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SS Great Britain

This topic has 15 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 24 January 2012 at 23:18 by Springbok.

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3 January 2012 at 17:44 #81160
steve williams 3
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@stevewilliams3
After a visit to SS Great Britain I am interested in making a version of its engine. I have trawled the Net for diagrams or plans but with no success, only very primative scetches nothing I could get some basic measurements from. has anyone any ideas of were i could find some.

cheers

Steve
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3 January 2012 at 17:44 #5834
steve williams 3
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@stevewilliams3
3 January 2012 at 19:44 #81167
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
Hi Steve,

There’s a little written info on the SS Great Britain website.

http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/education/engine-room/

You could try contacting them to see if they would be willing to produce a copy of the plans(edit: assuming they have them). Production of the plans might even be a busines opportunity for them to attract more interest and funding.

All the best,

Ed.

Edited By Ed Duffner on 03/01/2012 20:11:22
3 January 2012 at 21:12 #81181
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
There is a book about the rescue, building and the mechanics. I had one, loaned it to someone who didn’t return it and I can’t remember what it’s called. A troll through Amazon might turn up something. It was a cheapo publication, paperback, but quite informative.

I’ll have a look and if I find anything I’ll post it here.

Ian
3 January 2012 at 21:17 #81182
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
Had a quick look, there’s a plethora of stuff on Amazon, most promising might be the Haynes manual.

Ian
4 January 2012 at 08:06 #81204
Springbok
Participant
@springbok
Hi Steve,

As a member of the Bristol SMEE we had our Centenary meal on the SS Great Britain,

of which just under 200 attended. They had the engine turning over for us. This would make a fantastic project and I am sure that the Brunel trust would help in any way that they can. I will try and get some contact names and post them. Please start a thread for your research and progress. (or maybe in this thread) I hope you also went into the museum that has a wealth of interesting facts. I look forward immensely to your progress

Bob
4 January 2012 at 17:00 #81258
Billy Mills
Participant
@billymills
Don’t forget that there were TWO different engines fitted before the second was removed and the SSGB became the Sailing ship GB. Have also had dinner on board the GB and HMS Warrior which is also very interesting to visit. Both (I think) had steam pressures of around 5psi which is why they were so massive. At least the Warrior engine is original and not a mock up.

Billy.
4 January 2012 at 17:00 #81259
Billy Mills
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@billymills
4 January 2012 at 19:02 #81268
Jim Greethead
Participant
@jimgreethead
PS Waverley has a similar engine running on steam and driving the vessel (if funding continues).

A couple of years ago I was over that way and visited the Great Britain (fascinating and beautiful) and then took a trip “doon the wotter” on Waverley – a great combination.

So if you are looking for an engine to model, you could do worse than to contact the Waverley people who, I am quite sure, would be only too pleased to assist.

Jim
4 January 2012 at 22:32 #81287
Springbok
Participant
@springbok
Both engines could make fantastic projects, as a proud Bristolian our maratime history is I regard second to none and the restoration of the SS Great Britain has been an fantastic achievement.

What other city has managed this.

Bob
5 January 2012 at 19:35 #81344
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Participant
@michaelwilliams41215
Some of the original drawings of the engine still exist and are in custodianship of Science Museum . Where they are physically I don’t know since Science Museum drawings and out of sight exhibits are stored all over the place .

Get on to the Science Museum search engine – this is absolutely fantastic and you can search for specific or general items at a chosen museum anywhere in country or do a broad search of all British museums and archives . There is a bit of a black art in using this search since what you may think of as a perfectly reasonable set of key words turns up thousands of answers – but you’ll soon learn the knack .

There is a complete set of Ga and detail drawings in existance for the relica engines . The replica engines where mostly made by apprentice training schools most notably at Rolls Royce and Hamworthy Engineering . Don’t actually know where these drawings are at present but knowing in advance that something definately exists usually makes finding it easier !

Regarding a model engine – I think making it would be time consuming but not particularly difficult . The hard part would be designing the model to perform with that slow majestic turning motion the full size ones would have had .

MW

Edited By MICHAEL WILLIAMS on 05/01/2012 19:40:58
6 January 2012 at 20:56 #81446
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
There was a big model of the Waverly engines in ME some 16-17 years ago.

Slightly off-topic, the Chief Engineer of the Balmoral in the early 80s was a friend of my Dad’s. My brother and I spent a week or two on the west coast of Scotland, and if we had timed it a week differently we could have had free passage from there back to South Wales.

I did get a few trips on Balmoral and Waverley and an engine room visit once thanks to Dad’s dubious nautiocal connections. As a teenager i got a trip on the pilot boat servicing the Trinity House bouys in the Bristol Channel – I’ve been to the top of the Breaksea Light Vessel!

Neil
24 January 2012 at 19:55 #82892
steve williams 3
Participant
@stevewilliams3
Thanks to everyone yor help finding drawings to work from but I am afraid not much luck, so I have put SS Great Britain engine on the back burner for now. Instead I have just drawn up my version of USS Monitors engine a fantastic model you can see on youtube. My engine will not be as true to the original as I intend making engine & boiler to go in a model boat. Very unusual design, worth a luck

once again many thanks

steve
24 January 2012 at 21:02 #82898
steve williams 3
Participant
@stevewilliams3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWn8gQ9Ykpk

Link to USS Monitor video
24 January 2012 at 21:47 #82903
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
loved the wavely too.
Particularly low speed..feels like lots of little feet shuffling round.
24 January 2012 at 23:18 #82911
Springbok
Participant
@springbok
Hi Steve

Looked at the video, you are a brave man to start a project like that all the best of luck and please keep us all posted as to progress.

Though looking at your album you have already created some lovely models.

Edited By Springbok on 24/01/2012 23:22:47
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