jamiepage
Western Thunderer
I found a piece of 60mm OD steel tube in the workshop, so cut it to length and turned a rebate to fit the smokebox. It had been nagging me that the spectacle plate boiler cut out may not entirely align with the boiler wrapper, (mainly because the cab sits on side tank recessed tops and it would have been easy to build in some vertical errors), so the chance to check was irresistible.
The tube sat in ok and only a very small amount of easing will be necessary on the spectacle plate, so relief there.
In fact, it made me think that the tube could form a rigid exoskeleton, solidly affixed to the smokebox, with the boiler proper sliding in from the rear. It may well be easier, and more rigid, than a rolled wrapper. Food for thought.
In the meantime, a quick snap shows the Beyer Peacock look is starting to appear, which is nice.
Finally, a closeup of some detail on the splasher assemblies. They are held in place with a single CS screw in the lampirons at the front screwed into the buffer beam, and held by the cosmetic bracket at their rear.
The sanding gear linkage, leaf spring etc are all integral with the sub assembly. Filler cap still to come.
The tube sat in ok and only a very small amount of easing will be necessary on the spectacle plate, so relief there.
In fact, it made me think that the tube could form a rigid exoskeleton, solidly affixed to the smokebox, with the boiler proper sliding in from the rear. It may well be easier, and more rigid, than a rolled wrapper. Food for thought.
In the meantime, a quick snap shows the Beyer Peacock look is starting to appear, which is nice.
Finally, a closeup of some detail on the splasher assemblies. They are held in place with a single CS screw in the lampirons at the front screwed into the buffer beam, and held by the cosmetic bracket at their rear.
The sanding gear linkage, leaf spring etc are all integral with the sub assembly. Filler cap still to come.