Member postings for Garry Coles

Hi, On the 2 in scale Traction Engine i'm building the cylinder is made of cast iron. The drawings say the the end covers can be made of cast iron or gunmetal, but is it alright to use steel instead. Or are the expansion rates of cast iron and steel so different that it;s not a good idea to use steel. Can someone enlighten me on this please.

Garry

Thanks Jason, I'm now going to use a firm called Owl Castings.

Hi, I'm building the D & NY traction engine in 2 in Scale, and i'm fabricating the cylinder etc at the moment. The main body is cast iron and the valve chest and top cover are gun metal, but the valve chest cover is made of cast iron. I want to make this in gun metal as well so that it can be polished when finished. Does anybody know where I can get a piece of cast flat gun metal 2 in x 2 1/2 in and about 1/4 in thick.

Thanks

Garry

Forgot to mention it's a 2in D & NY Traction Engine. And the boiler is copper.

Hi, I am about ready to bolt the cylinder to the boiler, and was wondering what material the studs should be as they go through into the inside of the boiler. I am going to use PB nuts ans stainless steel washers and have already got some steel studs. Should I use stainless or will the steel studs be okay.

Cheers Garry

Hi there Speedy. Here is the paints I've been using.

Phoenix Precision Paints.

2 part etch primer PQ31 & PQ32.

Pre paint metal cleaner PQ17

This gives a lovely smooth hard surface.

Yourspraypaints.com

Loads of colours and finishes to choose from, and then they fill the spray cans for you.

Hope this is of some help for you.

Garry

Thanks everyone.

No, it's just ordinary sheet steel that EKP supplies. No zinc involved.

Hi, I'm going to be priming some of the parts of my 2 in scale D & NY Traction Engine that i'm building. Some of the sheet steel plate has a grey finish to it, and is very hard to get off. I was wondering if this has to be removed before I prime. (The primer I am using is Phoenix Precision 2 pack etch primer.) It seems to be part of the protection for the steel plate when it comes out of the foundry. Can anyone advise me please.

Garry

Thanks for the reply Brian.

I saw someone using Alum, but that was on a steel part. I was not sure about using it on copper.

Garry

Hi, I have just broken a 1.6 mm drill bit in hole that was to be one of the two threaded holes for the fire door hinge in my copper boiler. The first hole was all good. But the second hole was going alright, then snap. I was taking it very slowly as I know that copper can be a bit grabby.

Can anyone give me some ideas please on how to get round this problem. I've snapped the odd drill or tap over the years, but never this small. I've googled the problem, but they all seem to be about much larger bits.

Thanks

Garry

Thanks for that. I thought you must, but my plans only mentioned the steam supply valve.

Garry

Hi, This might be a stupid question and I might get a stupid answer. But why does the water to the injector not drain the water from the tank when the steam supply is off, or do you need a another shut off valve in the water supply line as well as the steam supply line.

Garry

Thanks Jason, I will have a look.

Hi. Can someone please tell me how to get hold of some back issues of a ME magazine form 21st June 1991 and onwards. On page 691 of that issue is an article about the building of the 2in scale D & NY traction engine, which I am currently building.

Thanks

Garry

Thanks

Hi, I'm building the D & NY in 2in scale, and I'm now building the tender and bunker water tank. In the text it states that the boss on top of the tank for the pump return also incorporates the water level indicator, I seem to be missing something. How do you see the water level or know how much is in the tank???

Some body please explain this to me as this is my first traction engine build.

Thanks

Conffussed Garry in windy and wet Jersey.

Thanks for the advice. I will soft solder the beading.

Hi, I was wondering how to attach half round brass beading to the edging of the bunker of my Traction Engine. The size will be 1/8 or 3/16 brass and the bunker is steel. Do you silver solder it or soft solder it or is there another method, ie a metal glue. Silver soldering will require a lot of heat on the bunker steel for such a small strip of brass,

Thanks

Garry in sunny Jersey

Thanks for the help Jason.