Things move on

Well... in some kinda way,

Yesterday saw a big change around in the workshop, the Fowler Plowing engine ( my 2" Superba) is back in steam following its fairly extensive overhaul, its had all its boiler tubes replaced... no easy task in 2" i can tell you!

Its been passed off by the boiler inspectors at every stage, first the boiler shell examination with the tubes out, then its hydraulic test to 1.5x its working pressure and then finally its steam test, and everything worked as it should, the boiler needs a good flush out and to get rid of any reaming crap that's been left in there though the work but apart from that its a done job!

The 4f that i mentioned before has made its way over to the paint shop so that will be progressing slowly, so i shall try to get some pictures before long of that, meaning there was some room in the workshop at home for the next project!

So with a couple of extra hands ... the Foden lorry has landed!!

its a 3" model of a Foden " J Type" the articulated lorry so this should be a fun one, its been in the workshop before but got side lined to get the Fowler rebuilt and the 5" Stanier tank, and a few other small projects. Now its back in for the full rebuild it deserves.

 This is almost how it arrived, looking rather ... Un-loved! We did some tidying up and some pipe work and that sort of thing bit it never realy proformed in a way that makes sence so it was put away till the time was right to have a real good  go at it.







After a bit of tidying, painting and a new roof
it looked a lot better, but still didnt go.

 

Let the rebuild commence!

Well this is a shocking picture... those are the 2 pistons high/ low pressure..... some form of you know... seals would probily be a good idea i feel!

Bores look good, wich is a god send! just need cleaning out and tidting up realy, goes to show the diffrence between high and low pressure cylinders and how much steam expands once its left the boiler!

Ok so i got lazy and didnt want to write a whole blow by blow account of the strip down proccess. i can tell you that ive "scrapped" most of the valve gear for being ...... Wrong in most ways!

Im still in DIRE NEED of a set of drawings to start the re-machineing but i got a lot more to do to strip it all before i can re-build  im planning on going back to the frame, and then working back up. the frame needs a bit of welding and tidying, the boiler needs a really good clean out, de-greaseing and lagging, The steering system needs a re-build and lot of other planned jobs, so this one may be going on for a while!


But in the end should end up something like this

Or thats the plan.... i hope!

Pece Out!