Emma Victoria saddle

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Hi all, had a bit of a break from Emma, ripped my workshop apart to make way for new 290V lathe and rearranging storage racks, tools etc. Looking at the engine to recap on what I had done so far my attention was grabbed by the smoke box saddle. I wasn't too happy with my workmanship on the fabricated design when I did it (as with a few other parts-this is my first engine) and started wondering if there was a casting from another design that might fit. As Emma is a freelance I guess it will not be a problem to deviate slightly from the design cosmetically. Any ideas on one that might fit or should I man up and remake it.

Bill D

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Bill – some thoughts, not answers.

1) like an oil painting, the sum is greater than individual parts. I have a locomotive here that, each part I could make better, but the original builder made many locomotives, and it is a good looking locomotive. Look closely at an oil painting, and you'll see dabs of paint, stand back and the masterpiece emerges.

2) If you do refabricate a part, make sure you really learn from it.

3) Graham, a local locomotive builder tries very hard not to make scrap, as the re-work is time-expensive. He's a successful model engineer, and has learnt the skills, as you are doing and have done.

4) Paint covers a lot of sins, and changes the look of the part. IS it really bad, or, if it was one colour, would it look better/worse?

This is all fun stuff – John.

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