Member postings for Weary

Hello Mark,

Just wondering how this excellent project is progressing as you have been 'quiet' for a while.

Regards,

Phil

This previous thread by the OP provides some context.

Bob,

If you are simply purchasing plans from the US will the vendor perhaps photograph the plans for you and email the pics - if this would suit your purposes and total price is an issue, or even take them to a 'print-shop' and get them professionally scanned and then email the scan to you?

This is a 'ruse' I have used to get info' from abroad, of course one has to pay an agreed price, but there is a saving for you as purchaser and the vendor retains the original document! No good for a whole book of course!

Just floating as a suggestion in case you have not considered it as an option.

Phil.

A quick search on abebooks turned up quite a few likely contenders, including a copy in the UK of "The Modern Kentucky Rifle, how to build your own", R H McRory, which (apparently) includes "the two original fold-out plans, one for a flintlock pistol and one of the Kentucky rifle". £25 including shipping.  Vendor is Hall of Books.

A bit of imaginative searching will probably turn-up plenty of others.

(My experience of buying books etc., from USA is that it often pays to enquire directly with the vendor about shipping costs as they will often ship by a cheaper, albeit slower, method on request . But watch-out for taxes etc., upon import!)

Regards,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 19/06/2021 12:04:18

It's a tough job, but someone has to do-it I guess!!!

Phil.

I take it that you are already aware that this topic has been covered in Model Engineer magazine: Vol. XIX, no.385. Sept. 10 1908. Key points:

Engine used Stuart No.3.

Flash steam generator 30ft tube using eight burner intensive primus stove - weight 25lbs.

Engine runs 500 to 600 rpm driving a 7" three bladed propeller speed attained 5 miles per hour. Steam generator keeps-up 70lbs per sq in under these circumstances.

Canoe carries two passengers and an engineer.

Builder, Mr Bickford, intends to fit a 2" x 2" single cylinder engine (as he finds it more powerful at equal steam pressures) together with a 14" Locomobile steam car burner and a 10" three-bladed propeller. Nota: a subsequent letter advises against the Locomobile burner.

There is also a very brief entry in Vol.V, No.63, December 15 1901, page 276 referring to a steam-driven twin-screw canoe:

Hull: ordinary Canadian model, 18ft long carrying two persons, draft cruising trim 8ins.

4hp engine driving twin screws of 8" diameter.  Flash steam boiler.

Regards,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 30/05/2021 12:41:17

GLR-Kennions??

Heating the joint (gently!) to a little over 250 degrees C will release the grip of the loctite. Any residue can be easily cleaned-off.

I would persevere with 638 as it is ideal for your intended use, and your first two attempts went well. Confidence and speed will win-out.

Regards,

Phil

('Hopper' types more quickly than I)

Edited By Weary on 28/04/2021 11:42:56

The principle of method of functioning is that the piston runs within an inner cylinder which itself slides back and forth within an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has ports drilled in it which at certain positions of travel line-up with ports in the outer cylinder.

The inner cylinder position relative to the outer cylinder is changed by the piston sliding back and forth as the travel of the piston is longer than the length of the inner cylinder.

To call the engine 'valveless' is misleading (I suggest) as it is actually a sleeve-valve engine with the movement of the sleeve driven by the piston travel at each end of the stroke.

Regards,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 22/04/2021 21:22:29

Edited By Weary on 22/04/2021 21:22:58

Edited By Weary on 22/04/2021 21:51:00

Jim Smith 8 - I have also sent you a Private Message.

Regards,

Phil

Thanks for the link Jason. In the absence of a suitable optical scale I have already ordered a (small) magnetic scale, albeit not one of the tape versions that you linked too.

I was unsure about mounting the self-adhesive tape, and a previous enquiry on here (on a different thread) failed to turn-up any experience of use. I can always give the tape a try if I cannot fit the magnetic 'bar' in a way that suits me.

Thanks & regards,

Phil

I have been playing about with fitting an optical scale in a similar restricted location and the smallest optical scale that I could find is the KA200 series (sometimes written KA-200), the scale of which is 16 x 16 mm with a reading head 14 x 14 mm (total height with clearances 32mm). It is available in the standard 5um and, from Germany, reading to 1um.

Should you find something smaller please post and let us know!

Next smallest optical scale I could find is the KA500 series with a scale dimension 18 mm wide x 20mm high with a reading head 14 mm wide x 20mm high; total height with clearances 43mm.

Regards,

Phil

Maybe worth having a look on Model Engineering Clearing House forum where a couple of posters have or had these locos, others are familiar with them as they were (are?!) a popular club locomotive, and I recall that one regular poster (in South Africa) is currently restoring one.

There is thread about the Ajax valve-gear events, and the introductory restoration thread here. A search on the forum may turn-up other references.

Regards,

Phil

Jason, and others, of course,

Re: period castings for Thompstone Engine;:

Model Engineer, Vol VI, No.69, March 15 1902, page 144, under heading 'Amateurs Supplies', text reads:

Model Horizontal Engine Castings

Readers of The Model Engineer will hardly need an introduction to the work of Mr S. L. Thompstone, some of it already having been published in these pages. A neat list, which he is issuing post free, on application, illustrates a model horizontal engine which is made in two sizes. Those who require castings of this type of engine should make application to Mr Thompstone, Nelson Street, Broughton, Manchester.

End of text.

Regards, Phil.

Hello Luker,

LBSC's mandrel for turning locomotive wheels was fitted as follows:

"Chuck an odd casting or disc of metal a little smaller than the back of the wheel ..... recessing at the middle for about 1/32 in depth and 1 in. or so diameter" (quote from 'Virginia' notes, but similar wording appears for other builds) and then fitted with a mandrel which was subsequently turned to appropriate diameter. Thus the mandrel was principally for centering the wheel which was fully supported by the 'odd casting' or 'disc of metal' held in the chuck. The nut on the end of the mandrel was used to pull the wheel back into firm contact with the ad-hoc faceplate.

Regards,

Phil

On the same page that Jason linked to above with the drawings (link here again for convenience), there is also a link to a build description, here. It is immediately to the right of the drawings' link.

The build is described in French, however the photo's are international, and even if you don't speak French an on-line translator and some imagination will assist & maybe clarify. The boiler is described and pictured on the lower part of page 2 of the build description.

Bonne chance!

Phil

M-Machine list it.

Regards,

Phil

If you go to ebay and 'search' ************* you will find what George was trying to link to. I think.

I'll try and See C of C

Regards

Phil

Edited By JasonB on 12/03/2021 20:01:07

Thank you for the response Luker. Hopefully you will be able to relax without the concerns of filming etc., and you will be able to enjoy your beautiful locomotive still more.

It is a real tribute to your skills and approach and looks and sounds really good.

I found your 'pressure-gauge' article very interesting too. Following your example I am looking to source a couple of suitable pressure-gauges (10bar) from ebay (or similar) to experiment with.

Thanks

Phil.

I've enjoyed the Wahya series too. And the locomotive looks great and runs well. But I note that you don't seem to notch the valve gear up (??).

Regards,

Phil