7mm Finney7 Rover

FuntleyWorks

Western Thunderer
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Build No.2! Next up is the Finney7 Rover. As a builder when you are asked to build certain kits for locos your excitement level reaches a new high! Lol! And this one when I was asked to build it is certainly one of those!

I have put together the basic chassis so far, and fortunately the owner has managed to source a complete set of AGH castings for the wheels for loco and tender. A small miracle to be honest!!! Hopefully these will arrive in the post soon so I can machine them up. More to follow soon
 
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FuntleyWorks

Western Thunderer
Spent today turning up the driver for the Rover. To say it was stressful knowing that there probably isn’t another casting out there is probably an understatement! Fortunately though all went well!! :eek:

Next stage to finish off the other wheels then will start on the crank axle.


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GrahamMc

Western Thunderer
Spent today turning up the driver for the Rover. To say it was stressful knowing that there probably isn’t another casting out there is probably an understatement!

I have read that a main function of the alloy we call low melt solder has nothing to do with soldering at all. Apparently fragile components can be embedded in it so they can be chucked (or otherwise mounted) and then machined safely. The 'solder', the low melt alloy supports the component.
Less stress on the component and the operator!
When the machining operations are complete the alloy is easily removed in hot water.
What follows is a quote from a website selling this 'Fixturing alloy'.
  • 'Reusable low-temperature melting Alloy (158°F) for supporting thin-walled sections which require machining. No. 15158 does not shrink upon solidification rather it exhibits slight "growth" so that it locks into the part being machined. After machining you simply melt it out in hot water.
  • It melts at 54°F below boiling point of water so that when you go to use it you simply put it in a cast iron, stainless steel or porcelain lined pot and into hot water bath to melt it.
  • Reusable many times
  • No drosses created owing to low heat required prior to pouring it.'
It's a technique that might be worth looking at. Does anyone out there know more about it?

Edit: AKA fusible alloy, Wood's metal, amongst others.
 
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GrahamMc

Western Thunderer
For turning wheels the fusible alloy would be in between the spokes, probably covering them both at the front and back, thus supporting them. The whole thing would be a solid disc.
Mounting a workpiece with superglue and then using heat or other substances to break the bond is useful, I've done it myself, but it's not the same thing. Hope that makes it clearer.
It's not a method that needs a modern day equivalent. It works and it's used today, see Youtube for examples. The alloy is sold by the kilo but it's available in smaller quantities at about £15 for around 300 grams.

Edit: The handy thing is that once the work is done you just suspend the workpiece in hot water and the alloy falls away leaving a clean component.
 
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simond

Western Thunderer
What radius will it traverse?

(Academic question, no intent whatsoever to buy or build one, just interested)

‘Tis a thing of beauty tho’

Best
Simon
 

FuntleyWorks

Western Thunderer
What radius will it traverse?

(Academic question, no intent whatsoever to buy or build one, just interested)

‘Tis a thing of beauty tho’

Best
Simon

As long as it's a straight line I think it should be fine!

In truth, I think it's a glass case piece. It's to scale 7 tolerances so there isn't as lot of clearance in places, but it is a working engine at the same.
 
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