Stirling 8' Single

Jon Nazareth · Mar 04 2017 08:39

I've decided to start my next project which is to be a Stirling 8' Single. Early days yet but picture one is of the tender frames plus wheels.

Whilst waiting for materials to make up the stretchers to arrive, I decided to have a go at the driving wheels only to come across this hole. I pushed a bit of shim into it and it appears that it is 7/32" deep and heading toward the tread. I've notified the 2 1/2" Association, as that is where I bought the castings from, and I'm waiting to hear.

Jon

IanT · Mar 04 2017 10:10

Hi Jon,

Is that one of the large wheel castings? I looked at mine the other day (as you will know) and thought they looked pretty good. The best solution is obviously to just get it exchanged by N25GA.

It is possible to 'bodge' blowholes with JB Weld but it's better not to have to. This involves gently warming the casting (heat the casting broadly, not just the holes) and then spreading/placing/poking/poring JBW into the hole(s). This is not particularly easy to do, especially on small holes and JBW goes through several stages of curing and is quite runny at one point, so larger holes will probably have a 'depression' in them once finally set that may need a top up. It can be machined but is still relatively soft - so for castings it's mostly about improving their cosmetics in my view.

However - whilst on the subject of JBW (for the Live Steamers here) there was a discussion recently on the ME Forum about repairing a cylinder and JBW was one of the solutions suggested. Apparently, there is now a high temperature version (HighHeat) of JBW that can be used where higher temperatures are involved (up to 450F & 500F for short periods) that may be useful for people here to know about.

So sorry to hear that Jon. Best to exchange it but there are alternatives fixes if necessary. Let us know how you get on.

Regards,

IanT

Jon Nazareth · Mar 04 2017 19:11

Ian
Thank you for the input, I'll see what happens with the Association before I go any further with the wheel. Tell me, what is JBW?

The new materials arrived today for the stretchers et al and so I made a return to the tender. I was pulling my hair out at one point as I have a set of frames from one quarter, a set of drawings from another and I'm trying to tone the whole thing down a bit as the drawings obviously have in mind a passenger hauling loco and tender. I managed to mess up one piece of brass that was to be a stretcher but sorted it out in the end. If it's fine tomorrow it'll be the garden but if rain the shed

Jon

John Baguley · Mar 04 2017 20:20

Hi Jon,

I think Brian Kerens may be away skiiing at the moment but he'll get back to you as soon as he returns. There will be no problem supplying another casting to replace the faulty one.

John

Jon Nazareth · Mar 05 2017 08:37

Baggo

Thank you for letting me know, I'll await his return.

Jon

classicdelights · Mar 05 2017 10:12

Members may be interested to know that Station Road Steam have a part-built model for sale at the moment. Here is the link: http://www.stationroadsteam.com/stock%20pages/7370/index.htm

I don't think it is bad for £250, what has been completed looks quite good.

Regards

Phil

Jon Nazareth · Mar 05 2017 19:08

Does anyone know which Model Engineer mags had Dick Allen's articles on how to build the tender for his Dee? I know it was 2012 but that is all. I could do with some pointers.

Jon

John Baguley · Mar 05 2017 22:29

According to my index, you want volume 208 issues 4428 and 4429 (2012)

John

IanT · Mar 06 2017 14:19

I've got these somewhere Jon...

Regards,

IanT

Jon Nazareth · Mar 06 2017 19:37

Baggo
Thank you for letting me know which were the correct issues. I've looked on Ebay and ME back issues but nothing there. Can anyone suggest any other sites?

Jon

IanT · Mar 06 2017 20:18

Give me a day or two Jon (busy tomorrow) and I'll be in touch.

Regards,

IanT

IanT · Mar 08 2017 19:57

Sent you an email Jon.

Regards,

IanT

Jon Nazareth · Mar 11 2017 09:10

As mentioned earlier, I'm thinking of using Slaters GBG3 motor and gearbox to power the Stirling more than anything, because it's there. What do others use to power their electric G3 locos?

Jon

IanT · Mar 11 2017 09:46

There's a certain small blue Diesel (0-6-0) that's been seen at Ampthill occasionally Jon (and its pulled its owner around the Cheltenham track too) that has the motor horizontal in the body (it would be in the boiler in your case) that uses a simple vertical chain & sprocket (1:2/1:3?) drive to a right angle gearbox made from (angle grinder) spiral bevel gears...

Haven't checked their dimensions but these are £4.45 - many others available...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/angle-grinder-gear

I guess that any motor that will fit the boiler diameter will do the job - but need to look at its length with a single wheeler - however this seems a very robust arrangement and it clearly works well.

Dave W is the member to ask....

Regards,

IanT

Jon Nazareth · Mar 11 2017 12:09

On the drawings that I have for the Single, it suggests 1/16" stuff for the guard irons but these would scale at nearly 1 1/2" which sounds very thick to me. Does anyone know of an average thickness for guard irons? I would have thought 1/32" which is something near to 3/4" would do.

Jon

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