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Member postings for Laurence B

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

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Thread: trevor shortland 51xx regulator
26/08/2011 16:28:40
Hi Nipper,
I haven't got this far with my 51xx (nowhere near!) but your postings were still very interesting.
I've just been looking at drawing T11 and (assuming l'm interpreting the drawing correctly)
it looks to me like the ports are a bit too "square-edged".Some regulator ports have a triangular or 'vee' edge which should give more progressive opening.
I'm just wondering what sort of regulator the late Neville Evans specified for his 'Penrose Grange' loco. I think I still have the set of articles somewhere.
Thread: Removing Clarkson chuck
24/08/2011 16:10:46
David is quite right,the ring mentioned,Clarkson's refer to as the 'damping' ring.Their leaflet reads:
"The purpose of this ring is to give added stability to chucks which have relatively small tapers ad a relatively long overhang..."
 
Also note that the damping ring has a left hand thread!
Thread: Bristol Show
23/08/2011 21:54:14
I went on the Sunday and thought the exhibition was as good as ever,even better with three halls in use.I particularly liked the GWR locos in hall 3;the 'Coal Tank' model on the City of Newport club stand and the 5" gauge 'West Country' near the entrance.The GWR 'training school' lever frame was very interesting and Mr Hanscombe kindly let me operate with it!
Always a very good show-well done to all involved.
Thread: Countryman's Steam - Chain drilling
08/04/2011 10:44:44
Posted by JasonB on 04/04/2011 18:41:43:
Two other points on the hub cross section
 
1. No diameter shown for the reduced central section, assume it should be about 7/8" Would also look better with radiused internal & external corners as it represents a casting
 
2. The 1/4" dimension given for the hub flanges is not in proportion to whats drawn, the 1/4" should have been dimensioned from the outer face of the cover "washer" to the back of the flange.
 
Jason
 
Oh and no idea what the bits in the bottom right are meant to be, hopefully the next installment will enlighten us

Edited By JasonB on 04/04/2011 18:47:30

Like Jason,I have no idea quite what the figure bottom right represents.Also missing from the drawing is the spoke thickness.Is it supposed to be 18g or 16g as implied in the text,or if the angle rims are equal at 5/16,should the spokes be 1/8" thick?
And despite giving the tyre width of 3/4" twice on the drawing,there is no mention of how thick that should be.
 
Why not put all the dimensions needed to make the wheels on the drawing,especially as the series is aimed for the beginner?
 
Again it poses the question about the standards of some of the drawings published in the magazine,whereas those excellently provided by Ray McMahon and Peter Rich for their respective locomotive designs should be what all contributors should aim for.
I hope Mr Webster and the Editor accept my comments in a constructive way,as I think this is a most interesting project.
 
Whether we love or loathe the subject,technical drawing is the language of engineering,whether at full size or in 'our' scales.
Thread: Harrow & Wembley Society of Model Engineers.
29/01/2011 11:21:30
The Harrow and Wembley Society's stand at this year's Ally Pally show was impressive.I particularly liked the model of the L&NWR loco "Cornwall" and the old horizontal drop valve mill engine.Well done to all concerned.
Thread: Parting off on Myford lathes
16/01/2011 21:32:30
Having used a Myford S7 for a few years I've never had any problems with parting off.
I've always understood that successful parting off depends on as rigid a tool set up as possible with minimum overhang of the tool,the correct feed and the correct rotational speed.I've never really thought about the belt tension,which is about correct to the manufacturers recommendations,even though the drive belts invariably have oil on them!
Thread: Small CNC milling machines - any hints/tips
12/01/2011 10:37:19
Perhaps you could have a look at the range of "Wabeco" machines supplied by Pro Machine Tools (link on this page) I have a non-CNC mill of theirs and it is excellent.Not cheap,but a quality machine.
Thread: Trevithick's 1804 Loco
10/01/2011 11:21:47
There is a drawing/engraving of the 1804 (Penydarren) loco in "Life of Richard Trevithick"  written by his son Francis.The book quotes the following dimensions : cylinder 8-3/4" bore by 4'-6" stroke,with 3'-9" wheels,on a 4'-6" wheelbase.The boiler was 4'-3" diameter by 6' long.
 
There is a model of this loco in the Power House Museum in Australia,that was made by C.Mills and Associates (Middlessex) sometime in the 1940's. http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=208080&search=trevithick&images=&c=&s= They also built the model Trevithick engine that resides in the Northgate Museum in Bridgnorth.
 
 
The only drawings and castings  for a model Trevithick engine that I am aware of are those sold by Brunell Engineering (assuming they are still in business) to a design by 'Tubal Cain' published in M.E. some years ago.However this makes up a Trevithick 'Dredger Engine',a somewhat different beast to the 1804 Tramway loco!
 
The replica at the Ironbridge Museum is of the 1803 locomotive.The loco Ian refers to is the "Catch Me Who Can" engine of 1808,that ran on the circular track somewhere near to where the present-day Euston station stands.The Severn Valley Railway built a replica of this engine a year or so ago.

Edited By Laurence B on 10/01/2011 11:24:50

Edited By Laurence B on 10/01/2011 11:30:08

Edited By Laurence B on 10/01/2011 11:31:44

Thread: centec 2b
11/12/2010 10:41:59
Hi,
Just looking at my 2B,there is a recess hole at the back of the 'Y' axis slide (on top of the knee) in line with the quick feed capstan spindle at the front.
In the recess is a retaining nut which will need a box spanner to remove.The spindle assembly should come out then,remembering that the quick feed pinion is keyed to this spindle.Hope this helps.
Laurence B.
 
Thread: Milling Machines
07/11/2010 11:29:58
I own a Centec 2B and I wouldn't part with it.It's a quality machine capable of taking 50 thou cuts in mild steel with ease.The expression - 'a knife through butter' comes to mind.The milling cutters have to be in good condition of course,but then,that applies to any machine.
Thread: Neville Evans
23/10/2010 17:09:50
Nice to read that Neville Evans is on the road to recovery.
Wishing Mr.Evans a full and speedy recovery and looking forward to reading more of his contributions to M.E.
Thread: Are steam engines better now in preservation than they were in ordinary service
19/10/2010 22:06:59
I suppose it depended on the class of loco being used and its mechanical condition.
In the early 'sixties I'd sometimes go train spotting at Lichfield Trent Valley and watch express train roar through at speed behing a 'Semi', Scot,or Jubilee.
On the other hand,I'd see goods trains plodding very slowly through Sutton Park station on the Castle Bromwich-Walsall line,hauled by some of the last few LNWR G2a 0-8-0's (like 'Wessie' being described in 'another' magazine).
Then there were the last steam locos based at Oxley (Wolverhampton) shed.The less said about the state of them,the better!
So I guess the locos in preservation today are in much better condition,and Traffic Inspectors are more likely to fail a defective loco nowadays,than in the good old days of clapped out steamers!
 
Thread: Midlands Model Engineering Show at Warwick
15/10/2010 10:21:43
I went yesterday as part of the 'set up' day for our club,and indeed many other clubs and traders.Naturally one simply had to have a sneak preview of the show,and from what I saw it looks like it will be very good indeed,with some fantastic pieces of model making on show,and plenty to spend one's money on too!
Thread: Finished model too good
11/10/2010 10:09:19
I'm not sure it was a gold medal winner,but I seem to remember seeing a 5" gauge Duchess (aka 'Coronation' class and NOT 'Princess Coronation' class!) at the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition at Donington (ah those were the days-sigh!) some years ago,which had been deliberatly dirtied-up to make it look more realistic.
Also a guy from the Kinver Society built a 5" gauge GWR Grange class to works drawings some years ago,which was never been cleaned after running.It soon resembled what was known as 'the Oxley livery'!
I suspect any loco exhibited with anything short of a mirror finish would displease our somewhat over critical judges.
Thread: advice on purchasing a small mill
19/08/2010 11:12:07
It might be worth looking at the 'Wabeco' range of milling machines available through Pro Machine Tools (see 'Shopping Partners' link).I bought a F1210E machine eight years ago and have found it an excellent investment.It's not too big so it fits in my workshop.It is very accurate and can take some 'big' cuts when necessary.Pro Machine Tools attend some model engineering exhibitions.
Thread: ME Issue 4381 - 02 July - Subscription Copy Delivery ?
03/07/2010 10:11:36
 Not moments after posting on this forum that my copy hadn't arrived , lo and behold it did arrive so all is well! Sorry to read of the editor's mishap-hope he's recovering now.
02/07/2010 10:32:13
My copy still hasn't arrived.
Thread: What price frustration?
01/07/2010 10:38:50
It's the old story - you get what you pay for.I should think that most model engineers have realised by now that some machines of Chinese manufacture fall below the standards that one would expect from a British made machine.
I'm surprised that little mention is made of the 'Wabeco' range of milling machines from Germany (don't mention the World Cup!) They are in my opinion,reasonably affordable and are of excellent quality.
The alternative to buying new foreign machine tools is to look at the second hand market in British machinery.I have an old Boxford AUD,dating from c1975 and a Centec 2B mill which is nearly as old as I am (and that's getting on a bit now!).
Both machines had been well maintained  and still do excellent work.However finding a good second hand Centec nowadays isn't easy! 

Edited By Laurence B on 01/07/2010 10:40:00

Thread: Peter Rich Build Serials
23/06/2010 10:16:06
Also sorry to read that Peter Rich is not very well.I hope he can complete the series on his two loco designs.I've always enjoyed Mr.Rich's previous contributions to M.E. and am looking forward to seeing his work hopefully being published.
Thread: 2MT Test Bar
25/02/2010 11:49:43
I've bought a few items from Arrand Engineering including a test bar,and would recommend them too.The quality is far better than some of this cheap imported stuff.
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