Search results

Hi, I'm building a 45mm gauge De winton. I have made the cylinders out of brass and would like to know if phosphor bronze is a suitable material for the pistons. My searches have suggested a number of combinations, but I can't find this particular one. I would like to use bronze simply because I...

Thanks, I will try all your suggestions. Keith.

I fitted the gas nozzle today and fired it up- see picture. It burned nicely enough outside, although given the size of the air holes and comparing these to the single hole on a bunsen burner, I did expect the flame to be less luminous. The flame however went out as soon as I inserted it into...

I found out yesterday that my acquaintance had sold up the business and retired, but I managed to by a 2mm gas nozzle off Ebay for a couple of quid - it's got a BA thread, so more expense (I'm all metric), but my next project will be a 5" gauge loco, Speedy, so the "new" taps will probably come...

I haven't posted for a while, but I haven't been idle. I initially had a simple chain link to the wheels with a gear ratio of 1:1.13 ish. When I connected the loco to my air compressor it lurched across the "wooden" floor in a most undignified manner until it got up to speed (too fast for my...

Back from the drawing board - the mk. 2 smokebox complete with funnel. I am also getting happier with silver soldering.

Oh dear. Back to the drawing board. :(

I invested in a larger, professional blowlamp, but still struggled to get the temperature up. In the end I used the new lamp, and, aided by my older, smaller blow torch I finally managed to melt the solder - it's not my neatest job and looks a bit monumental, but I think it's secure. Perhaps I...

Poetic licence. :D

I have managed to get back to the shed and get some work done. I finished the regulator/lubricator - it is based on a design by Tubal Cain which he credits to LBSC (words and music etc.). It was my first attempt at silver soldering, and I struggled to get the temperature up - how on earth am I...

Jim, I wasn't offended - I was just rambling. Thanks for the comments. Keith.

Jim, I've always had problems painting brass - I can't bring myself to do it! I have a Paddle steamer, suitably aged that sports a tall, brass chimney stack. I suppose it looks a bit silly, but I'm the owner, captain, shipbuilder, so I don't take complaints from the crew or passengers. The...

Hi Peter. It is a sort of neolithic, vernier callipers.The 'front' side is just a simple ruler, but the reverse side, pictured, has a vernier scale and shows the readings given on this instrument and on a digital callipers. The modern instrument is obviously easier to use, but the older one fits...

Inspired by the progress on the engine I decided to tackle the boiler. The end plates were screwed to a wooden block and turned in a 4 jaw chuck - the method described by Bob Sorenson in the excellent account of his building of "Nina". The attached photo shows the unsoldered boiler so far - I...

Commitments have prevented me working on this for a few months, but I have now managed to progress a little. Last week I finished the engine and attached it to my airbrush compressor. More in hope than expectation I flicked the flywheel and the little beauty started running! I've made boats...

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. As advised, I ground the point off the tap and with the modified tool managed to put a decent thread in the hole (the picture does not show the thread too well). I also put a a shoulder on the pin (belt and braces). The threaded part of the pin is a...

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. I am trying to tap a thread in the rear of the cylinder to take the trunnion pin, and even though I have made the cylinder chunkier than the plan, I still have very little material to play with. To be honest I made a right dog's dinner of the 3mm thread...

Hi, I am making a Cracker locomotive and have to put a thread in the oscillating cylinder - the trouble is I only have a few mm of thickness to play with before I break into the cylinder bore. I bought a 'suitable' tap from Ebay, a dormer - the box says 'bottom', but it doesn't look like my...

Hi GWRdriver, The last boat was a civil war (American) paddle steamer - Coeur de Lion, but I have a varied interest. I have an unstarted 'kit' of the Disney Nautilus which will probably be my next project, once I finish this Cracker. I always wanted to use steam power in my boats, but was put...

Kevin, Thanks for your interest. The cutter is very similar to the one in the picture - I think it's hss. (I attach a pic.) It didn't make too much noise, but the brass seemed to have 'melted" (exaggeration) and formed a 1/8" lip over the edges. Strangely enough, I used it again to form the...