Nick Dunhill's workshop, M&GN 4-4-2T Melton Tanks

Nick Dunhill

Western Thunderer
......Just been pluggin' away with this one adding all the bits of boiler details. There's a interesting stay between the water tank and boiler. I cut holes in both and devised a small plate to represent the stay itself.


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I sorted out the smokebox doors.


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Or so I thought until I realised the short smokebox has a different door and handles. Which was a bit irritating because the ACE casting has a disc on the back and I had to cut a hole in the front of the smokebox to accommodate it.


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Had some fun making door handles though.


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I spent a few hours making copper pipework for the lubrication system (to be added later after paint,) and these rather nice Whittaker Tablet catchers from MOK, cheers Dave!


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Next week we finish them.......
 
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Nick Dunhill

Western Thunderer
.....things have moved on a lot this week.


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First I sorted out the safety valves and built a whistle mechanism. The loco had some stays between the boiler and water tanks. I cut out the areas to accommodate them earlier, and attached the plates, with some fake fastners, this week too.


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The steam pipe covers were next. They were a long job. DLOS machined me some basic brass shapes and I made (several) sets of bolt plates and attached them to the footplate, chassis and smokebox.


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The bolt flanges were pre drilled for the fake fastners too. The machined brass parts were carefully shaped to match the profile of the smokebox and soldered in place. 90deg solder acts as a good filler for the small gaps.


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Lastly the fastners were added. The one in this pic needs a good clean!


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The next job on the list was the vacuum ejectors. I couldn't find a good casting out there so scratchbuilt some, mainly from telescoping tube.


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Here's one of the finished items fitted up to the boiler and handrail. I added a control rod too.


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Lastly the locos aquired lubricators and a jack.


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The locos are basically finished appart from pickups, a test run and a good wash. Hopefully more pics of a finished loco soon........
 

Nick Dunhill

Western Thunderer
....here we are at the end of construction. I have fitted the pickups and done a test, and both run very nicely round a 6' curve, no shorts etc.


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There's odds and sods of pipework to be added post paint.




I realised I'd forgotten the reach rod for the reversing links, oops


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More pics here; nick dunhill


I'll have number 41 at Bristol on sunday if you want a closer look, see you there (sharing a stand with Warren Haywood).........
 

Nick Dunhill

Western Thunderer
....I was contacted off line by someone who spotted that the profile of the chimney casting I had used (from ACE) was a bit out. The kind soul made me a couple of new chimneys using the GA and kindly posted them from Melbourne to Sheffield. I added some set screw detail and attached them. What an improvement, thanks very much for your kindness Fraser (Overseer of this parish.)


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Now they really are both off to paint.......
 

michael080

Western Thunderer
hmm, it took a couple of seconds before I saw what was wrong in the first picture. Quite elegant with two chimneys. :confused:
:confused:

Michael
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
I thought the photos in post 43 showed how much the excessively tapered chimneys spoiled the look of the otherwise really nice models. It was an interesting little exercise to make two matching chimneys to fit on models that weren't here, usually I make the bodywork before making the fittings so the appearance can be checked. They were made on a Unimat 3.
 

P A D

Western Thunderer
I thought the photos in post 43 showed how much the excessively tapered chimneys spoiled the look of the otherwise really nice models. It was an interesting little exercise to make two matching chimneys to fit on models that weren't here, usually I make the bodywork before making the fittings so the appearance can be checked. They were made on a Unimat 3.

I do envy you chaps that can put raw stock into the lathe and turn out lovely pieces of work like the chimneys you made for Nick. I bought a Unimat 3 about a year ago and although it's in regular use, I don't have the knowledge or skill to make anything other than simple bushes and the like. Still everyone has to start somewhere.
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
I do envy you chaps that can put raw stock into the lathe and turn out lovely pieces of work like the chimneys you made for Nick. I bought a Unimat 3 about a year ago and although it's in regular use, I don't have the knowledge or skill to make anything other than simple bushes and the like. Still everyone has to start somewhere.
If you can make a bush you have the equipment and skills needed to make anything else on the lathe. Just have a go and see what happens. Practice makes it easier to get right first time but if things go wrong just start again, and keep the brass for a smaller item. Sharp tools are very important with small lathes, keep an oilstone handy. Most commercially available lathe tools are not ground to optimal shapes but will work. One of the advantages of the Unimat is the sensitivity of the controls, you can feel how well the tool is cutting (as well as hear it). From memory, Guy Williams book Model Locomotive Construction in 4mm Scale is a good place to start for methods of making boiler fittings.
 
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