O Gauge Hornby tinplate to live Steam
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:09 pm
Hi All,
This is my first foray into steam (and building a loco!) so I'm hoping for advice from you more experienced hands.
I was able to buy this lovely little (non-working?) Type 50 0.4.0 on Ebay and separately the correct tender so they will be the basis for my steamer.
I have my eye on an Axminster modeller's lathe - more learning curve since I've never used one.
I have ordered some 35mm copper pipe for the boiler, a 1/2" MaccModels pressure gauge and some Aerogel insulation so protect the paintwork around the boiler.
I plan to mount a Mamod whistle horizontally from the top rear of the boiler in the cab with the lever poking through the cab roof. I hope to be able to recess a bush into the top of the boiler low enough to fit a Mamod pressure valve (uprated to 40psi) which I hope can also act as a filler point under the standard little dome.
I plan to use a single action cylinder mounted between the front of the chassis plates driving a cranked axle with some sort of throttle valve on the exhaust.
I hope to use spirit to fire it with a tank in the tender feeding the small burner reservoir via a flexible PTFE tube
My first questions are:
does anyone see any obvious flaws in my plan so far?
what thickness of brass sheet would be best for the chassis?
Is 40 psi about right for this scale/size of loco?
I would welcome thoughts on how to make and balance the cranked driven axle.
looking forward to your ideas,
JohnR
This is my first foray into steam (and building a loco!) so I'm hoping for advice from you more experienced hands.
I was able to buy this lovely little (non-working?) Type 50 0.4.0 on Ebay and separately the correct tender so they will be the basis for my steamer.
I have my eye on an Axminster modeller's lathe - more learning curve since I've never used one.
I have ordered some 35mm copper pipe for the boiler, a 1/2" MaccModels pressure gauge and some Aerogel insulation so protect the paintwork around the boiler.
I plan to mount a Mamod whistle horizontally from the top rear of the boiler in the cab with the lever poking through the cab roof. I hope to be able to recess a bush into the top of the boiler low enough to fit a Mamod pressure valve (uprated to 40psi) which I hope can also act as a filler point under the standard little dome.
I plan to use a single action cylinder mounted between the front of the chassis plates driving a cranked axle with some sort of throttle valve on the exhaust.
I hope to use spirit to fire it with a tank in the tender feeding the small burner reservoir via a flexible PTFE tube
My first questions are:
does anyone see any obvious flaws in my plan so far?
what thickness of brass sheet would be best for the chassis?
Is 40 psi about right for this scale/size of loco?
I would welcome thoughts on how to make and balance the cranked driven axle.
looking forward to your ideas,
JohnR