New build 5" Gauge 15xx class loco "Speedy"

[Dougs]

Ok it's time for more model loco fun I now have all the bits to start to build my 15xx class loco and its massive
So what's is going to look like?
Hopefully something like this,

So I have the main frames

It's really hard to explain the size it's massive so I will show a couple of comparison shots against butch
The frame against butch and yes it's at least 6" longer the backs are level

The conrods side by side

The cylinder is just a tiny bit larger


First job is to get on the measuring again I need to know all is well at the bottom end so I will be measuring the frames and wheels to check for errors
TBC

[Dan4th]

YEOWCH!!!!!!

I'm happy that you're happy, just
don't forget to finish Butch

Bet it has a bigger Whistle, too

Danf.

[34053]

Great little 'taster' for us, Dougs!

PW

[Dougs]

Well as usual the little voice in my head is turning out to be very wise indeed the measuring has turned up something unexpected the frames are not good at all the middle horn blocks are 0.5mm out of position so I have some machining to do to get the frame right.
Anyway the frame is now in primer

And the two main stretchers


Next up are the buffer beams then I will have something to build on
TBC

[Dougs]

Been busy again painting and cleaning all the parts I have that came with the frame
I wanted to get paint on the inside of the rails and the stretchers as these will be difficult to get to once its all bolted together



And I also cleaned up and de-corroded the buffers and put some primer on them




I have a couple of buffer beams to clean up next

Then I need to fix the buffers to the beam with rivets 4off per buffer and also add some decorative rivets to make the beam look like the original which is riveted on
TBC

[Dougs]

Ok bit more of the cleanup
The frame bolted together with the insides painted up


An interesting pattern from the primer over spray on the outsides

All ready for machining


And the buffer beams all cleaned up ready for machining

TBC

[MOD]

Great stuff Dougs . I look forward to the next update photos.

ibw

[34053]

Thanks, Dougs. Great 'Progress Pics'.

PW

[Dougs]

A bit of an update not got much further as I need to pickup the drawings to continue so I just put all the bits together


Brake lever

TBC

[Dan4th]

This is all good, and I look forward
to the process, but not as much as
YOU certainly do

I KNOW Butch, and I don't yet know
Speedy, but I'm sure he/she will
wind-up as a Bee-Yoo-Tee-Full hunk
of iron roaring down the rails

This is all so completely Cool !

Danf.

[34053]

'Speedy' is certainly looking good, Dougs

PW

[Dougs]

Right o now I have got all my parts cleaned up, loose assembled the bits, I have and picked up the drawings so I am now set up and ready to get going.
Drawing pack with assembly notes

Loose fitted chassis (basically a stock take)

Close up of the unique valve assembly


I even have the start of a reversing lever

So first up I have got to strip all the parts again and work from the very bottom up so I will machine the frame first to make it sit level.
I will probably paint the parts I have as well I don't want to leave them too long as they will go rusty in a couple of weeks if I don't get some protection on them
TBC

[Dan4th]

I don't expect you'll be able to lift
Speedy and move her around all by
yourself like Butch, eh?

Even so, I'm starting to feel connected
to this new one already

GO, Dougs, GO!!!!!!!

Danf.

[Dougs]

I don't expect you'll be able to lift
Speedy and move her around all by
yourself like Butch, eh?

Even so, I'm starting to feel connected
to this new one already

GO, Dougs, GO!!!!!!!

Danf.

Hi Dan4th
No it's quite unlikely I will be able to move it by myself it's getting very heavy already with the cylinders on that will be about the limit once built it will be over 78kg or 172lb not to mention they are hard to carry because of the shape and all the bits hanging off it ready to tear your clothes to bits it's looking like I will need a hoist

[RLN]

This is like sex without involving women.

[Dougs]

This is like sex without involving women.

Unfortunately my wife see's it quite similarly I get that look when I try sleek off to the workshop
Any way I stand my ground for mankind and continue on
As everything I have cleaned seems to be attracting rust at an alarming rate I am on a mission to get everything primed ASAP
So here is the gear frame primed up I can't finish it yet as I need to add another bracket but at least it is not rusting

TBC

[34053]

Great Update, Dougs. (Pleased to see that you get your priorities right ).

PW

[Dougs]

Update
I still haven't got to machining yet as I am cleaning and priming all the bits I already have I have completed the stock take so I now know exactly what I have and what bits I need to make and buy to complete
The frames stripped down ready for machining

The axel pump cleaned up and ready for etch primer this pump will be dark green

The buffer beams primed up to halt corrosion which had already started after just 5 days

The gear frame blacked and ready for top coat once the extra brackets have been attached thanks to sooty655 I had found another method of blacking these parts but it does not work on the silver solder so I have got to paint all these parts instead, bit of a shame really as they would look better chemical blacked.


I have picked up a couple of plastic boxes from ikea to keep all my bits rust free and safe very cheap at £2 each

Last couple of bits in the cleaning bay getting old grease and rust of them

And the wheels all cleaned up these should be the last of the priming jobs they will need machining too so can't finish paint them till that is done

TBC

[34053]

Thanks Dougs.

PW

[Dougs]

First proper job done lining up the axel horn blocks so the wheels will be level or as the designer of the loco put it
Quote"if you don't get this part right you've had it as our RAF friends would say"
So I mounted the chassis on the milling machine

Then using the data I collected from the CMM I produced a cutting plan of how much material I needed to remove

The worst on was just over 0.5mm out so a worthwhile task as they are all within 0.05mm

Next up the wheels will get machined for a good fit then I can paint them

[Dougs]

Lots and lots of fine fitting work on the wheels I have measured the axel blocks and they are not the correct size so I have got to machine them and file the horn guides to make a good fit with the correct clearance

Next into the horn guides and out again till it slides nicely up and down without too much play

Next up the other two sets of wheels should be able to get them done in one session as it took quite some time to fit the vice on the mill and clock it all up square then find the measurements off the drawings which the axel boxes should be.
It's all coming along nicely lots and lots of work to get on with

TBC

[34053]

A lot of work involved with this 'project' Dougs. But it will all be worth it in the end.
[BTW, I was most interested to see, in a previous Post, the use of 'Mint Sauce' in your 'cleaning bay' ]

PW

[Dougs]

A lot of work involved with this 'project' Dougs. But it will all be worth it in the end.
[BTW, I was most interested to see, in a previous Post, the use of 'Mint Sauce' in your 'cleaning bay' ]

PW

Mint sauce is actually a top secret trick
I have all sorts of containers from my grand father that little lot has a nice selection of rivets copper,aluminium and steel it takes ages to find anything with that type of storage, I tend to use draw systems screwed to the wall much better

[Dougs]

Been somewhat busy again not wanting to get trapped with poor cranking on the new loco I have made a cranking jig that is a jig to measure the crank pins are at 90deg to each other
Taping the holes on the base plate

The panels are cut on a laser so should be quite accurate


The jig with one of the wheel sets loaded



I am getting to make use of my slip gauges


I should with this new jig be able to set the wheel sets up very accurately
While I was at it I made the last of the valve brackets these support the guide bars just above the piston rods

TBC

[34053]

I am both amazed and fascinated Dougs by the amount of kit and tools that you have at your disposal. Brilliant! All very necessary as you continue to undertake such detailed and precision work

PW