Hi Bill,

I've searched on the MECH forum and came up with nothing. Can you enlighten me as to what is flawed in the design please? Or where this is documented? As I've found very little info.

Ill put a post on the MECH forum and see what is said.

Regards

Jon

Hello Chris,

I'll post info here as well as on the MECH forum. I have found a completed and running model, I haven't shared pictures of it as I'm not sure if hes happy for me to do so. But I'll ask permission and share if he's happy for me to do so.

The main issue is the firebox forming a structural part of the frames. This means there is no allowance for expansion in the boiler, thus the front of the boiler expands forward, this then causes alignment issues with steam pipes, hence the curled pipes shown in the articles. Also with the blast nozzle that doesn't align with the chimney base.

The solution to all these is rather simple albeit a deviation from the prototype. Extend the steel frame plate that the boiler is suppose to bolt to. So it is wide enough to clear the sides of the firebox (5.1/4" wide). Then 3/16" frames bolted or brazed to support the firebox (copper or bronze angle riveted and brazed to sides of boiler) tied together at the rear with a 1/2×3/4" drag beam bolted up.

The boiler then has room to expand rearward, pipes don't need to be flexible, and can be fixed.

There is an issue with the valve spindle not aligning but there's again a simple fix. But making from scratch id be tempted to increase the valvechest size and move the spindle so it aligns.

Really it should have a proper lubricator on it rather than the hydrostatic one, which apparently runs out very quick so don't bother with this. A larger one of 2" dia can be fitted under the footplate, or an alternative for the lubricator to be fed from an eccentric somewhere onthe loco, (ie not sure yet).

These are all points to get you started.

Regards

Jon