Member postings for Derek Drover

Hi John.

Whats the barrel diameter & length.. then whats the length of the foundation ring section? I presume the foundation ring width is nothing special, and slips between frames as standard for 5" gauge?

Hi Ray, I know the boilers on the real engines were different, but model engines aren't so picky... so long as it looks similar outside proportions and is a published design (to please my boiler tester).

I sometimes wonder why I started this project in the first place..... basing the running chassis on the Enterprise, but stretching the frames out has proven such a difficult task... and understanding the drawing information (or lack off!!).

Cheers guys

Del

Does anyone have a drawing with the dimensions of the boiler for Don Young's Horwich Crab design???

I'm working on a long design project of a 5" LMS Fowler 4P (2-6-4- tank), which has a parallel bellpair boiler.. the Crab one looks very similar and might be what I need.... if it can be designed in to fit..

Thanks

del.

Hertfordshire water is almost liquid chalk, Cambridgeshire isn't too bad.

My 3.5 Netta has an 11oz injector, which is more than enough to use when stationary.. I rely on the axle pump mostly.

I started off with a mini-lathe (a Clarke - it was actually pretty good), but found I needed something bigger. At the time I was working with 3.5" loco's, but having bought a Chester 920, its big enough for 5" as well. Its also capable of screwcutting (which the mini lathe was not!!).. it does have a gearbox arrangement, even though you still have gears to swap around, but its something I have learned to live with, based on a budget.

I know its a Chinese machine, but for a price, its not a bad machine, and there's lots of advice on how to improve them and tailor them to personal preferences. They've been knocking these out since the 80's.

Del.

I had erratic readings this year on my newly commissioned Simplex, it was down to a buildup of muck which had accumulated in the bottom fitting, so blocking the water feed into the bottom of the glass. After clearing this out and further steamings this has not recurred.

Perhaps it might be worth while looking to see if there are any model engineering clubs in your area. Go along and have a chat and see what sort of things others are into making.. not everyone makes locomotives/traction engines. You can also get a good idea on what people like/dislike on any particular machine.. also advice on good tuition material. Some clubs have quite good libraries too.

I'd suggest research carefully on equipment. Some things may look like a bargain, but in the long run are not true value for money.. some things you pay a premium for the brand name when there are alternatives of equal measure.

Also.. understand that this is not a cheap pastime.. tooling and material cost money.. which I'm sure the "better half" would much rather invest in handbags !!!!!!!!!!!!

del.

Whilst reading the threads, my first thought was the clamping of the tool post... as Martin has mentioned above, go to the Bedaire website and read his ideas on improving the 920.

I have one of these.. its pretty good for general work, the clamp was the first thing I did to improve stability. I did it on the lathe using the 4-jaw chuck, so you wont need any special equipment.

I'm now reworking the bearing plate for the compound screw, and making a replacement "imperial" leadscrew for it too as mine is not accurate (metric leadscrew with imperial markings).

Tumbler reverse will be on the list of future improvements.

Rgds

del.

There will be photos uploaded sometime soon of the exhibition, on the club's website:-

**LINK**

Rgds

del.

Thats so funny to watch. I'll see if we can get that linked to our club's website.

If they'd have filmed it an hour later, I'd be there pulling passengers on the portable track with my Simplex.

Am very upset that they didnt show my 3.5 Netta which was on static show in the hall !!!!!

Del.

I saw that last night. It was interesting to see how they moved these big lumps (as that's all they are now). I didnt like the way the Americans had painted all the bare metal parts silver on their A4.. it looked awful, but then I guess thats all the attention its ever received in over 40 years.

Simplex doesnt come as a "kit". You need to purchase plans and castings. These castings need machining, all other parts have to be fabricated from raw materials.

If you're looking for a "kit", which requires no tooling, skills or knowledge to assemble bits, I'd suggest looking towards Polly. They have been going for many years and are recognised as building quality kits which actually work.

del.

I have to say how good these have proven to be! I've bought 4 and have fitted two above my lathe, and will be fixing a pair over my mill. They're not light-bulb bright, but give off a very warm, well diffused light which is very useable.

Keep the wife out of the garage/workshop and resist "put it there for now" !!!!

Have you thrown it out of an upstairs window to ensure the flat nose remains sub-sonic?

Another update to my Simplex.... one of the drop links (which I didnt make I hasen to add), snapped. Compared it to the drawings and its far too thin and feeble. Made a new one to replace the broken one and found that there was insufficient clearence on the valve fork and the radius rod (which was 100thou too wide).. hence the stresses. Alot of filing and the new one fits nicely and doesnt foul. The new one looks good, but will have to make a new one for the other side and recheck everything against the drawings. Never assume someone has done things correctly.

Does anyone have a series of plans for a steam operated weir pump, typically 3 or 4 inches tall. I want it to go on the running board of my Simplex (had enough of trying to get injectors to work). I gather that Engineering in Miniature did a design some years ago, but I've not been able to find.

Spent yesterday public hauling with my little 3 1/2 Netta. She's a girl with pulling power!

Are kids allowed to do paper rounds any more??????? If so, as soon as my one reached 7, he's out delivering and saving up !!! If not, he's going down the pits !!

Started banding the cladding for my Simplex boiler.

4x Merlins in harmony on the Lancaster is difficult to beat. My Kawasaki ZX636 peaking at 18krpm with a performance exhaust made a pretty distinctive howl too ! The Vulcan .... now there's a roar !!