there as well. Probably not all the drawings needed for a model build. They have invited me to visit and photograph the wagon.

Vic Francis has been busy feeding with various information relevant to the Yorkshire wagon and provided new leads.

I have also received a response from the West Yorkshire Archive Service in Leeds. They have provided a catalogue of documents held. The catalogue includes the all important drawing register that I need for the specific wagon I want to model. The drawing register will make it a lot easier to identify the exact drawings needed. The only problem is that I am on the wrong side the planet.

I will keep looking for more information.

Dazz

Hi

I have contacted the West Yorkshire Heritage Archive Service and the Steam Engine Club in New Zealand of the late member to see if they know where the steam wagon now is. I have also sent an email to the Leeds Industrial Museum. I PMed Vic Francis with my email address.

Nothing heard yet but it's only been a short time. Thanks for the leads. They all look promising.

Dazz

Hello

I am interested in building a miniature steam truck. Specifically a Yorkshire steam wagon seen in this video

This has a New Zealand connection, it is rare, and something different from traction engines and locomotives.

I have also found this site but it is old and doesn't reveal much.

According to Wikipedia, the company lasted until 1993 so there is a reasonable chance that the factory drawings were preserved.

I am aware that there are some archives that may contain original factory drawings. I'd like to get copies but I don't know where to start.

Dazz

Pricing is location dependent.

I have looked at shipping a machine tool from the UK, where the choice is greater than here, but shipping would cost around £1k- £2k. Well over half that cost is transporting the machine from it's location (anywhere in the UK) to the ship by road.

You can't compare the price of a machine in the UK that you can drive down the road to collect with a machine on the other side of the planet.

The lathe didn't get a bid at the reserve price so clearly it is priced above market value. It is only worth what someone will pay for it.

Hi

The Trademe website is the primary on-line auction site here. e-bay tried to get a foothold but bombed out big time. If you go to www.ebay.co.nz, it get redirected straight to the international site.

I have an e-bay account but I avoid using it. e-bay is just awful to deal with, especially if the trade goes sour, which happens too often. The Trademe site dominates because it is simple and safe to use. Bad traders get banned.

Dazz

No one bid on the crated Myford so clearly the asking price was more than market value.

Hi

Different machines (new or used) offer buyers different options. There is no "right" answer or "best" machine.

For many the option of a low cost (low quality) Chinese machine is the one that allows them to pursue their hobby.

Dazz