Rob Roy loco

[Dalboy]

Towards the end of last year I treated myself to some nice new machines and not woodworking. Having only ever use a metal lathe when I was a school and never even touch a milling machine in my life I started a new project these parts took me a week to complete(And there are many more to come) that is only two or three hours each day. I even had to make some stickers so I knew which way the table moved when I turned the handles :eusa-doh:

No prizes for correct guesses what it is

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Model train.

Nicely done, Sir.

 

[Malc2098]

Nice.

 

[Dalboy]

Still lots to learn thank you both.

Model train.

Nicely done, Sir.

Yes correct hopefully it will run on live steam one when finished

 

[Peri]

For a first milling project, that looks very neat and tidy

 

[AndyP]

Wow! This is one to look forward to.

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you Peri and Andy. I am looking forward to the adventure but I still want to find time for some woodwork in-between making this Loco.

 

[wallace]

I had an early wadkin lathe with a carriage and when you turned the handwheel left it went right. They changed the design on later models.

 

[Dalboy]

Done most of the buffer beam this week until I realised that I needed a milling cutter to complete them. So Monday ordered from Tracey tools they arrived this morning post office must have pulled up their socks at last even my ME copy arrived two days early.




On to yesterday I thought I would start another part while waiting for the cutter(always something can be made). That so far is great being able to do something until today. found one of the pieces of metal but the second must have been taken by the workshop gremlins.



So to help a little I had a little clean up not that it was that untidy as I do try to keep things clean and put away unless they are being worked on. still no sign of the part, Coffee time and onto the computer and ordered some castings for the rob Roy as well as a pile of steel also for the loco.

Back into the workshop and spotted an angle plate which had the smallest amount of rust trying to creep on to it I may as well get on top of that before it takes hold over to the vice and yes you guessed it there sitting in the vice was the missing piece of steel it is now with the other piece in a safe place until I forget where I put them.

Oh well another exciting week so far what will I loose next

 

[CHJ]

Brilliant start to your new venture into metal manipulation. Many a long term exponent would do well to meet those standards.

Rust, sounds like you might need a low heat tool storage solution in your new shed.

Had to nip into my shed this evening to to turn up a drilling guide bush for local farmer whilst he waited, the tools in the the storage draw felt warm to the touch and the cabinet (old set of kitchen draws) only has an 11 watt bulb in it, on 24/7.

 

[Dalboy]

Brilliant start to your new venture into metal manipulation. Many a long term exponent would do well to meet those standards.

Rust, sounds like you might need a low heat tool storage solution in your new shed.

Had to nip into my shed this evening to to turn up a drilling guide bush for local farmer whilst he waited, the tools in the the storage draw felt warm to the touch and the cabinet (old set of kitchen draws) only has an 11 watt bulb in it, on 24/7.

Thank you Chas I am pleased the way the frames came out just took my time and double checked all measurements.
I think the small amount of rust I found may have been while I had it in store before moving back into the new workshop just did not see it. Nothing else shows any sign of the dreaded brown stuff. I have a electric greenhouse heater on all the time with a thermostat that keeps the temperature just enough in there worked a treat in the old one as well

 

[Woodster]

I think it’s more about humidity than temperature. My shed is unheated and the only thing that seems to get rust on it from time to time is a 1cwt Anvil sitting on the floor. I’ve not had rust on any of my machines.

Nice start on the Loco. Have you got somewhere to run it or will you be setting up your own track?
I used to go to the show in Guildford every year when I lived over that way.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/ ... obilebasic

 

[Dalboy]

I think it’s more about humidity than temperature. My shed is unheated and the only thing that seems to get rust on it from time to time is a 1cwt Anvil sitting on the floor. I’ve not had rust on any of my machines.

Nice start on the Loco. Have you got somewhere to run it or will you be setting up your own track?
I used to go to the show in Guildford every year when I lived over that way.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/ ... obilebasic

In my old shed/workshop all I ever had was a heater and did not have any problems with rust so will see how this one works as it is a lot bigger, nothing else has any signs of rust I think it was where it was put while changing over as I have only just got back into this one.

No where yet to run it but will be joining the local Engineering club so I can have a test certificate as well as somewhere to run it and meet others with the same interests.
I did approach management but that was turned down straight away so I did not submit planning for it :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[CHJ]

As long as Metal machines or tools are 1-2 degrees above local ambient you will not normally get condensation on them.

If you regularly run machines and generate internal heat in motors etc, covering with old blankets overnight will retain the warmth.


My Lathe shed does not have heating, too crude a construction for regular heating with any efficiency.
The lathes sit behind a large area of south facing glass so never have rust problems, neither do my wood turning tools on racks that have the benefit of radiant window heat.
Only trouble I had was with chucks and accessories stored in cabinets below sunlight level, the 'heater' bulb solved that problem.


If you need a luxury solution to keeping machine bodies above ambient look up Bob's (9fingers) low voltage resistor heating solution.
Old link to you know where

Apologise for the hijack Derek.

 

[Dalboy]

No problem Chas. I work on the temperature just above freezing mark and it seems to work for the majority of things.
Anyway back to the project new milling cutters arrived the other day but with other things going on the workshop got a miss.
The good news however is that I had a delivery of metal as well as some of the castings which look pretty good on first inspection

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Nice start Dalboy. I putter around up to two days a week at a volunteer railway and I can recommend rubber-necking at your nearest - it's amazing what you can glean from guys working on 60 ton locos that is still applicable in the smaller scale what fits on your bench.

 

[CHJ]

One aspect of work on model locos I encountered in my first experience was that making everything to the highest precision fit resulted in a satisfying assembly that had to be disassembled and 'relaxed' before it would consent to proceed.

 

[Dalboy]

Yesterdays work.
Cut the two slots in each buffer beam for the main chassis frames to fit into, there also was a little filing as the cutter left a half circle at the end so had to square that up so the frames fitted right into them. They fit very snug so a nice push fit into them. This is the first of many dry fits. I need to make some brackets so they can be riveted together but that will have to wait as other stuff need doing before they can be fixed in place.

It is surprising how long cutting 4 total slots can take especially as I am a novice at this type of modelling





Started late in the workshop today a quick visit to the opticians to sort out new glasses.
Anyway I managed to mill to size a spacer block no photo just a plain rectangle of steel. Then started on the hornblocks by cleaning one surface as a reference and then clean the other side..
They still need to be brought to final size which will clean up the little bits and pieces. I have also given the ends a tidy up to bring them square before the main parts which will be the inside faces. These three will take a little time to complete as I don't want to have to order new castings.
These will eventually be split in half across the middle giving me six in total. I just thought it best to do as much work as I can before doing so

 

[CHJ]

Good progress, 'softly softly gently does it' rules the day, putting it back is rarely a realistic option.

You are already doing in days what a starter to the subject might take weeks whilst tackling the learning curves involved with new machines.

 

[Dalboy]

Good progress, 'softly softly gently does it' rules the day, putting it back is rarely a realistic option.

You are already doing in days what a starter to the subject might take weeks whilst tackling the learning curves involved with new machines.

Thank you Chas I tend to spend a lot of time working out how to hold and in what order to make cuts before even turning on a machine. Some say that I have taken on something a little on the difficult side and should have picked something easy to start with but I feel that I will win in the end and I am sure that I will make mistakes but will try not too.
Having a mechanical background help just a little :lol:

 

[Dalboy]

As I am getting to the stage of the axles and the like I thought I would deviate and make the buffers just as a practice before turning the axles first one went terrible now you see why I decided to do these at least they are easier to just remake



Anyway scrapped that one and started again this time with better results. Those that know my work in making wooden models will know that I would rather scrap something and remake it if I am not happy with that part I don't believe in trying to salvage something and it end up looking worse than the first attempt which failed.

So 4 of them which look much better

 

[CHJ]

:eusa-clap:

 

[Dalboy]

More work on the buffer assembly I managed to turn all the outside of the stocks and then reverse one of them and drilled a small through hole and opened up a section for the buffer to fit into. Still need to drill the other three.

The completed stock on the left with the buffer on the right




Slide together I still need to make the springs the front and rear spring are different strengths as well as some nuts to hold them in place





The buffer beam with the buffer assembly just pushed into place

 

[AndyP]

Fascinating Derek,
I’m struggling with a sense of scale though. How big will the finished loco be?

 

[Dalboy]

Fascinating Derek,
I’m struggling with a sense of scale though. How big will the finished loco be?

This may help give an idea of the size HERE

 

[AndyP]

Thanks Derek,
That then begs the question. Where will you be running yours?

 

[Dalboy]

Thanks Derek,
That then begs the question. Where will you be running yours?

Not the garden as it took me a while to be allowed a bigger workshop :lol: :lol: :lol:

I will be joining the local engineering club as it will allow me to talk to members about any problems I get as well as get a boiler certificate as well as a track I can use

 

[Doug]

Really interesting Derek, great to watch your progress.

 

[CHJ]

Judging by your progress to date I think you need to put more time into management manipulation.
If you are to get the most out of the build, just in case of course, you are forced to take days out to run it off site, don't want testing away from base to impact on any future "can you just sort this out" events that management might have do we.

I did approach management but that was turned down straight away so I did not submit planning for it

 

[Dalboy]

Judging by your progress to date I think you need to put more time into management manipulation.
If you are to get the most out of the build, just in case of course, you are forced to take days out to run it off site, don't want testing away from base to impact on any future "can you just sort this out" events that management might have do we.

I did approach management but that was turned down straight away so I did not submit planning for it

I will be making a rolling road much later down the line when I need it for testing so there may be the sound of train whistle at some stage.
I did say that with a test track around the garden she could sit on the back and as we went around she could do the pruning but alas she did not buy that :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Dalboy]

All four of the buffer assemblies turned just need to wait for some spring wire and some 5BA nuts so I can fix the stocks to the buffer.

 

[Dalboy]

I have not been idol over the last week I have replaced some greenhouse glass which we lost in the high winds last Friday these lasted for nearly a week Friday being the worst day as many may know.

Then Tuesday I started by doing the glass followed by digging the veggie patch and sowing seed in the greenhouse. This did follow a theme as I did this every morning but the afternoons I was free to play in the workshop which meant that I was able to do the odd bit to the loco.

An added extra I did manage to cook my dear wife a meal today which is a normal thing on a Saturday.

Finished the Buffer stocks by threading some 1/8" bar and adding springs so the buffer assemblies are complete. Sorry no picture

I started with drilling 4 holes in the ends of the cross members this was a total of 16 holes then threading them 6BA which is quite small the tapping drill size is 2.35mm so a very slow process not wanting to snap either the drill bit or tap in a hole.



Then it was a simple job of cutting and machining some angle iron so that the buffer beams can be attached to the main frames these still need drilling for some iron rivets



And I even found time to prepare some wood for tiny bird houses which I will show when complete in the woodturning section

 

[Dalboy]

Due to other jobs not a lot on the loco but have managed to fix some parts together I know not a lot to look at.

I started by drilling 6 holes in each of the angle brackets and then riveted these to the buffer beams on the outside the rivets disappeared( well nearly just make out one of them) with a little draw filling and some wet and dry paper I have not brought these to a exceptional finish as I want a little roughness for the paint to adhere to so only done to 240 grit. Surprising how long this all took now to do the other end which the angle brackets are larger but only have 4 rivets in each.

 

[Dalboy]

Both buffer beams now have the little angle brackets riveted and the reverse filed flat so no sign (well very little sign) of the rivets.

I also managed to complete one of the horn block pairs which fits in the cut out for them a treat with no to very little movement. The second one is now being machined between other jobs like gardening and some woodturning.






As I have used the first cut out to check for size I have marked this horn block pair and the cut out. I will do the same for the other two so they will be matched to each set of cut outs. Not sure if you can see the marks a single punch mark and either a L or R scribed on them

 

[CHJ]

Full marks for progress and machining quality, but your enthusiasm for workshop output is frustratingly embarrassing.

 

[Dalboy]

Full marks for progress and machining quality, but your enthusiasm for workshop output is frustratingly embarrassing.

I would like to do more in the day but I am also gardening which is my mornings taken up. Then the afternoon is taken up with either this project or trying to turn some little wooden bird house ornaments.
And even then there are the odd jobs for the good lady like repairing a couple of concrete squirrels who's tails got broke.

The big question is "Are there enough hours in the day" :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Nice methodical work Derek. Very true to 'the real thing'.

 

[CHJ]

The big question is "Are there enough hours in the day"

Simple answer:- "NO! there isn't" and there never will be for someone with interests.

After 27 yrs, in retirement my experience has been that the Hours/Days get shorter and the Years pass by at a frustratingly exponential rate.

 

[Dalboy]

Nice methodical work Derek. Very true to 'the real thing'.

Thank you SamQ

Yes Chas the years do seem to pass at an alarming rate.

Keep playing and enjoy yourselves in the workshop regardless of what you are making

 

[Dalboy]

Some more done to the loco. When I started the hornblocks I dreaded doing them but a slow approach seemed to work and double, treble and even four times checking measurements I managed to get all three machined. I still need to drill the rivet holes but have marked them.
The inside corners will be filed square once they are fitted. So cutting in half and fitting will be the next job.