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Member postings for Errol Koch

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

Thread: LBSC Evening Star Boiler
06/05/2016 06:56:22

There is an incorrect dimension regarding the depth of the boiler throatplate below the barrel. My boiler drawing and the book show the depth as 1" whereas the actual measured dimension is 1 1/4".

The side view drawing #1 shows this boiler drawn as 1" though.

I have almost completed the boiler, and have built it to the 1 1/4" dimension.

It appears to be the correct size.

Now, lets see if the copyright holders will amend their drawings!

Thread: What is the truth about "Tich"and "Minnie"?
15/12/2010 17:22:23
I have a 'Tich', built from a very basic chassis given to me by a friend. No castings were used, all machined from solid stock. It is a large boilered, walschaerts valve gear version. It was not my ideal choice of loco, but since I lived in a flat, 3 stories up at the time, with no elevator/lift, seemed a practical compromise.
 
Building it taught me a great deal, how the Walschaerts gear worked, and after completion, how to fire it. If you can fire a 'Tich' on the run, I feel you can fire anything!
 
A bicycle tyre pump fitted to an external blower pipe provided the blast, but it was a mission to get any worthwhile fire initially. I was at first rather condemnatory of the whole effort needed to construct the darned thing, but persevered, to be rewarded with the valuable fire lighting and management knowledge gained, and it has stood me in good stead ever since.
 
I used an old bronze  bush to make smokebox, resulting in a nose down stance, but lead weights added to the cab corners levelled the loco out, improving the traction substantially. (An 'Invicta ' I own slips too easily, and needs a hand push on th boiler to keep traction - gets hot!)
 
I have run it without the superheater fitted, but it uses a lot more water, and the small tanks make it a close call, if the track is too long. I used a screw down regulator, copied from a Martin Evans 'Eagle' I was also building at the time - works well.
 
Since it's such a tiny loco, it does need well fitting parts, but no tightness anywhere. Since it uses an axle driven water pump, careful attention needs to be paid to the free flow of water from the discharge side, no restrictions any where, and test it to satisfy yourself that it is so. Any pressure build up loads the engine and wears it out quickly. Tich has small wheels and they buzz round at a pretty high speed, as does all the engine's components.
 
The track I normally run Tich on is at the Durban Society of Model Engineers, in South Africa. This track has some steep gradients, which draws a lot of power, and consequently creates a fierce blast. I have found that the lower boiler tubes get blocked and that seems to stop the whole show. A level and tame track seems to be a better option. I am sure I could run for ages on a level track, but then boredom sets in!
 
Our local coal is of poorer quality than found elsewhere, needing careful firing, but the loco has a lot of guts and my 'Tich' is a willing performer. It needs an overhaul now, and a change of colour, something bright, so viewers can see what you are busy with between your legs.
 
One error I encountered was that of the return crank length. The drawing and the book differed - the drawings I had were correct, if I can remember correctly.
 
As has been mentioned earlier, its your hobby, to build what you wish.
Enjoy it!
 
Regards,
Errol Koch

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