Gallery, Projects and General > Project Logs

A Cracker locomotive

<< < (18/21) > >>

DaveH:
Arnold,

Nicely done,  :thumbup: getting close now to steam :clap: :clap: :clap:

 :beer:
DaveH

arnoldb:
Jack, Dave, Thanks Gents  :beer:

Yesterday was a dud; I had to spend the entire day at the office, so no work done...

This morning I started assembling things...
Some PTFE plumbers' tape rolled into a string:


Then wrapped around the needle of the steam regulator to form packing under the pack nut:


I used a bit of thin wire to determine the length and shape for the main steam line; it's easier to bend and cut a bit of wire to shape than a piece of copper pipe:


Main steam pipe bent to shape and the ferrules soldered on - I used electronics solder as it is soft enough to give a good seal, and there would not be a way for the pipe to come loose in the position it is installed:

A bit untidy - I used a file afterward to remove some of the excess solder.

The completed main steam line:


Next I cut the jet end off the donor pencil torch using the small pipe cutter shown earlier:


And turned up and soldered on a suitable pipe fitting:


Then did the final assembly to get the loco to a ready-to-run state:


I moved needed bits to the stoep track, oiled the engine and bearings, and filled the gas tank and boiler.  The first fire-up didn't go too well.  The green pipe really didn't like the heat at the jet side of the pipe, so I shut everything down, beat a hasty retreat back to the shop and made a copper gas pipe as well.

The next fire up went well, and I got this result:


There were still a couple of steam leaks - around the regulator valve and at the engine which I fixed up, and then settled back for some more running:


With the leaks fixed the regulator works nicely - and the gas system also works well; it raises steam in 4 minutes from a cold boiler & water and then with the burner turned down a bit it does lap after lap - after about 10 laps the gas tank runs empty - a refill, and both water and gas runs out together later.  I spent a couple of hours just refilling it and letting it run - until eventually all my refill gas ran out  :ddb: :ddb: :ddb:

Now it just needs a cab, a good tidy-up and a paint job  :D :D

 :beer:, Arnold

saw:
Wow very nice. You have done an exellent work here.  :clap: :clap: :clap:
I have to ask "I used electronics solder"  I don't understand that, what do you mean or what it is?  :doh:

Bluechip:
Hi saw

Usual resin cored solder used for electronic stuff.

Often 60/40 or thereabouts ..

BC

Stilldrillin:
That's great Arnold!!  :D

What a lovely little runner!  :clap: :clap:

I'm sitting here with a big grin. Very pleased for you......  :thumbup:

David D

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page