Rob Roy Build

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

I will start this off with some photos of what I have done so far just to give an idea what is involved so far.

Luckily, I chose a milling machine that had plenty of X axis to play with, so that the frames could be machined without too much moving of clamps

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Buffer beams and spacers as well as buffers

[StevePParticipant @stevepye68246]

Looking good and to seeing more.

Steve

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Thank you, Steve, still quite a bit more to put up.

Anyway carrying on from the last pictures.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Still more to come. Hopefully most are easy to follow what has gone on

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

Flying along – it’s interesting to watch, thanks for all the pics..

[Diogenes]

On Diogenes Said:

Flying along – it’s interesting to watch, thanks for all the pics..

Thank you

 

Moving on.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

At this point I messed up the cylinders and had to reorder them

Starting on the new cylinders machine some reference surfaces so I can bring them to the correct sizes.

As I am having to look after the wife, I decided to just work on small pieces which I can do between jobs in the house and looking after her.

 

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Getting close to where I am today. Tagging all of these as there are many that look the same but with small differences between them

Well this is the part I am working on at the moment, the crossheads leaving them as one piece where everything is needed to be the same, and will separate when I need to work on the inner edges

 

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Cross head taking shape. Making them as a pair, that way I get one left and one right. Picture showing the connecting rod test fitted. I have made some punch marks so that they go back together with the same parts.

Been machining some of the material from between the two ready for the angle cuts as the outside, Once done separate them and turn the bosses

[Rick HannParticipant @rickhann79631]

Your progress is impressive.  I started my Rob Roy in 1993 and it took me 25 years to complete.  The only advice I can give is for you to do some research on Rob Roy errors.  One I can remember Is that the valve linkage does not line up.  1/8″ offset error.  Another recommendation would be to move the exhaust piping from between the valve boxes to the front of the boxes.  The space is VERY tight between the boxes.  I converted my Rob Roy to run on Propane.  Probably my inexperience, but I could not maintain the fire with coal and it is becoming difficult to get good coal.  The Rob Roy Firebox is very small, but enough room for a ceramic burner.  I have a U-Tube video “Rick’s Rob Roy” if you are interested on seeing my Rob Roy running on propane.  Regards Rick

[Rick Hann]

On Rick Hann Said:

Your progress is impressive.  I started my Rob Roy in 1993 and it took me 25 years to complete.  The only advice I can give is for you to do some research on Rob Roy errors.  One I can remember Is that the valve linkage does not line up.  1/8″ offset error.  Another recommendation would be to move the exhaust piping from between the valve boxes to the front of the boxes.  The space is VERY tight between the boxes.  I converted my Rob Roy to run on Propane.  Probably my inexperience, but I could not maintain the fire with coal and it is becoming difficult to get good coal.  The Rob Roy Firebox is very small, but enough room for a ceramic burner.  I have a U-Tube video “Rick’s Rob Roy” if you are interested on seeing my Rob Roy running on propane.  Regards Rick

Thank you, Rick. There are a few things that I have already found out, one being the restricted space for the exhaust pipes.

I will take a look at your u tube video

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

First piece for 2026. Well, not a new piece, more of a continued from where I left off on the crossheads.

Now split into two and the major shaping done, just need some filing work with a file before turning the square boss.

 

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

While waiting for some HSS tools to complete the cross head I thought I would finish the coupling rods which I started ages ago but stopped because I needed to sort out how I was going to proceed. Now that I have done more machining on other parts, I felt comfortable to get them finished.

How I left them

Where I am today but with a small bit more to do.

 

 

Lower set complete and bushes installed.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Did not realise that I had not posted or done anything to The Rob Roy for a while. I did mention that I was going to have a go at making the lubricator.

What with other minor bits I have done in the workshop one being the tailstock gauge and another being to get the ER32 collet chuck running true on the lathe. Then there was the time-out while not feeling too well.

So far a few bit made with more yet still to be made. Ruler for scale

[Kevan ShawParticipant @kevanshaw32462]

You are proceeding at a cracking pace! Any idea of how many hours a week you are working on this?

[Kevan Shaw]

On Kevan Shaw Said:

You are proceeding at a cracking pace! Any idea of how many hours a week you are working on this?

It seems like it has taken ages to get to this stage what with the heat and too hot in the workshop and time out for illness I feel that I don’t get enough work done on the loco.

And yes there are the times I forgot to look ahead to order bits and pieces so waiting for things to arrive like some ME taps and dies, even though I have a good selection of them there is always one size I am missing which I am sure many have been in the same situation.

As for time spent I don’t keep track as I just enjoy being in the workshop making parts for it.

[Kevan ShawParticipant @kevanshaw32462]

Well you rate of progress is commendable! It is strage no mater how many tools you buy it is always the case you never have the exact tool you need 🙂

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