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Member postings for James Roberts 4

Here is a list of all the postings James Roberts 4 has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

Thread: Sweet William
01/03/2018 21:40:15
Just for more steam space to make it harder to run out and to provide dryer steam as it would be removed further from the water.
01/03/2018 20:02:00
Has anyone fitted a steam dome to one to get a little more steam space and a drier spot to collect the steam from. Is that even possible with a steel marine boiler?
25/02/2018 20:20:47
But there must be a difference between the 2 designs one being marine and the other a proper loco boiler?
Wouldn't the steel one be more susceptible to internal corrosion?
25/02/2018 18:03:29
I was looking at building a Holmside but I also like the Sweet William. I understand they have a marine style steel boiler. What are these like to build and in use compared to a copper loco one. I would guess not as efficient at producing steam. What kind of load could it pull? As I'm after something that could pull me, the wife and the 2 young children. Ideally without stopping the engine after every circuit to recover.
Thanks.
Thread: What Regulator type.
07/02/2018 23:25:37
Hi Julian,

What type of gas pipe valve do people use? I'm not that up on gas fittings, the only one I know of is the isolation valve wil the big flat handle that turns through 90?.
Regards
James.
07/02/2018 19:45:01
Hi David,

Thanks again very helpful.
06/02/2018 09:52:56
Great, thanks for that David. The Holmside looks to have a steam dome so I'll be able to do the top one with any luck.
05/02/2018 12:38:54
OK great thanks for the advice.
Please bear with me for the next bit I'm new.
As this won't be in my drawings where do I find drawings for one, just google it?
Is it easy to incorporate a different type reg into the loco?
04/02/2018 17:17:36
Evening all,

I'm looking at building a Holmside and getting a chunk of the castings from Reeves or Blackgates.
I see that with Reeves there is an option of slide Valve or Stroudley type regulators.
Which won would be considered the better.
To my limited knowledge and the research I've done the Slide valve should be as the steam pressure helps seal the regulator when it's shut and they shut more completely if that makes sense.
I've read that disk type regs can be hard to get to seal properly to pass the hydraulic test.
Any thought greatfully received.

Edited By James Roberts 4 on 04/02/2018 17:18:45

Thread: Where to Start
01/02/2018 09:34:29
Thanks for the offer Lofty.

I'll see if I can have another chat with the guys in the club (I'm in the process of joining) to see if anyone's built a sweet William if and anyone's built a Holmside and go from there.
30/01/2018 15:33:28
Ahh OK I must have been unlucky with the videos I watched as you can plainly see exhausted steam coming out the chimney in those videos.
I see on Blackgates if I remember rightly they do plans castings etc for a 0-6-0 sweet pea called a meter maid does anyone know if anyone does the same with the Sweet William?
30/01/2018 12:56:45
Yes the Holmside is the only saddle tank I definitely like.

Maybe I'm looking at the safety valves but all the YouTube videos I've seen I cannot notice anything coming out of the chimney and everything from the top of the cab on the sweet William.
30/01/2018 09:03:21
Morning David,
Thanks for the reply.
Size and weight I'm not worried about, my workshop is setup for vintage tractors with lifting gear for about 1500kg x2.
I'd have to check with the valve gear if it's any harder to set as its inside.
I thought of a little saddle tank but I cannot find one I like. I thought of a sweet William but I don't like the fact the marine boiler means it exhausts steam from the wrong place. Also to me I prefer 0-6-0 or more wheels in a tank.
29/01/2018 12:12:32
Thanks for the advise gents. I met the secretary and a couple of members on Sunday a had a good chat and got shown round.
So after there advice and the advice here I've had a look about. I quite like the look of a 7 1/4 gauge 0-6-0 Holmside. What are people's thoughts on them? I see it's drawings are done by Martin Evans and reading round here his drawings seem to vary in quality. Do people know if these ones are any good.
25/01/2018 12:45:10
Afternoon all, thanks for the help and advise thus far.
I've been in contact with the sec of my local club and he's kindly invited me down to the track for a chat with everyone.
So I can have an idea what I may like to chat about building can I confirm the following.
I should be looking at for example something with a round top fire box, non tapered boiler and slide valves. Avoid a belpaire (I'm guessing pacific flat top to) firebox, piston valves and tapered boiler.
23/01/2018 10:52:43
Good Morning Julian,

Thank you for the honest advice, it is very helpful.

I have this morning emailed the Llanelli club and am looking forward to the response.

Could I ask what people find uncomfortable about them. Is it the reach forward to the controls etc due to an engine that could be 6ft or more long?
22/01/2018 19:49:48
Thanks Luigi,
Sound advice.
Weight of stuff I'm not to worried about (rightly or wrongly) as I'm set up for handling 1500kg bits of vintage tractor and all access is level a very spacious.
I would love both to build it to say I did /was able and drive it. So the suggestion of a kit whilst I build my dream loco is a very good idea.
I'll look into my local club to.
Any thoughts on the complexity level of building on of my suggestions?
James.
22/01/2018 16:03:05
I've seen the running day at my local club who's track is in Pembrey Country Park I think they were both 5inch and 7 1/4 inch running there and were pretty sizable locos. Didn't get a good look at the complexity of them though. I wouldn't say I was familiar with a mill or lathe but have used both a little.
Thanks for you help.
22/01/2018 14:46:09
Hi Neil,
Thanks for the reply. Does the chunkiness mean they are just heavy or something else? Would you know if any of the types I suggested are realistic as a first build? I've seen most of them on Reeves.
22/01/2018 01:11:28
Good Morning Everyone.
I've decided that I would like to build a scale Steam Loco.
I am wondering about what scale. If you take cost etc out which is the easiest to build? I fancy 5 inch or 7 1/4 Inch. Is one easier than the other?
To me the larger scale means larger parts which are less fiddly, or am I wrong there? I'd love to do a Black 5, Britannia, or A3. Would these be a bit much for a first engine?
I've got quite a bit of experience in full size vintage tractors etc, so not a mechanical beginner, but no experience building a scale loco or anything scale.
Thanks in advance.
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