Donated part-built 3.5" Titch - Questions and help needed please!

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delalio

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Hello everybody,

So I was recently donated a 3.5" Titch from a fellow club member. He stared it around 20 years ago, and has not touched it for around 19. He said I may get more mileage out of it that he did.

I'll upload some pics, shortly, but I have 2 questions.

1 - Is there a standard set of things to check when receiving a part built model? It seems well built, and he is a particularly conscientious builder, but Im a bit out of my depth here.
2 - Does anybody have any digital copies of the 3.5" Titch plans? I have 7 sheets of the 9? 3 are fine, but 4 are illegible as they are so faded.

Kindest Regards,

Del
 
PDF version of Tich construction articles and drawings for downloading Here LBSC Steam Engine Plans
If the model has a boiler that will need checked/tested before use, if the running gear is fitted does everything rotate, work smoothly.
Mike.
 
PDF version of Tich construction articles and drawings for downloading Here LBSC Steam Engine Plans
If the model has a boiler that will need checked/tested before use, if the running gear is fitted does everything rotate, work smoothly.
Mike.

Mike, that is perfect, thanks. A massive amount of information in that 200p file.

Yep,. the wheels rotate freely, and do not slop in the joints/bearings.

There is no boiler, and I will probably make that myself. Just going through the plans now to see it's design. I've already made a small 3in boiler, and am about to start a larger 4.5in one. Both are for stationary steam plants.

Thanks again for the link.
 
Thanks for the advice, Yeah I'll definitely do that when I am at the boiler stage...

Last question: There seems to be various options for the build. (Small vs large boiler, valve gear, etc.)

What would people's recommendations be on those?

Kindest Regards,

Del
 
You would be advised to make the larger boiler. Even this is very small and in order to keep any steam pressure in the boiler, you will need to keep a very close eye on water level and fire when you drive it.

The simplest valve gear is slip eccentric. With this gear, you will have to manually push/pull the engine to for about half a rev to engage the reverse/forward gear.
LBSC was very keen on Baker valve gear. This is basically a simplified Walschaert's gear. Or (if drawn) probably the simplest gear would be Stephenson's link motion (after the slip eccentric).

Dave
The Emerald Isle
 
Get the book, read it front to back.
Then you will have a good understanding where to look for possible errors/mismatches.
 

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