Hi Neil,

I am building a Tich and having discovered the later LBSC Belpaire variant, thought I would try it. I then had an awful time trying to buy 16 gauge copper tube 2 5/8" dia.x 4 1/2" long, I tried all the main suppliers but with no success and it was only from a small firm that I was successful. I don't know if your thinner tube would be okay.

That said, Tich is an odd loco with many for and against it. I find the building, though slow, has kept my interest. The end result leaves a few people disappointed but I think that the Belpaire option will add something different and help solve one of the big complaints about the poor firing.

Dave

Edited By David Haynes on 14/07/2012 08:38:07

When building Juliet 3.5 gauge loco the boiler was made from flat copper (available up to 10 gauge pretty easily). By luck chance or coincidence my dad came across a council workman cutting down trees. Managed to get a suitable branch which was then turned to the right diameter. Copper was then annealed and bit by bit 'turned around the branch. We held it in place using large jubilee clips. It didn't take long before it was wrapped nicely around the branch. Then drilled and riveted and then silver soldered. Worked OK this was the first time we had made a boiler.