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Modelengineerissue 4684 February 112022
Modelengineerissue 4684 February 112022
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We Visit
East Somerset
Ellie Engine Astro
Clock
Puma Case
Valves
ENGINEERING GROUP
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EDITORIAL
Editor: Martin R Evans 248 SMOKE RINGS 270 LNER B1 LOCOMOTIVE
Tel: +44 (0)7710 192953 News, views and comment on General arrangement of a typical tender for Doug
Email: mrevans@cantab.net the world of model engineering. Hewson’s 5 inch gauge model
Assistant Editor: Diane Carney of Thompson’s B1.
Club News Editor: Geoff Theasby 249 A RANSOMES ELEVATOR
PRODUCTION Ian Couchman builds a 2 inch scale elevator 272 MEASURING THREADS
Designer: Yvette Green to keep his threshing drum company. Jacques Maurel describes some gadgetry
Illustrator: Grahame Chambers to make measuring threads using the three
Retouching Manager: Brian Vickers 252 FLYING SCOTSMAN wire method a little easier.
Ad Production: Andy Tompkins IN 5 INCH GAUGE
ADVERTISING
Peter Seymour-Howell builds 276 A DOUBLE ACTING
Advertising Sales Executive: Angela Price
a highly detailed Scotsman based ENGINE FOR ELLIE
Email: angela.price@mytimemedia.com on Don Young’s drawings. Tony Bird felt that the boiler and engine of
his Ellie steam tram deserved an upgrade.
MARKETING & SUBSCRIPTIONS 256 AN ENGINEER’S DAY OUT
Subscription Manager: Roger Backhouse visits the Queen 280 POSTBAG
Beth Ashby Street Mill in Burnley to discover Readers’ letters.
MANAGEMENT how cotton became king.
Group Advertising Manager: Rhona Bolger 282 AN ASTRONOMICAL
Email: rhona.bolger@mytimemedia.com 260 ADVENTURES BRACKET CLOCK
Chief Executive: Owen Davies WITH INJECTORS Adrian Garner makes a bracket clock inspired
Roger Froud investigates the science and by Tompion and Banger’s regulator of 1708.
technology of one of model engineering’s
most mysterious gadgets. 285 WE VISIT THE EAST SOMERSET
SOCIETY OF MODEL AND
264 PUMA – A FOUR CYLINDER, EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERS
© MyTimeMedia Ltd. 2022
TWIN CAMSHAFT John Arrowsmith heads west to take a ride on
All rights reserved ISSN 0026-7325 30CC I/C ENGINE East Somerset’s fine track at Shepton Mallett.
The Publisher’s written consent must be obtained before any part of this
Pete Targett builds a four cylinder version
publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, including photocopiers, of Malcolm Stride’s two cylinder engine. 290 CLUB NEWS
and information retrieval systems. All reasonable care is taken in the Geoff Theasby compiles the latest from
preparation of the magazine contents, but the publishers cannot be held legally
responsible for errors in the contents of this magazine or for any loss however 269 BOOK REVIEW model engineering clubs around the world.
arising from such errors, including loss resulting from negligence of our staff. Roger Backhouse reviews The Leader
Reliance placed upon the contents of this magazine is at reader’s own risk.
Locomotive by Kevin Robertson.
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Pennsylvania weight (no coal or water). It entry form can be downloaded
Matt Jeffery, from will be held on the 18th-19th from either the RSME’s
Pennsylvania, USA, writes to June 2022 at the society’s website (www.readingsme.
me with tragic news of his track at Prospect Park, co.uk) or the LittleLEC website
club. Reading, just off junction 12 (www.littlelec.co.uk) where
The Pennsylvania Live of the M4. For the competition you can find the competition
Steamers experienced a 2½, 3½ and 5 inch raised guidelines etc. Applications
a devastating flood as track will be used with an must be submitted before
Hurricane IDA stormed approximate length of 1000ft, the closing date of 30th April
up the East Coast and constructed of steel section 2022 either by email or post.
dumped many inches rail. There is also a ground For those unable to access
of rain in just 24 hours level track of 1112ft in length. online you can either phone
in September. As a These are managed by an or write to the society and
result, the track and the automatic signalling system arrangements can be made to
clubhouse were flooded up and a controlled vehicle post an application form out
to the clubhouse doorknobs crossing on the ground level to you.
and several of the buildings by the entrance to the site. Contact details: John Billard
that house the locomotives There are several or Peter Harrison by email
MARTIN and coaches were underwater. features that make the (littlelec@gmes.org.uk) or you
EVANS
Editor The river, Perkiomen Creek, ride for passengers a little can write to:
crested at 28 feet, the highest more interesting, such as John Billard
ever recorded. The damage to footbridges, a cutting on (LittleLEC 2022)
locomotives that were on the the raised track and a main Reading Society
lower levels is heartbreaking. station that serves both of Model Engineers
The main clubhouse has ground and raised tracks. 82 Bath Road, Reading
sustained the terrible loss There is an additional station Berkshire RG30 2BE
DIANE of all of its manuscripts and opposite the clubhouse which
CARNEY
Assistant archives, photographs and is used for birthday parties,
Editor books - nothing could be visits from local schools, Doncaster Exhibition
salvaged. The only good thing scouting and special needs It has been confirmed that the
(if you can say that) is that groups. The raised track National Model Engineering
the inner walls were cement steaming bays have 12V and and Modelling Exhibition
block painted, and most were 24V supplies available and a due to be held at Doncaster
not sheet rocked (drywall), rain water supply, provided Racecourse in May will,
YVETTE so were spared even greater the tank is full at the time. because of the ongoing
GREEN
Designer damage. The members have If rain water is not available situation with covid, no longer
already stripped the building they have the ability to use be taking place. This will be
and are in the process of mains water. A refurbished a great disappointment to a
replacing shelves, toilets, clubhouse with tea and coffee great many of us but we can
kitchen equipment, water facilities is provided for the look forward instead to next
heaters and central heating. comfort of its members year’s show.
The club hopes to be ready for and guests, along with an
the spring run in May. extensive OO gauge layout.
Such determination and The event will start at Bradford Cup
resilience in the face of 9.30am each day with light Although the Doncaster
disaster is greatly to be refreshments i.e. tea and exhibition will not be taking
admired. I hope the spring run coffee. Plenty of biscuits will place this year, I can confirm
will be a great success and be available through the day that the Bradford Cup
represent a new beginning for – spectators welcome. We competition will go ahead.
the club. have plenty of onsite parking More information about the
for competitors and guests. competition can be found in
Anyone wishing to camp issue 4680 (17th December)
LittleLEC 2022 overnight will be welcome; and a copy of the rules
The Reading Society of Model camping will be available for is available in issue 4681
Engineers is delighted to be Friday and Saturday evenings. (31st December). Given the
Martin Evans can be hosting this year’s LittleLEC If you wish to attend recent uncertainty about the
contacted on the mobile competition following on from the weekend there are competition the organisers
number or email below the successful Federation Rally numerous places to stay have agreed to extend the
and would be delighted to last year. Founded in 1910 by with a few hotels close by. It deadline for nominations
receive your contributions, a small group of enthusiastic is recommended you make until the end of February. So
in the form of items of model engineers, the Reading a booking or reservation as – many thanks to those who
correspondence, comment SME club has undergone soon as you have decided to have sent in their nomination
or articles. several transformations to compete or spectate to avoid already and, to those who
07710-192953 become the club we see today. disappointment. have not yet got around to
mrevans@cantab.net The competition is open to If you wish to take part in it, you have less than three
locomotives 50lb or under dry this year’s competition the weeks left!
PART 5
A Ransomes Elevator Floor consists of a short length of “Four sheets of quarter scale
Now I need a floor for the slats, which allow any chaff galvanised corrugated iron
trough. The first section is a to drop through to the ground. please. … Go where? … I’ll take
short length of sheet steel in Photograph 56 shows these that as a no, then”.
the area that the tines pick up two sections. The rest of the Okay. Back to the drawing
the straw. The next section floor is more interesting. This board ...
is made from corrugated iron Many years ago, I bought
so off to the local builders’ something called a rotary
56 merchants. machine; it consists of a pair
of roughly parallel shafts, each
having a former mounted on
57 the end, which are adjustable
horizontally and vertically.
It is another of those tools
only used once every other
blue moon, but really earn
their keep when you do need
them. Amongst the formers
which came with the machine
was a pair which, with some
modification, could produce
corrugations. And so into
production (photos 57 and
58)! And here are a couple of
pictures of the finished floor
Floor, in two sections. Rolling corrugated sheet. (photos 59 and 60). >>
www.model-engineer.co.uk 249
58 59 60
Sheets rolled. The rest of the floor fitted. Underside of the floor.
67 68
69 70
71
Hopper
I didn't take too many pictures workshop and had moved to something like this. The trailer One part that I didn't mention
of this bit but you will see it the trailer! In photo 68 you can was very useful storage for can be seen at the left-hand
better in later pictures. The see the finished hopper. painted parts while they dried! end of the hopper in the top
hopper is the area where the Photograph 69 shows photo. This is a pair of pulleys
straw from the threshing Finishing off various wooden parts in which can be adjusted for
drum drops in to the elevator All I've got to do now is take primer. They call it Very Pink position. They are used to
and is picked up by the tines. it all apart, paint it and put it primer. I can't argue with that. guide the drive belt (from a
Photograph 66 shows the two back together ... In photo 70 we see a clutch of pulley on the drum) so that the
side assemblies, produced I used the same colour parts drying after spraying. elevator can run at an angle to
from home-made tongue and scheme as the threshing Now it all goes back together: the drum.
groove boards, with photo 67 drum, alfa red on wheels and undercarriage (photo 71), That's it. I'm off to finish last
showing one of these sides frame and salmon pink on the wheels, raising gear, hopper, year's harvest!
in place on the frame. By this bodywork. I use a matt finish; trough and chains. The top
time, I'd run out of room in the gloss looks wrong to me on photo shows the end result. ME
www.model-engineer.co.uk 251
Peter
Seymour-
Howell
builds a fine, fully
detailed model of
Gresley’s iconic
locomotive to Don
Young’s drawings.
PART 28 -
SMOKEBOX
FITTINGS
Painting by Diane Carney.
Flying Scotsman
in 5 Inch Gauge
Hinges
On 4472 for my era the door tapping some holes. Tapping
hinges etc were burnished was a problem even after
steel. I planned to use opening out the tapping holes
stainless steel to represent by approximately 65%, the
this look and also to remain problem being that I don't own
looking this way with no a 10BA spiral point fluted tap
corrosion but that plan and they aren't cheap! So, I
changed when it came to changed to BMS to which I
FAR LEFT: 1. First, I made the hinge pin. It’s made from two parts, the first being the
stem with a taper on its end and the top cap which started life as a section parted
off from some stainless steel bar, centre drilled to fit the stem. Once silver soldered
together the stem was put back into the three-jaw chuck and the cap was shaped as a
flat dish. Currently, the pin is a little over length but I’ll trim it once the door is finished.
LEFT: 2. The top hinge block hole needed a 5⁄16 inch diameter counterbore machined
into the flange to clear the block and you can see here how close the lower hole is to
the edge. I used photographs as a guide for where to place these holes and they seem
different to what they were before preservation.
shall give a burnished finish to didn't add up and so I reduced using a button. I then silver two for handrail stanchions.
help stop any corrosion issues. the pitch to 10 mm. soldered the parts together to I clocked the door ring to find
After cutting some lengths On to the hinge blocks. I complete the hinge blocks. the centre and first drilled the
of square BMS, I needed to cut off two lengths slightly On to the door ring that two hinge block holes and then
drill the holes for the rivets to oversize, clocked them in the needed four holes drilled, the two stanchion holes.
secure the hinge to the door. machine vice for centre drilling two for the hinge blocks and
These will be for 1⁄16 inch steel one end 2.85 mm ready for the
rivets but initially I drilled them 6BA spigot/thread to be turned
1.4 mm to take a 10BA tap - up and silver soldered into
the reason why will become the block. The next job was to
clear soon. Don stated to give cross drill the hole for the pin
these a ½ inch pitch but on and the last job was to round
scaling from photographs this off the end which I did by hand
3. I now needed to temporary fit the hinge blocks using the pin to square them up and 4. I tapped 5 holes in each hinge plate 5. Here is the jig held in the machine vice
then check that the hinge was looking right. I first marked up the door from the centre 10BA for securing to the jig plate and ready for machining (before the spacers
to the left then, laying the hinge roughly in its position, I checked that it looks right for here we see the two hinges fixed to were removed). I used small dabs of
the mounting holes and to decide where I need to machine it down to a thickness of the jig. Loctite 638 as extra security in holding
1/16, which is where the black line is drawn between the last hole and the hinge block. the hinges to the mounting jig.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 253
LEFT: 11. Once the hinges were shaped I re-clocked the door ring on the milling table sitting on some parallel
bars, taped under the hinges to stop any slip on the 1⁄16 drill bit, lined up with the centre of the hinge strap
near the hinge block and then, once happy that all was square, I moved over to one of the centre holes in the
hinge strap and drilled the first hole through the hinge into the door. I then placed a rivet to hold it in place
and moved along a few holes and drilled another. Doing it like this helps keep the hinge straps running at 90
degrees to the hinge pin, or at least that’s how I tackled this particular job. Also of note is that the door sealing
10. Next the hinge strap was shaped by hand to match ring has been put in its groove so that the hinge is in its correct position for sealing the door properly. Once
the door. This takes a little time as it’s a compound the central hinge holes had been drilled (the outer holes have to be done by hand off the table due to the angle)
curve but it’s only a gentle curve so no real problem and I then moved to plot, using a centre drill, the door handle point, two stanchion points and the lower central rivet
the rivets will hold them tightly in place. hole for the door lamp bracket. RIGHT: 12. Here is the door in place, with the door closed.
14. This picture shows the lamp iron riveted to the door and the door
handrail fitted although not tightened up yet. I had to counterbore the rear
13. I then tackled the crosspiece and its support brackets. The brackets of the door to get the 7BA nuts to reach the handrail knob threads. Once
are simple joggled shapes that were screwed to the back of the door ring painted I will return to the handrail and solder the parts together and round
with 5BA stainless screws. Here is the crosspiece in position. off the ends so that they are enclosed as in the prototype.
17. A view with the door open, showing the dart in position and also the door seal 18. Here we have the door closed showing the handles in their normal
temporary fitted into its groove to check that all tightens up properly. closed position. Having said that, I have many photographs where the
position varies a little but think this is the most seen position.
Lamp iron, straightforward and similar to long square section and then narrowed again to fit through
crosspiece and dart the other lamp irons. a longer than drawing 9⁄64 the crosspiece. The tongue
Continuing with the door I Next, I tackled the dart itself, section that goes through the itself is a piece of 7⁄32 square
now fabricated some of the I did this in two parts as it's centre boss, I have extended stainless that has been drilled
‘ornaments’, as Don calls in stainless and I didn't fancy this due to the bush as it was ready to be silver soldered to
them. First was the lamp machining the whole thing increased in length to give me the stem. Once that's done the
iron. Don gives two drawings from solid. First part was the a mounting point for the dust tongue was shaped to size.
and I needed to use the early stem itself which involves shield to be fabricated later.
pattern for my era. This was a 7BA thread at the tip, a 3⁄16 Then a short 3⁄16 bush and then ●To be continued.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 255
An Engineer’s Day Out
King Cotton PART 2
Specialist looms
Amongst the looms at Queen
Street is a Terry towelling
loom. This uses two weavers’
beams, one holding thread
for the loosely tensioned
24
Detail of Terry towelling loom - this one made by Northrop features
a dobby mechanism to programme weaving simple patterns.
25 26
A Northrop dobby loom still used to weave glass cloths. Note the string of punched
cards top right. Holes controlled operation to weave simple patterns or lettering.
(Mill made glass cloths are highly recommended.)
27
A dobby loom used a heald shaft to lift the warp threads. Instead
of punched cards here wooden lags with pegs in holes control
operation and it can be programmed to create simple patterns.
28
www.model-engineer.co.uk 257
29 30
Jacquard card cutter Telescopic Rapier loom made by Adolf Saurer in France around 1975. One end of
a rapier (a rod or steel tape) carries weft yarn and moves across the fabric’s width,
Rapier loom Platt made a variety of textile carrying the weft yarn through the shed to the opposite side. The rapier is then
More modern looms such as machines, particularly fabric retracted, leaving the new pick in place. Unfortunately, this loom was placed the
those made by Sulzer use air printing machinery. wrong way round in the museum - the beam would normally be behind.
jets and operate at speeds of
up to 1500 picks per minute. Problems at work
Others use spring powered Noise levels in weaving 31
projectiles instead of a mills were usually 100-130
shuttle. The museum has a decibels, similar to modern
telescopic Rapier loom made road drills. Weavers learned to
around 1975 by Adolf Saurer lip read and developed a sign
in France using a projectile - in language known as MeeMaw.
this case a long rod - to put Deafness was common
weft through the shed (photo among mill workers (photo
30). Unfortunately it was 31). Even now with only a few
placed the wrong way round in looms working, visitors are
the mill. advised to use ear defenders
if staying more than a short
Shutting down time in the weaving shed.
My grandfather was the Many mills closed during
engineer at the Ashton the 1920s and 1930s.
Weaving Company. There, a Demand slumped and tariffs Former staff member, Renee Flynn inserts a pirn into a shuttle
device probably linked to the and foreign competition for use in one of the mill’s Lancashire looms.
mill engine limited the gas led to mass unemployment
supply dimming lights five across Lancashire. Yet after
minutes before the engine the Second World War mills 32
stopped for the day. This gave suffered labour shortages,
weavers enough warning to leading to Government
shut down looms correctly. efforts to make weaving
Then the gas supply dimmed more attractive as a career,
further giving just enough but overseas competition
light for weavers to see and historic underinvestment
their way out. This system led to more closures (photo
was probably used in many 32). Lancashire textile
Lancashire mills. Electric manufacturing is now but a
lighting wasn’t used in the shadow of what it once was.
main weaving shed at Queen Although many mill buildings
Street until 1947. were demolished, others have Post war poster
been converted to different recruiting
Other processes uses or even to apartments. women to work
Queen Street Mill produced Several mill engines are in mills. After
mostly plain grey cloth either preserved but Queen Street the war fewer
sold directly or more usually remains the only place where wanted cotton
sent elsewhere for dyeing weaving by steam power can mill work and
or bleaching. Dye houses, still be seen. labour shortages
bleaching works and fabric Even this was under threat were partly
printers were major employers when Government spending addressed through
across Lancashire. Engineering cuts hit Council budgets recruitment in
firms such as Mather and though, fortunately, Lancashire Pakistan.
County Council eventually This unique piece of place and the associated Michael Schofield -
found money to reopen the Lancashire’s industrial and Helmshore Textile Museum. Fire Beater (Boilerman)
mill; they also repaired the working class heritage is not I strongly recommend Jennifer Ingham -
mill chimney and the whole as well known as it deserves visiting. You won’t be Museum Manager
complex is listed and a World to be. Sadly, Council marketing disappointed. Renee Flynn -
Heritage site. The mill engine budgets are insufficient to Technical Assistant
has been repaired recently. properly promote this amazing Thanks to
Alwyn Rogers - All photographs reproduced
Engine Tenter (Engineer) by permission of Queen
Kary Backhouse (no relation) Street Mill.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum Reopening 30th March 2022 and to former staff:- ME
(check before visit)
Queen Street, Harle Syke, BURNLEY BB10 2HX Braiding maker - weaving
33 wasn’t the only technique
Bus No. 5 from town bus station. Regular services. used. Knitting machines and
3 miles from town centre. this braiding maker were
3 miles from J12 on M65. also important.
Tel. 01282 459996
Wheelchair accessible. Admission charge.
Website
www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/queen-
street-mill-textile-museum/#section1
Other places of
interest in the area
Burnley has the historic ‘Weaver’s Triangle’ near Manchester
Road station. Nearby, Gawthorpe Hall (National Trust) has the
Kay-Shuttleworth textile collection and Towneley Hall has local
history displays.
Website
www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/
helmshore-mills-textile-museum/#section4
Shuttle making workshop. Shuttles were bought in from
outside firms such as Kirk and Co. of Blackburn.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 259
PART 3
Adventures with Injectors
Let the fun begin... Annular regulation has the • How many holes can you get
For the moment let’s skip the nose of the steam cone round a given diameter before
Roger Froud studies the details on making the cones sitting inside the entry to you end up with separate
theory and practice of and concentrate on their the condensing cone, so pieces?
making injectors. designs and consequences. the effective length will be • If you can’t get enough area
The experimental cones are different if the steam cone in one row, how about two or
for 16 fl oz/min delivery which doesn’t do that. more rows of smaller holes?
Continued from p.197 is just under half a litre per I’ve used a gap of 0.76mm • How does the decreasing
M.E. 4683, 28 January 2022 minute. I’ve created a 3D between the condensing and diameter of the tapered cone
model of the cone that uses mixing cones, using the two affect how many and what
the relationships teased from books mentioned as a guide size of holes you can use?
Bob Bramson’s book because, for what’s necessary. Some • How does the number and
ideally, I’d like to be able to questions immediately come size of the holes affect the
create any size injector I fancy. to mind when considering this resistance to the flow of
I won’t go into that now but type of design: water and steam?
I cross checked the model • How does all this impact on
results with known good • What happens to the flow the ability to lift water or the
designs and it comes up with when it crosses a hole and overall performance when
similar dimensions. It won’t what happens to the flow if running?
be exactly like a conventional the holes overlap? • What effect does the sprung
set of cones because the • You need bigger holes to get overflow valve have on the
choice of end regulation the same area if they don’t ability to lift water?
means the condensing cone overlap, so how big can you • What effect does a radius of
will necessarily be different. go? any given size at the entry to
Fig 7
Trial cones.
Fig 8
the condensing cone have, if problems which I’ll discuss for the same reason at the scalding hot when it won’t
any? later. The idea was that I would same time whether that’s pick up. Steam serves to heat
• What effect does changing be able to switch over to the when starting or when the body even more as we try
the regulation gap have on scale body at any point and overflowing with too much unsuccessfully to get it to
any of the characteristics? try the current cone to see if it water. You almost certainly work. The issue is that a hot
would work. The bigger nose won’t have one gap sucking body conducts heat to the
Maybe now you can see why was to contain an O-ring to while the other is overflowing. water inlet pipe and the water
it took so many experiments help deal with variations in the Even if it did, so what? As partially turns into steam
to tease out the answers overall length. soon as the flow settles down, as it enters the body. That
to these questions. If you Rather than describe the both with be sucking. increase in volume has to
change more than one thing tortuous and twisting tale of With that discovery out of escape through the overflow
at a time, you can’t attribute how each of these performed the way, what was learned or else the excess simply
any changes in performance and the reasoning behind from the myriad of different expands into the water inlet.
to one thing. Unfortunately, them, let’s cut to the chase and hole arrangements? What’s needed is enough
there are a virtually infinite see what was discovered. Well, firstly, they all work suction and overflow volume
number of permutations after a fashion, and that was a to accommodate this excess
and combinations of hole Conclusions big surprise. The biggest single volume so that water can
configurations! As I’ve already alluded to, issue, however, is getting enter and cool the body to
For your amusement, here it soon became pretty clear enough suction to overcome start the injector.
are some of the designs I tried that having separate or the tiny spring on the overflow. The amount of suction is
(figs 7 and 8). You can see combined overflows made Most of the arrangements decided by the ratio of the
that I quickly abandoned the no measurable difference to could be coaxed to work but steam cone throat area to the
centre O-ring arrangement, the performance. Just stop very few willingly picked up throat area at the condensing
even though the performance for a moment and let that when the body was hot or the cone exit. To increase the
of the cones was far from sink in, because this has steam was turned on first. suction, the overflow has to
satisfactory at that point. huge implications for scale Even if they did pick up well, be moved upstream to make
You can also see that the injectors. To be honest, I they usually dropped out at a the area bigger. All of this is
nose design changes and I shouldn’t have been surprised disappointingly high pressure well known and simple to do if
also altered the middle neck because both overflow gaps during the ‘dropping pressure’ you have a nice straight edge
dimensions. The cone was have similar requirements, test. to the cone, but I’ve got holes
designed to fit in the scale albeit with different volumes. We’ve all had times when there instead. Experiments
8X body, and that has its own They both will surely overflow the injector has become showed that a gap of 0.75mm >>
www.model-engineer.co.uk 261
could be simulated much conventional, separate cone,
better by 8 x 0.9mm individual designs. Clearly the only 2
holes than say 12 x 0.8mm reason it matters for those
overlapping holes. Who would is that you can’t guarantee
have suspected that? Not the alignment of the cones
me. All I can put that down to accurately enough.
are the slight scallops along
the edges where overlapping The overflow valve
holes meet, possibly Although a silicon nitride ball
disturbing the flow. Another worked reasonably well, I
possibility is that the volume found that the design in photo
created above the holes 2 with a 0.5mm thick silicone
isn’t sufficient, so there’s washer was more reliable. I
resistance there. Drilled holes wanted them to be accurate so Overflow valve.
don’t give as much volume I made the little punch. There’s
as the traditional design of no point in blaming a poorly
separate cones where there’s made valve for not working 3
generally a large relief above properly, it has to be a fair test.
the gap. The silicone washer is
I did find that I needed stretched over the head on the
to move the row of holes valve stem. The idea is that it
upstream from the position doesn’t matter if it leaks a bit in
where the cone would usually one direction, in fact it’s highly
end. That’s not entirely desirable so that water can
surprising. flow through the injector when
it’s turned on. The thin section
Delivery end overflow means it’s flexible enough to be
So what about the holes at drawn onto the valve face when
the delivery end then? Well, it needs to seal, and that’s Overflow valve assembly.
basically you can get away when it does matter.
with almost anything, it’s not at I found the stainless steel rated maximum pressure it’s using the main valve for it to
all sensitive. There’s no point springs on eBay from China. required to work at. work at any pressure and that’s
in adding lots of overlapping There was only one place that Once the water merges with just plain inconvenient.
holes, or making them huge; made them light and small the steam, it will most certainly Anyway, in my case,
four small ones work just as enough. These are 0.2mm be pulled into the injector. that restriction is the axial
well and it’s simpler to make. wire and 5mm long (photo If there is no limit on how clearance between the end of
3). If they were any lighter, I much can flow, the volume the steam cone and the one
Blending the cone inlet.. don’t think the valve would of water will soon overwhelm piece cone.
Most of the tests were be reliable. Any stronger and the overflows and the injector Regardless of that, what
performed with and without you wouldn’t be able to create won’t start. The purpose of actually happens when you
some form of blend on the enough suction to overcome the regulation gap is to set change it? Well, with the water
entry to the condensing cone. the back pressure. the top limit on the amount of and steam both turned on, if
To be honest, it doesn’t make water that can be drawn into you start with zero gap, clearly
as much difference as you The regulation gap the injector to stop this from nothing is going to happen
might expect, although it does Here’s a quick reminder of happening. As far as I can as no water will get in. As
help. You can definitely hear what we’re talking about: it’s tell, this doesn’t need to be you slowly increase the gap,
that the flow is quieter with the gap between the steam done with a gap at all, it could more and more water is drawn
a radius, and it does allow cone and the condensing probably be achieved just as in but it all comes out of the
the injector to run to lower cone. The diagram with all the well by adding restriction in the overflow. That’s because there
pressures before dropping names is shown in fig 1 (part 1 waterway somewhere in the isn’t enough yet to condense
out. However, the original – issue 4682, 14 January). body. It makes me wonder why all of the steam. Eventually
0.8mm radius proved to be too First of all, what is the gap nobody has experimented with that point is reached, and now
large and counterproductive and what is it for? Injectors deliberately designing the gap there’s finally enough energy in
and I settled on 0.4mm. One are generally designed to draw to be larger than necessary, the flow and it’s a solid column
problem with making the radius water from the inlet, rather than and then tuning the flow with of water. At this point, provided
too large is that it effectively relying on a gravity feed. if the a simple screw valve rather the proportions of the cones
reduces the length of the injector is going to start, water than having to experiment and throats are correct, the
condensing part of the cone. must be present and ready to with different shims to get it injector will start feeding.
Obviously, it’s not possible flow at the end of the steam right. Setting the regulation However, this will be on the
to blend the inlets to what cone. Whether that’s by means when the injector is running ragged edge of working and as
would normally be the second of its own suction or fed from a is a trivial matter and takes the gap is further increased,
and third cones in a row, header tank is immaterial. seconds if you can adjust it. the flow settles down and the
since they’re one piece. The Please note that for the You could probably avoid pressure available at the output
fact that this clearly doesn’t purposes of this explanation, having any form of regulation rises to a maximum. If you keep
matter provides a clue as I’m assuming that the steam at all but it would mean having increasing the gap, the pressure
to why they’re needed on is being supplied at the to throttle the water supply begins to fall again because
there’s simply too much water just big enough to allow the of water. Doing this should designing a backhead mounted
getting into the cones and injector to pick up with water enable the injector to pick Injector where it was always
it starts to spill out of the at 20 degrees C. because as up again but as the pressure hot, this could be very useful.
overflow. Further increasing soon as the water gets much drops further, more water For regular use, this is probably
the gap results in the injector hotter than that, it’s going restriction will prove necessary academic and the need for
stalling completely, with the to fail. My experiments lead until eventually we reach the regulating the water for more
delivery dropping to zero. me to believe that the most limit of the design. usual operating temperatures is
So, what should the correct sensible thing to do is to set As with most things, it’s a likely to be annoying. I make no
regulation gap be? Well, that up the injector so that the gap compromise. The higher the special claims for this injector’s
depends on one other factor is the smallest that allows it to water temperature we want performance. Any injector that
I haven’t mentioned - water pick up cleanly with water at the injector to work with, prevents air being drawn into
temperature. Clearly cold water the highest temperature you the sooner the injector will both cones ought to have these
will condense steam much want it to work at. With that need regulating manually as characteristics. I mention it
more quickly than hot water. setting, it willFixture
easily as cobbled up. the pressure drops. In my
pick up at only to demonstrate that this
It’s also clear that there must lower water temperatures. experiments, which are for a design performs at least as well
come a point after which it’s There’s one little twist to working pressure of 90 psi, the as any other.
not possible for the injector this tale and that’s about injector will drop out at just Ideally the injector
to work at all. A tiny amount what happens as the pressure under 50 psi if the regulation would have a temperature
of steam might just be able to drops? Unfortunately, the gap is opened up enough to compensating mechanism
make it all of the way to the larger the gap, the sooner the work with 35 degree C. feed to automatically adjust the
delivery cone and enter the injector will stop feeding as the water. That can drop to about regulation, based on the water
boiler, but we’re relying both pressure drops. That’s because 35 psi if the top temperature of temperature. Maybe some sort
on transferring the kinetic the amount of water flowing the feed water is 25 degrees C. of bi-metallic helical piece that
energy of the steam, and for through the gap isn’t in direct Since most locomotives have moves a sleeve on the outside
the column of water to be proportion to the amount two injectors, there’s nothing of the steam cone?
inelastic. In practice, the limit needed to condense all of to stop you setting one for Being able to optimise the
for feed water is in the region the steam at lower pressure. higher temperatures and the regulation gap while in steam
of 35 degrees C. It’s remarkable that a well- other for lower. is so useful that
■
I decided to
What we find is that hot designed injector performs as Taking things to extremes, incorporate that feature into
water, unsurprisingly, requires well as it does in this regard. the injector can be adjusted to the scale 8X injector too.
a slightly larger regulation However, at some point, as the work with water in excess of 45
gap. This is because more of pressure drops, the amount degrees C., simply by increasing ●To be continued.
Next Issue
it is required to condense the of water drawn is more than the regulation gap. Further
same volume of steam and can be delivered and it spills optimisation of the relative
some of it may also be lost to out of the overflow, usually throat diameters is probably in
the overflow in the process so, causing the injector to stall. At order for this extreme though, NEXT TIME
for practical reasons, it’s not this point, we have to manually because the overflow isn’t We actually make an injector.
sensible to set the gap so it’s intervene and reduce the flow completely dry. If you were
3 Look outfor
for the March issue,
. 3 1 Look out your copy of MEW 313,
helping you get even more out of your workshop:
N o the March 2022 issue:
Laurie Leonard shows how to Mark Noel explains the ingenious John Purdy describes a neatly
improve the cross-slide leadscrew engineering behind kite-borne made milling machine depth stop.
on Myford Lathes. aerial photography.
www.model-engineer.co.uk
57_58 Bandsaw/NxtIssue.indd 58 263 18:38
07/01/2022
Puma Cylinder assembly/
piston rings
A Four Cylinder, Twin PART 4
Camshaft, 30cc I/C Engine
if I wish (photo 22). Of course,
using ‘O’ rings needs extra
made on the way. I find that
doing a few small parts, here
Pete Now is probably the time to work on the bores to get them and there, helps reduce the
mention the cylinders. There smooth (photo 23). tension that occurs when
Targett
is nothing different here from As I was working through doing the more complicated
builds his Malcom’s design though. On the various stages of making stuff. It also means that, over
own version of Malcolm one of the forums, a member the cylinder heads, I had got time, everything gets done
Stride’s twin cam internal has built a version the single to the point of drilling the before it is required. Despite
combustion engine. cylinder Jaguar and it started passages for the inlet and opting for ‘O’ rings, I had made
just about first time. exhaust ports. They are angled the piston rings when I did the
The secret appeared to be at 15 degrees. I was messing Bobcat six years ago. I had
Continued from p211 that he had used ‘O’ rings about with protractors and never made piston rings before
M.E. 4683, 28 January 2022 rather than make the cast digital angle gauges when I and had expected problems
iron piston rings. As this had an inspiration that the so I made a few. My concerns
engine was only going to be valve guides would be a ready- were unfounded and I only
a demonstrator, I decided made sine bar. They are 12mm used four of them, so I ended
that this was something I apart so the offset needs to up with a few spares.
was going to try. Rather than be 12mm x sin(15 degrees) =
make new pistons with larger 3.105mm. I used a slip gauge Valves
grooves for the ‘O’ rings, I but a 3.1mm drill shank would I also cheated a bit with the
sourced some 1 x 20mm Viton do it (photo 24). valves. I had made them to
rings. This also means I can The bags (photo 25) contain Malcolm’s method for both the
go back to the cast iron rings various other parts that I had Bobcat and Lynx but thought I
22 23
24 25
Using the valve guides as a sine bar. Bags of small components made as a break between the more complicated parts.
265
PUMA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fig 5 Crankshaft.
189
A A
5
65 17 6 8 20 6 8 6 20 8 6 14
B
Ø1.5 B
Cranshaft Assembly
1 1
78
5
C C
65 17 6 8 14 14
28 6 8
Ø10
Ø10
7.87
Ø11
Ø10
Ø10
Ø5
Ø8
Ø8
Ø12
35
M8 29b Crank Pin (x2) 29c Crank Tail
29a Crankshaft Nose
D D
Ø8
0
Ø1
6
Ø1 14
Ø
8
Ø
23.5
33
20
10
Ø Ø 10
12
E E
8 12 1 1
8
R 16
12 29f Front Spacer
R16.5
29g Rear Spacer
www.model-engineer.co.uk
.5
Dept. Technical reference Created by Approved by
29d Crank Web #1 Pete Targett 26/12/2020
29e Crank Web #2 (x2) Document type Document status
Title DWG No.
All dims mm
F Crankshaft Part 29 a-g F
Rev. Date of issue Sheet
1/1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Model Engineer 11 February 2022
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fig 6
A A
5
12
9
3
Ø1
Ø
Make two
Ø4
1x 12mm Ø6
Ø19
1x 14mm
3
5
4
5
Ø3 40
Ø
20
4
Ø
x
Ø40
Ø3 4
50
Ø6
42
D Ø30 D
7
28
26
Ø1 5 11 Sensor Mount
3
Ø Ø3
19
7 14
Ø1 5
5
2
9 Timing Base/Rear Bearing Mount
E E
Dept. Technical reference Created by Approved by
Pete Targett 27/12/2020
Document type Document status
Title DWG No.
All dims mm
F Ignition and Timing F
Ignition and timing. Rev. Date of issue Sheet
1/1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
266
>>
267
PUMA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
92
Sump.
A A
Ø3 .
33
49
60
80
M4
B B
60
2
Ø2
.5
8
6
30 30
2
C 49 C
1
M2.5
.0
Ø2
2.5
18 25 25 18
3
18
D D
30
76
45
19
3
3
18
E E
www.model-engineer.co.uk
4 Sump Dept. Technical reference Created by Approved by
Pete Targett 12/02/2021
Document type Document status
Title DWG No.
All dims mm
F Pt 4 Sump F
Fig 7 Rev. Date of issue Sheet
1/1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
26 27
28 29
www.model-engineer.co.uk 269
LNER B1 Locomotive
FIG 2 – TENDER GENERAL ARRANGEMENT
www.model-engineer.co.uk 271
PART 2
Measuring Threads
Internal threads
Curiously, almost nothing 9
Jacques seems to exist for measuring
Maurel an internal thread during
machining (to know how
looks far you are from the final
at variations of the dimension), so we have to rely
‘three wire method’ for on the successive trials with
measuring threads. the male threaded part after
each pass when the thread
seems to be near completion
Continued from p.218 and this is really a boring job. The ‘two wire’ method for measuring an internal thread.
M.E. 4683, 28 January 2022 Here is my approach to
solving this problem.
The ‘two wires’ method can 10
be tried, using a plain iron wire
or piano wire wrapped inside
the thread (photo 9). This
works but the wire must fit
the thread. Piano wire is often
quite stiff (not convenient for a
wire diameter above 1mm) and
iron wire can be scored by the
hard caliper’s jaws. Of course,
you have to make a wire loop
for each dimension and it’s not
very easy to fit the wire exactly
in the thread furrow. For large
wire diameters, it’s worth using Using grease to hold the measuring wires.
two sections of a loop (the
wrapping diameter of which is
smaller than the female thread 11
diameter) held in the thread
with grease - see photo 10
showing a M37.6 x 3mm pitch
(lathe backplate) with two
lengths of 1.69mm wire held
inside by grease.
Fig 8
12 Fig 9
>>
www.model-engineer.co.uk 273
Fig 11 Fig 12
NEXT ISSUE
Triple Oscillator
Hotspur builds a three-cylinder
oscillating steam engine capable of
running in either direction.
Driving Truck
Tim Coles presents a 7¼ inch gauge
driving truck, designed to carry
two people and conforming to a
prototypical outline.
Gearbox
Ted Hansen decides to replace the
transmission in Westbury’s Aveling
road roller with something a bit
closer to the prototype.
Astronomical Clock
Adrian Garner completes the case
for his astronomical bracket clock.
Bike
Patrick Hendra describes his
lockdown project – the restoration
of a 1947 Vincent Rapide
motorbike.
Reversing valve table and milling machine to act on, it doesn’t need such a
The reversing valve is a bit make it. This design has the strong spring to hold it steam
Tony Bird different from the original advantage that because there tight, which also helps as it
decides to and doesn’t need a rotary is no slot for the steam to shares the spring with the
upgrade
steam tram Ellie’s engine. 22 23
The ports are drilled a bit more than half way through the valve
and then the passageways are drilled. This photograph shows
the valve that has had the ends of its passageways plugged
along with how the valve was stopped oscillating with the
A square of 5mm was marked out to the same dimensions as cylinder. Instead of being mounted on the cylinder trunnion it
used on the cylinder frame for the ports. has its own brass tube bearing.
24 25
The valve was turned into a round shape and the position of The valve is positioned on the engine stand.
one of its ports indicated with a pop mark.
26 27
31
Flywheel with mounting hole for the crankpin and balancing holes.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 277
33 34 35
Port block being used. The same jig used two cylinder port blocks (this to the cylinder port block. A
The cylinder’s port block is for the port block is used to is the reason that two engine piece of wood was screwed
made from some 21mm AF spot the steam passageways frames were made). into the trunnion hole while
hexagonal rod and the cylinder in the cylinder port block after the soldering took place. It of
itself from K&S brass tube with which it is drilled to size. A Cylinder course burned but stopped
an internal diameter of 5⁄16 inch, piercing saw is used to cut the The K&S brass tube was cut the solder getting into the
an ‘0’ ring of the same size rectangle in half so creating to length and soft soldered thread.
36 37
The cylinder was soldered to the port block and then holes were The cylinder bore was lapped using a wooden lap charged with Brasso metal polish.
drilled for the steam passageways into the cylinders.
38 39
The wall thickness of the cylinder was made up by gluing strips of mahogany to it. Some hardened filing buttons were made.
40 41
The cylinder end covers which would be glued in place were made.
The wood was filed away to these buttons. The piston rod end cover has no seal, just a long reamed hole.
Piston
The piston was made from 42 43
brass and screwed onto
a stainless steel rod. The
Mamod style big end was
made from ¼ inch hexagonal
brass rod. Before gluing the
top cylinder cover on it was
checked to ensure that the
piston didn’t cover the steam
port at top dead centre.
A pair of pistons. The groove in the piston for the ‘O’ ring was turned by hand.
44 45
The length of the piston rod was checked using the engine frame as a jig. The finished engine with the cylinder covers and
big end glued in place and fitted to the footplate.
46 47
48
It was then connected to
an auxiliary boiler.
Completion
The completed engine was
then fitted to the footplate for
testing.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 279
Draughting
Dear Martin, 3D CAD
I read John Hill’s work on Dear Martin,
the subject of Locomotive In recent years, I have noted an increasing number of very
Draughting with interest fine, 3D CAD renderings of parts and assemblies in Model
(M.E.4674, 24th Engineer. Some of these renderings are good enough to
September 2021). To be inspirational. I would like to be able to produce such
state its importance to renderings myself, so I would like to know what 3D CAD
the efficient running tools were used to make them. Sometimes the author of the
of locomotives large article mentions the CAD tool that he used, and sometimes
or small is very true! he does not. I wonder if Model Engineer could establish
That many skilled CMEs a policy of encouraging authors who submit 3D CAD
designed countless renderings to at least mention the tool they used.
locomotives but In connection with this, I wonder if Model Engineer could
sometimes overlooked what put together an article or series of articles on the 3D CAD
one would have thought was tools available to the hobbyist. I know that Model Engineer
obvious I find quite hard to has a fair number of authors who regularly submit articles
understand! André Chapelon to the magazine and at least some of them do use 3D CAD
went part way to adopting tools. Could the authors with 3D CAD experience possibly
a scientific approach to be persuaded to collaborate on such an article or series of
building steam locomotives articles?
and in steam’s twilight years
L. Dante Porta did important Sincerely, John Hannum (Cherry Hill, NJ. USA)
work on making a steam
locomotive work efficiently, (Well – how about it? – Ed.)
in one case doubling the
power, reducing the water
consumption and using no bore and a notional speed/ the company in 1960 and it
more coal, and all with local load and therefore steam was Uncle Phil (Dad’s brother)
labour and machinery in Cuba. requirement, work backwards who was the engineer who
A few stalwarts continued to to the boiler and finally the saw that it was all built to our
develop the steam locomotive fire and its needs. What have specification. He was over
notably David Wardale and we then done? Gas flowed there once a week and it was
Phil Girdelstone, both building the steam locomotive - the a bit of a trek to get there and
on the work of Giesl, Kylala appliance of science! Then back in a day. One day my
and Porta amongst others. there is the poor thermal dad went with him and they
Having read some of Porta’s efficiency to deal with! Look looked at the telescope and
work and had experience of out, IMLEC here I come! thought that it was massive.
tuning internal combustion Maybe a better Phil said to him did he want
engines I would respectfully mathematician than I would to come up top, and of course
suggest that Mr Hill’s work like come forward and do my dad sad ‘yes’. The dish
should perhaps have had a some working examples to was horizontal at the time but
part 3. For efficient use of the illustrate these points. Or had been cleared of all the
Write to us steam it needs to flow from better still design and build scaffolding. My dad decided
Views and opinions expressed the boiler to the cylinders a locomotive based on the that he wanted his usual pipe
in letters published in Postbag
should not be assumed to be and then back to the blast above principles. of tobacco but he accidentally
in accordance with those of nozzle with as little restriction dropped the tin and it rolled
the Editor, other contributors, as possible other than that Noel Shelley (Kings Lynn) into the middle of the bowl
or MyTimeMedia Ltd.
Correspondence for Postbag required for the generation and then, apparently, they
should be sent to: of a suitable vacuum in the could hear it dropping through
Martin Evans, The Editor,
Model Engineer,
smoke box. Pipes from the Jodrell Bank all the scaffolding under the
MyTimeMedia Ltd, steam dome to the regulator Dear Martin, dish with the usual tink tonk
Suite 6G, Eden House, Enterprise and beyond should be large I would just like to fill in one or tink until it must have reached
Way, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF
F. 01689 869 874 enough to carry the volume of two totally unrelated details the bottom.
E. mrevans@cantab.net steam needed when running about Jodrell Bank Telescope Anyway, now to the small
Publication is at the discretion wide open, with smooth bends which Geoff Theasby details that have little
of the Editor. The content of
letters may be edited to suit and smooth passages in mentioned in Club News (M.E. relevance to the story! Did
the magazine style and space castings. The regulator and 4681, 31st December 2021). you know that the rollers in
available.Correspondents should
note that production schedules
port ways in the valve chest I just happen to know quite the bogies on the turntable
normally involve a minimum lead should also be of sufficient a bit about this project as are all BR Standard tender
time of six weeks for material area to pass the steam my uncle Phil Hewson was wheels and the gears which
submitted for publication.
In the interests of security,
required for the speed or load. the head of the Erection are used to tilt the dish are
correspondents’ details are If super heaters are used then Department at United Steel from scrapped World War Two
not published unless specific they need to be treated as Structural Co. in Scunthorpe battleship gun turrets?
instructions to do so are given.
Responses to published letters the rest of the pipe work. One at the time. The job had just
are forwarded as appropriate. could start with the cylinder been completed when I joined Doug Hewson
Modern Times result if he had had CAD at his it. The robots can work 24/7 inside along with a quartz
Dear Martin, disposal? The same with the without a tea, toilet, or even a crystal, which I understand
I found your article in Smoke designer of the Forth Railway lunch break. I do however feel vibrates at a certain frequency
Rings entitled ‘Modern Times’ bridge in Scotland; I doubt if that we do need to control it and the chip steps this down
in issue 4678 (19th November it was designed today that it rather than it controlling us. till it reaches a multiple of 60,
2021) quite interesting. It would look the same. In both I don’t doubt that modern which then controls the time
is amazing how modern cases they were vastly over technology has helped a lot keeping and for a moderate
technology helps things today; engineered as they didn’t have in manufacturing. I even read price you have a watch which
take for instance this covid the computer programmes in our magazine where people is more accurate than a good
epidemic and the speed at we have today. Even on are using CAD/CAM to help quality mechanical one due to
which effective vaccines have this Acorn 5000 computer I make their models, of whatever having fewer moving parts.
been developed - about a have a program which I can they are making, and even Even the mobile phone,
year. OK - the scientists who use to draw out a printed now using simple (compared when they first came out, were
worked round the clock to circuit called Fastrax and this to industry) CNC machining. the size of a house brick and
do this had a good idea as to computer is ancient compared No doubt it also helps you weighed the same; now the
what they needed to do as this to what we can buy today. and the editorial team to put simplest ones are about the
was apparently an offshoot of Even then, when we buy the our magazine together every size of an average hand and
another illness for which they latest computer, in a way it is 2 weeks or so and makes it a can do a lot more. The last
had samples to work from. obsolete as once it is signed lot easier to do page layout one I bought new cost me £5
As you quite rightly say, off to go into production etc. than by the old-fashioned plus another £10 for the SIM
with the advances we have they are working on the next methods used more than a few card and that was brand new.
made in home computers for generation. years ago. Take for example Okay, it is a fairly simple one
instance and the power they Yes, modern technology the humble wrist watch that but it does what I need and the
have now, I often wonder if is a godsend especially in we wear today – yes, you can £5 cost included the mains
people like Isambard Brunel engineering where we can build still get a windup mechanical charger as well.
for instance when he designed things, for instance cars, with one today but if you look at
and built the Tamar bridge robots and ensure that each car what we can buy they have a Yours sincerely,
would he have got the same is as perfect as we can make battery and also a small chip J.E. Kirby (London)
Masking Up
Dear Martin,
During this recent period of disrupted
routines I decided to renovate a 3 ½ inch
gauge Rob Roy tank engine I bought on
a visit to the UK a few years ago. It had
signs of being left in the shed and then
quickly tarted up for sale. The cab had
been painted poorly with a brush and
there were numerous other things that
needed attention on the backhead so it
was dismantled in this area and the jobs
attended to one by one.
When it came to painting the cab,
which I had removed, with its various
angles and internal supports it appeared
to be a tedious masking up job which
unless done meticulously always
disappoints so I decided to try something
else. I haven’t seen this done before but
perhaps it has. I had a large piece of so I borrowed one of the long very managed by careful trimming of the
packaging foam that I use with moving sharp knives from her ‘office’ to do the foam in those areas. Due to the snug fit
delicate items in the car. My idea was to job. Long continuous strokes in one I was able to manipulate the piece by
cut a block of the foam out, just a little direction worked perfectly and in five holding the foam which did help me to
bigger than the inside space of the cab, minutes I had my block of foam. The get a nice even coat in probably less than
and squeeze this into that space so that roof was removed as it is a different a minute of spraying.
the internal walls were protected from colour anyway. The foam was carefully I left the foam in place for a couple
overspray. persuaded into the space and relieved of days so that I could grapple with its
The cab shape is roughly 7 x 7 x 6 with a scalpel blade in various places to removal. There are some minor signs of
inches but as you can see from the allow the paint access to some areas. the paint sticking the foam to the cab but
photograph there is a curve cut out Ensuring there was no evidence of its it’s hardly noticeable and maybe more
to accommodate the coal bunker so use, the knife was put back. careful trimming could obviate this.
some slight shaping of the ‘cube’ of As you can see from the photo the
foam was appropriate. The Minister for edges, in some places, have not received Paul McGee
War and Finance had left the building a coating of paint. This could have been (Brisbane, Australia)
www.model-engineer.co.uk 281
An Astronomical
Bracket Clock PART 22
A
ssuming you have
decided to veneer the
case, it is now time to
Adrian glue the veneer to the four
Garner sides and the door outer
makes a surfaces.
I used sheet glue used in
bracket clock showing marquetry which melts when
both mean and sidereal heated with an iron. Cut each
time. piece of veneer slightly over
size with a comparable sheet
of the glue. I used only one
Continued from p.208 layer of glue, which gave rise to
M.E. 4683, 28 January 2022 some problems with adhesion.
If I was doing this job again I
would use two layers of glue.
Lay the sheet glue, glue side
down, on the surface to be
veneered and use a hot iron to
tack in position at two or three
places. With a knife separate
the glue and backing paper
at one corner and peel off the
backing. (If using two layers,
do this operation twice.) Place
the veneer in position and ‘iron’
it on. The iron should be at a
low setting as the glue melts
at around 100 degrees C.
Immediately press the
veneer into position with the
veneer hammer and continue
to move the hammer over
100
101 Fig 43
Base - hardwood
15.5000
0.2500
9.8125
11.7500
Securing the veneer while the glue dries.
2.1250
the veneer and held it in place determine the width of the
whilst drying with small strips upper and lower rear case
of masking tape (photo 101). rails so that they leave a
The slots on the rear door gap of about 1⁄16 inch above
for the lock and for the catch and below the door. They 1.2500
plate of the front door lock can should be a close fit to the
now be cut. There is a dodge carcass sides. Whilst they
to fitting the front door catch. are not ‘jointed’ to the main
Mount the lock in the door, carcass, glue will make them The first moulding to apply recesses were sawn in each
place the latch on the bolt sufficiently secure and add to is the wide, lower chamfered end to support the ½ inch thick
with the key turned to the lock the structural rigidity of the beading which is glued under side pieces. Glue the front and
position. Now stick a short carcass. If in any doubt small the carcass and to which the back in position and then cut
piece of double-sided tape to triangular cross sections of base will be secured. As with the side pieces. The drawer
the underside of the catch and wood could be glued in the all the mouldings, the corners holes, which double as hand
peel off the backing. Close corners. need to be mitred to fit. I used holes to move the clock when
the door and undo the lock. With the case veneered it is the circular saw table with the drawers are removed, were
Carefully open the door and time to route the mouldings. the slide set at 45 degrees. cut using the Hegner fret saw
the catch should have adhered The large ovolo shaped Cut the beading strips over before gluing in place. The
itself to the frame in the exact mouldings can be routed length and then nibble away base will be veneered but it
position required. Mark around along the side edges of the with small cuts. The beading is best to leave this until later
with a knife and using a ¼ inch appropriate thickness of wood can be held in place whilst the to avoid wear and tear on this
chisel cut out to a depth of and then parted to size on glue dries with ⅝ inch long area whilst working on the rest
about 1⁄16 inch – just enough to the circular saw table. Small moulding pins as the holes will of the case (photo 103).
sink the surface of the catch mouldings can be difficult not be seen, being between the The lower ovolo mouldings
plate into the door leaving it, if to hold and I find the easiest carcass and the base. between the base and carcass
anything, a little proud. A little solution is to glue the wood to The base consists of a front can now be cut and glued
fine fettling of the hole in the be shaped to a larger piece of and back made of hard wood in place. As for the other
catch plate may be needed to wood and bring the whole to 1¼ inches by about 2 inches. mouldings, cut the sections
ensure a sweet fit to the lock. thickness on the planer. The I again used White American about ⅛ inch over length and
It is now time to turn the extra wood makes handling Oak which was to hand but any take small cuts on the saw
carcass face down with the easier and can be parted off seasoned hard wood would table until all the mitres fit. You
rear door and lock fitted to later (photo 102). do. After cutting to length may find that you need to bend
102 103
www.model-engineer.co.uk 283
104 105
106 107
Former for bending the upper brackets. Fixing the upper brackets.
2 3
The carriage shed and some of the trackwork in front of the main building. The club’s large diesel engine sits on the traverser outside the engine shed. >>
www.model-engineer.co.uk 285
4 5
A useful hydraulic unloading platform. Approaching the station over the level crossing with
the main departure track swinging off to the right.
6 7
Passing trains with the club’s Garrett on the double span girder bridge. Approaching the new tunnel.
8 9
Mendip emerges through the fine new tunnel portal. The splendid new signal box at ESSMEE.
5) and out into the country. you might be entering an old, really is a grand structure and another small yard which also
Crossing a double span rustic mine working or similar Robin told me that most of the includes a useful turntable.
girder bridge (photo 6) the industrial installation (photo stone came from the ground It is connected to the main
line swings right and passes 7) but no, this is a modern, they had excavated to build it. circuit and can operate
the extensive 5 inch gauge corrugated structure giving The right-hand wing wall even completely independently of
upper marshalling yard. It then the impression of not being has an Ammonite fossil built the main line. As there is no
continues around the bottom quite finished. The exit portal into it. power or air supply to this
end of the site and curves is something else! It has been The extensive 5 inch gauge area, the club have built a
towards the new tunnel. On built with local stone and is marshalling yard runs parallel battery-operated linear motor
approaching the tunnel, it based on Brunel’s Box Tunnel to the main line for some to operate the points which
appears to passengers that a few miles away (photo 8). It distance before terminating in provide access to the main
10 11
The impressive relay panel in the new signal box. Richard Ashman admires the excellent 31 lever signal frame.
12 13
line. A useful single slip point 12 and 13) members have club by a University who were Harrison lathe were the steel
is also built into this section access to a large Cincinnati re-equipping their workshop; if tyre blanks for the club’s latest
of track. David Hale told me Vertical milling machine, a the ESSMEE had not taken it, locomotive project, an LMS
that it has been suggested that shaper, a Myford Super 7 would have all gone for scrap. Black 5, and this is coming
consideration might be given lathe and a large Harrison I have to say it was one of the along nicely (photo 14). On the
to forming a South Western 350 lathe. All this equipment tidiest and best organised other side of the building the
centre for the GL5 group which and a host of tooling was all workshops I have seen in club have a very nice clubroom
could be worthy of further generously donated to the a long time. Set up on the which holds the almost
investigation. It could mean
events similar to the main line
rallies at Gilling being held at 14
this track. Indeed, they were
hosting one of these a couple
of days after my visit
The signalling system is
impressive using a block
system which uses both
electricity and compressed
air for operations. The new
signal box (photo 9) is another
fine structure which houses
a large, 31 lever frame and
relay cabinet (photos 10 and
11). All this work has been
managed by Richard Ashdown
and his colleagues and an
excellent job they have made
of it! In a large and very well
equipped workshop (photos The new club locomotive; a 7¼ inch gauge Black 5 takes shape in the workshop. >>
www.model-engineer.co.uk 287
15 16
Part of the well organised club room and Model Engineer library. A disability carriage equipped to take a wheelchair and carer.
17 18
A novel support system for carriage storage. A Tinkerbell style 0-4-2 locomotive on shed.
19 20
This time an 0-4-0 small side tank engine. This very nice 5 inch gauge tank wagon on the sidings outside the main shed.
complete collection of Model provide for disadvantaged an overhead winch system a good collection of engines
Engineer magazines (photo 15) children. There is a large supporting some of the light- from a splendid Britannia to
and provides the club with a carriage available for use by weight stock on moving racks a Swiss style crocodile under
good meeting room. disabled people so that they which, as the winch is lowered construction together with
As a registered charity the too can enjoy a ride on the towards the ground, can a variety of other prototypes
club provides for the local trains (photo 16). fold flat to the floor, thereby (photos 18 and 19). Outside on
community by allowing them The need for carriage allowing the stock to gently roll one of the elevated bays a very
access to the facilities, to storage has produced a towards the track (photo 17). nice tank wagon posed in the
enjoy educational visits and novel solution which involves The locomotive shed housed sunshine (photo 20).
21 22
It really is a grand 23
structure and Robin told
me that most of the stone
came from the ground they
had excavated to build it.
The right-hand wing wall
even has an Ammonite
fossil built into it.
www.model-engineer.co.uk 289
E
venin’ all. It gives me
great pleasure to declare 1
this Club News open. I
have a large number of items
from clubs around the world,
all the way down to the
detritus in my head, or at
least the coherent bits...
I have just had an idea
for a simple driving truck,
intended to be small
and light enough to put
in the car boot. More to
come. It was inspired by an
impractical locomotive of the
1930s, and/or a monorail.
Visiting the Danum gallery
(The Latin name for what is Mystery locomotive in Doncaster.
now Doncaster) to see Green
Arrow and GN 251, I found this became ‘On Ilkley Moor bah’t gas strut, exerting about 27
model in an ill-lit display case. ‘at’. Murray is still thinking lb/ft2 or 120 Newtons, arrived
Geoff It doesn’t resemble any known about CO2, and the pressure at by an educated guess but
Theasby locomotive - was it a prototype it can impose on bottles and seems to be okay. Editor,
reports that was never proceeded cans in carbonated drinks etc. Dereck Langridge, spotted
on the latest news with, an apprentice piece, Wishing his readers a Happy a photographer taking a
from the Clubs. or a scratch built imagined Christmas, he says, ‘Raise a close interest in the track.
example (photo 1)? Plus, in the glass to the physics, chemistry, It transpired that he was
Doncaster GS collection, two biology and engineering that studying lichen, as found
errors perpetuated in paint… brings its contents to you’. on many track supports,
(photos 2 and 3). (Nothing dark about that glass including two varieties
In this issue, horns, they - Geoff) rarely found in urban areas
also serve who stand and wait, W. www.sheffieldmodel as they require a very clean
lichen, a cake, a tour of Oxford, engineers.com environment. A not entirely
Fowler’s Walschaerts valve Worthing & District Society serious proposal to ban i/c
gear, and a train set. of Model Engineers welcomes engined vehicles, coal burning
Steam Whistle, November, the return of queues at their locomotives and requiring
from Sheffield Society public running days. As well mowers to be hand operated.
of Model & Experimental as the obvious and visible Furthermore, barbecues will
Engineers continues with train and station crews, not be allowed to use bottled
3D printing by Malcolm permanent way staff and gas, and only vegan food will
High, whilst Mike Peart signallers, spare a thought be available. (Somehow…
discusses whistles, not just for the ‘others’, kitchen staff, - Geoff) A facebook entry
as a warning of approach, but a porter to help passengers, informs us that a miniature
communication. In the 1930s, ticket dispensers, those who ‘railway’ fresh from carrying
the GWR introduced electric mow the grass, top up the tourists fro and to on Worthing
horns and, following confusion coal bunker, tidy up after seafront, later Field Place,
between them and other road these events etc. There is for sale, having failed to
users at crossings, or bridges, also appears to be a ‘vacant succumb to the ministrations
changed them for two, an committee member…’ Kevan of various technicians. Offers
octave apart, to be sounded made a linisher. Noting the in excess of £500?
alternately. In the Aire Valley, pressure needed on the belt W. www.worthingmodel
where I grew up, this soon for good running, he used a engineers.co.uk
2 3
www.model-engineer.co.uk 291
is Cutteslowe Park minor, you
need Cutteslowe Park major…”. 7
Retrace steps again, told to
take 3rd exit of a roundabout,
which was wrong, and found
themselves facing oncoming
traffic. Off again, through a
housing estate with large road
humps and finally arrived, 5½
hours on the road. A cup of tea
was never more welcome!
W. www.hsme.co.uk
BDSME News, November,
from Bournemouth & District
Society of Model Engineers,
begins with the eagle-eyed
editor noting the 2nd Class
stamp bearing a picture of
Henry Bessemer’s famous
converter, an example of
which is displayed in all its
tons of glory at Kelham Island
museum here in Sheffield. I
was due to attend Kelham
Island this very evening to
hear a talk on the Sheffield
blitz of 1940. It was changed
to online only, in view of covid, Andrew Allison’s Perry No 9 (photo courtesy of Warwick Allison).
so it was viewed in splendid
isolation, reclining on a chaise, one inch scale vardo wagon, visiting the Willem Prinsloo on Christmas Eve at 5.10pm
with dry roasted peanuts and trailer and water bowser. agricultural museum, finding (closing at 5.30pm) when
a glass of something. (Glue, Their vardo, built mostly of lots of old vehicles, including a customer arrived, having
Phyllosan, even Oxo…) Neil Plasticard and doll’s house horse drawn types. Secretary, consumed the good cheer to
Horder inherited a lead mould furniture, of the Burton style, Imogene Groothuijzen, recalls excess, and wanting to buy a
from his father, who made soft- circus type with small wheels, how the society began, train set. No boxed sets were
faced hammers for himself looks magnificent. Brean Live in 1961, then known as left, so between the staff a train
and others. When they got too Steamers are a peripatetic Pretoria Live Steam club, or was cobbled up and wrapped
misshapen he would melt then group of modellers who travel Stoomtrekkragklub. The work and the inebriate celebrant
down and recast. Some years the country in search of the of the Tuesday and Saturday went on his way. John wonders
ago, the mould went missing, Holy G… tracks to run on. In the work gangs is recognised, how he got on… Chris Denton
but has now resurfaced and SW, they descend on Pontins including painting the town is making an 80hp Case TE, a
doing this useful duty once and ‘cop’ all the nearby tracks. bridge red! 1916 version. In the catalogue,
again. New lamps for old??? (It keeps them off the streets, W. www.centuriontrains.com its then list price was less that
All hands to the fire… This what? - Geoff) Geoff Stait went Sydney Live Steam the cost of the materials today.
issue concludes with Raymond with Martin Parham and others, Locomotive Society, November Warwick Allison goes a little ‘off
McMahon’s diorama seen at plus Mrs S with her ‘bag loco’, Newsletter, features Andrew piste’ and discusses firehole
the 2011 MEX. (I’ve seen ‘it a 3½ inch gauge Juliet which Allison’s new, scratch-built, rings, a subject probably not
in the flesh’ and the ancillary travels in a shopping bag. Gauge 1, 0-4-2 Perry No 9, figuring in most people’s
details are as good as the main Mick Bennett has taken to gaff coal fired, and the side tanks attention, I’ll wager.
feature, a fishing boat - Geoff) racing, so much so that he is actually hold water, unusual W. www.slsls.asn.au
W. www.littledown contemplating selling his locos in this gauge. Inspired by And finally, a tale of bear
railway.org.uk and buying a sailing boat. Geoff the Kiama Quarries 0-4-0, hunting reminds me that in
The Times Rag, the newsletter requested a verdict from me intriguingly, it has Fowler modern aircraft, being all
from Geoff Stait, is from on the newsletter. Specifically, I Walschaerts gear, which automatic, the cockpit needs
a new club of almost 30 like the period pictures of early required reviewing and drawing only the pilot and a rottweiler.
members, about to start on locomotives between items, out from another engine, but The purpose of the pilot is to
building a track. Their motto, and the green text, looks very it works well. Seen here at feed the dog. The purpose of
Sursum Tua, could be a little stylish, showing that some the Cripple Creek Tramway, the dog is to stop the pilot
controversial, depending on thought has gone into it, and NSW (photo 7). John Lyons is from touching anything…
how readers learned Latin… setting up a theme, which puts constructing a 0-8-2T prototype
Anyway, moving swiftly on, the reader in the right frame locomotive, after one which
the club visited David Hales’ of mind to appreciate the worked at Newcastle, NSW
railway in deepest Somerset, contents. More please! (see: www.australiansteam.
a fine track, and in a pretty Centurion Smokebox, com/smr14.htm). John recalls CONTACT
village. It was notable for Chloé November, from Centurion an incident from his youth in geofftheasby@gmail.com
and Tracy, who showed their Model Engineers, has Leon 1959, working in the holidays,
Coronavirus advice is changing! Please follow local government advice in Wales, Ireland, Scotland or England as appropriate, especially if you are considering buying or selling items for collection.
Tools and Machinery T. 07443 456616. Bexhill on Sea. Magazines, Books and Plans
■ Axminster Vertical Band Saw JBS160 ■ Full set of drawings for 4” Burrell DCC
with parallel cross cutting bar plus Parts and Materials 8NHP Road Locomotive/Showmans
Warco Minor Mill Drill and other items. ■ 4” DCC Burrell Castings from LSM engine, by P. Filby of Steam Replicas.
T. 01258 860975. Shillingstone, for their 8NHP Road Locomotive/ Un-started project. £50 (plus postage
Dorset. Showmans Engine. Un-started project if not bought with the castings - see ad
so now selling the castings - over £860 under parts and materials).
■ Large and robust 4 3/4” OAYKAY No. worth - selling at £400. T. 07500 898179. Bristol
4 bench vice in good condition with T. 07500 898179. Bristol.
anvil on body. One of the handle ends
has been replaced with a nut, otherwise
original. This is a big lump of iron so
collection only. £45.
T. 07944 510238. Barry
Models
■ 5”g Jinty. LMS 0-6-0. Rolling Chassis
with professional copper boiler with
certificate, sundry other castings and
components plus copy of Martin Evans
construction series and drawings. £1,500
o.n.o. Buyer arranges delivery. T. 01525
872675. Toddington, Bedfordshire.
YOUR FREE ADVERTISEMENT (Max 36 words plus phone & town - please write clearly) ❑ WANTED ❑ FOR SALE
www.mkmetals.co.uk
email: sales@mkmetals.co.uk
Model Engineer Classified
L CLASS 4-4-0 OF THE SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY
$8QLTXHÀQHVFDOH
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webuyanyworkshop.com
Re-homing model engineers’ workshops across the UK
It’s never easy selling a workshop that has
been carefully established over a lifetime. I
will buy your workshop so you don’t have to
ſĺŗŗƅÑêĺūťƧıñĕıČÑıøſđĺİøċĺŗİūëđ
loved workshop equipment and tools.
Please email photos to
andrew@webuyanyworkshop.com
Or to discuss selling your workshop, please
call me on 07918 145419
All equipment considered: Myford, Warco, Chester, classic British brands etc
Polly steam locomotives also purchased, especially those needing a bit of ‘TLC’
www.model-engineer.co.uk 297
Bringing British industrial history to life
Master Boiler Maker -
Alan ‘Rivet Lad’ McEwen
Alan McEwen’s first RIVET LAD book: RIVET LAD – Lusty Tales of Boiler Making in the Lancashire Mill Towns of the Sixties
published September 2017 is now priced at £25 plus £3.00 postage and packing to UK addresses.
Alan’s second RIVET LAD book: RIVET LAD – More Battles With Old Steam Boilers was published in September 2018.
Now priced at £25 including postage and packing to UK addresses.