Search found 1047 matches

by Rwilliams
Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:34 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Railroad Warehouse 2.8.2 Mikado Logger Build
Replies: 710
Views: 1103839

Re: Railroad Warehouse 2.8.2 Mikado Logger Build

That is a really good looking assembly of parts that should give years of service. The stresses on the crosshead in full size were significant enough to require some special driven fit taper shank bolts with oversize hex nuts on the exterior of the crosshead. The taper insured the related parts did ...
by Rwilliams
Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:11 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: OS Porter Mogul
Replies: 67
Views: 83546

Re: OS Porter Mogul

Always nice to peek in on the Porter Mogul rebuild. Almost no end to what one can do to kick up a nice locomotive into a great locomotive and have fun doing it at the same time. The addition of the button on the check valve disk not only makes for ease of removal, but adds a bit of weight to help it...
by Rwilliams
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:00 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Railroad Warehouse 2.8.2 Mikado Logger Build
Replies: 710
Views: 1103839

Re: Railroad Warehouse 2.8.2 Mikado Logger Build

In full size practice we use .004 clearance on the oil lubricated valve gear pins and bushings. With the thick oil and the heat/friction of the working parts, never had a problem. If you go with .002-.003 and some oil grooves, the parts should play well together for a long time.
by Rwilliams
Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:03 pm
Forum: Live Steam Marketplace
Topic: mystery lost wax castings 1 1/2" scale and door dogs SOLD
Replies: 2
Views: 189

Re: mystery lost wax castings 1 1/2" scale and door dogs

The two bottom left castings are for the RRSC Pyle National headlight kit. The reflector will polish up nicely giving a golden glow effect real well. The square with the 4 feet is a bit oversized compared to full size. Used under the headlight to achieve correct aiming of the beam down the track. Th...
by Rwilliams
Sun Mar 03, 2024 2:47 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Sunbeam 1018 headlight being built from the Sunbeam print
Replies: 17
Views: 3276

Re: Sunbeam 1018 headlight being built from the Sunbeam print

Nice job with the headlight build. The use of the eye at the end of the hinge pins is classic shop modifications at many railroads. The old shop foreman where I worked long ago told me that it made working on a headlight much easier. Any used steamers showing up on the property soon had the old pins...
by Rwilliams
Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:12 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Northern 4-8-4 Build 3/4”
Replies: 276
Views: 62119

Re: Northern 4-8-4 Build 3/4”

In full size locomotive construction practice, most nuts are made to an oversize condition in both width across the flats and the height. Either heavy or extra heavy and in some cases even more robust as needed. Many times our scale model hex nuts are just not going to look visually correct when com...
by Rwilliams
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:52 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: 1.5/1.6 Scale Prime Washout Plugs
Replies: 5
Views: 776

Re: 1.5/1.6 Scale Prime Washout Plugs

Most later full size locomotive images of the washout plugs on the crown sheet area of the boiler show the square shank inside the sheet metal thimble trim piece. At the very end of steam, the thimbles were often left off knowing the diesels were on the way and such luxury details were not worth the...
by Rwilliams
Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:45 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Boiler insulation
Replies: 21
Views: 42661

Re: Boiler insulation

Long ago I helped my father remove the well rusted steel jacket from the boiler of a big steam tractor. Under the rusted jacket was this layer of wood strips held in position by some steel wire now well rusted and hardly still wire. The wood had rotted from moisture over the past many decades and lo...
by Rwilliams
Sat Dec 16, 2023 5:02 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: OS Porter Mogul
Replies: 67
Views: 83546

Re: OS Porter Mogul

In full size we have a separate washer from the nut so that once the tapers of the pin are drawn up tight in the body of the crosshead, the thickness of the washer or the nut can be faced to time the slots for the cotter pin. We often use more slots in the nut to allow for fine adjustment and no slo...
by Rwilliams
Sat Dec 16, 2023 2:11 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: OS Porter Mogul
Replies: 67
Views: 83546

Re: OS Porter Mogul

Jack, Great work on the crosshead wrist pin upgrade. In full size, most wrist pins feature a center drill mark in the outer end for support during turning and threading. While I have had problematic results with tiny center drills and their life spans, they do add some seldom seen detail in our mode...
by Rwilliams
Tue Dec 12, 2023 6:29 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: OS Porter Mogul
Replies: 67
Views: 83546

Re: OS Porter Mogul

Really like the looks of the wheels with the polished tire surfaces. Only problem is if not given some sort of clear coat protection the nice polished surface soon turns to a nasty rusted surface and all the work is for nothing. What material do you use to clear coat the wheels?
by Rwilliams
Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:24 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Prototype Poppet Valve Throttle
Replies: 21
Views: 32206

Re: Prototype Poppet Valve Throttle

I too along with Russ have done battle with full size steam throttle valves. The single valve with double seats are a bit more of a challenge to achieve a good steam tight fit at both seats but with patience can be done. The full size multi-valve front end throttles are only single seated and far ea...