3" Scale Allchin

Hi engineers; this question is directed to anyone who has built a 3” scale Allchin with a John Rex steel boiler.

The 1.1/2” Allchin as described by Mr Hughes uses a dummy throat plate to “dress” the lower front of the boiler and make it look like the original.

John Rex provides two washout plugs on the lower front of the steel boiler, if the dummy throat plate is fitted in front of these washout plugs then it ends up being too far forward and does not look right.

If the dummy throat plate has two holes in it to allow the two wash out plugs (3/4” AF bronze bolt heads) to peek through, allowing the dummy throat plate to be fitted further back where it looks right, then it visually defeats the point of using a dummy throat plate. !!!

Or do I just not bother fitting a dummy throat plate and leave John Rex’s boiler front as is; as it is you need to be on your back on the ground to see it.

Any comments from those who may already have come across this problem gratefully received.

Donald Mitchell.

Bonnie Scotland.

Fit some dummy mudlids to help hide the washouts. Possibly tap the head of the plug to take a bit of stidding and then make the rest, bit like these on my Fowler.

Jason, the Allchin is supposed to use dummy mud lids on the corners exactly as is fitted to your Fowler.

The John Rex supplied washout plugs are on the front flat face of the boiler, between your rivit 1 & 2 and 4 & 5 of the row of 5 rivits up from your foundation ring.

I was hoping to fit the mud lids where they are supposed to be but I see no alternative to letting the washout plugs poke out through the plate and disguising them as you suggest. This was the conclusion I came up with some time ago but I was just hoping somebody would come up with another idea.

Regards,

Donald Mitchell

Bonnie Scotland.

Hi Donald

I've just finished my 3" Allchin.

I made the dummy throat plate flush with the washout plug bushes, didn't find any problems as a consequence.

If you wish I can take a photo and up load it here.

Nigel

Also Bonnie Scotland (Alford)

Nigel, that would be a great help if you can be bothered thank you.

Donald Mitchell

Castle Douglas

Bonnie Scotland.

Hi Donald

Here's some pics of my engine, Once the blanking plugs are painted black I think they will not be very noticeable, as you said you could disguise then as a dummy mud lid instead of have them on the corner which would provide a better appearance.

Hope this helps.

Nigel

Edited By tractionengine42 on 17/04/2015 11:57:25

Nigel, thank you for the pictures, this shows exactly the same washout plugs as I have have and obviously the only logical thing to do with them. I do not yet have the mud lids fitted to the corners and I think I will not now bother with them. I will see if I can invent some sort of cover for the washout plugs which will look like mud lids and leave it at that.

I am about to see if I can upload pictures to this esteemed forum and I see I have to create an album first and then upload them from there. Can you tell me please what is the best size of pictures to copy to the album, your pictures look good, what size do you make them before uploading them?

Thanks again.

Donald Mitchell

About 640 wide works well here.

Nice looking engine Nigel

J

Thank you Jason.

Donald Mitchell

Still in Bonnie Scotland

I have attempted to upload some pictures if it works.

Pic 1 shows the dummy throatplate's position relative to the front of the boiler to hide the washout plugs

Pic 2 shows the method of attachment to the horns.

Pic 3 shows the nearly complete dummy plate; then I decided that it was going to be far too far forward so I hit it with the hacksaw this afternoon and bored two big holes in it to let the wash outs through and it now looks like Nigel's plate.

The primer paint is now drying on what I hope will now be the finished plate and I will upload a picture of it tomorrow.

Donald Mitchell