Hi Steven

Assuming funds short,l ook at the drawings, make a list of taps and dies needed for any threads. Ascertain tapping drill sizes for only the required taps. Don't buy sets as you will probably never use some sizes. Just go to a supplier like Tracy tools to buy just what you need, including only the size of diestocks and tap wrenches to fit. The foregoing is probably the cheapest way of acquiring only the tools needed. Don't buy second hand as they are all cutters and likely to be blunt, you probably have no means of sharpening them and small diameter taps could snap in the work.   I suggest you take care with taps smaller than 1/8" diameter and use the very next larger tapping drill size to avoid overloading tap and breaking it. Resulting thread still has similar strength.  Join a local club, choose one with a lathe in their workshop and check if someone will be willing to teach you how to use it and make the parts needing turning, boring, drilling. Be aware that your project will take sometime and money to complete but do enjoy the journey and very good luck.

Hopefully, others on here will offer their advice and words of wisdom.

It is this week, a hundred years ago, that the designer of your project started writing in Model Engineer.

John

Edited By DMB on 06/05/2022 08:10:27

Firstly you will need somewhere to work which would be either the end of a garage or a garden shed. You will need a sturdy bench and a solid vice fixed to this.

As well as the many smaller tools mentioned you ideally want to be able to work from home rather than have to be taken to a club to use machines> So a lathe of some sort will be needed, one that can take a decent vertical slide for milling work. A bench drill will be handy as will a grinder to sharpen your tools and even if you don't build the boiler yourself blowtorch and hearth for silver soldering.

Also think of the time you will need to set aside as you will be looking at 1000hours plus, more so as you are learning and may not have the ideal tools to do the job quickly. If tooling and materials will have to come in the form of birthday and Xmas presents then that can also extend the build time. Pocket money is unlikely to go far so you will have to forget about things like motorbikes, cars and girls for the next few years

J

Many years ago, I acquired an old flat bed Drummond, badly worn. Used it for a bit, sold it locally and buyer had fellow club member, ex school metalwork teacher help him and made new mandrel bearings for it.

For a young beginner not yet working earning money to buy items listed above, then what I suggested will get newbie started, perhaps with a second hand bench vice on an old table in shed or back of dad's garage.

My local club has lathe small bench drill hefty vice on sturdy bench and massive hacksaw machine, bench toolgrinder, all used by very keen beginner who is there almost every Saturday, beavering away.

Hi Steven –

The Tich book is very useful as there is lots more information there than you will find in the drawings alone.

Alternately Tich Articles is a link to a pdf of the magazine articles which describe every process in building the loco.

I agree with the bit about going along to a model engineering club/society but please don't give away exact contact details. The two clubs I am a member of are in North and South Birmingham, if either of those are local to you.

Our club runs sessions for novices which is very useful; I think if the club has the right mindset (and realises that without young members there will be no club) it's a very supportive environment

Steven,

Tish castings are available from a number of UK suppliers, not just Reeves.

Two suppliers that come to mind are GLR Kennions, and GS Model-engineers. I'm sure that there are others too. So you might want to shop-around if you decide to go down the Tich route.

However, as you are in the US you might care to consider the Kozo Hiraoka designed locomotives which also have thorough and complete up to-date construction books and use the absolute minimum of castings. Second-hand copies are often available too. Where there is a requirement for castings, or you prefer a casting, these are available from US based suppliers. Just something to consider.

Regards,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 06/05/2022 16:56:36

Hi, Blackgates Engineering also do castings for both Tich & Juliet.

Regards Nick.

Tich would be fine for your first engine.

I suggest you start eith the frames but leave the axle slots undersize until you get a lather and vertical slide.

By the time you have hacked out and drilled the frames you will haven a better idea if y.ou want to devote the time and resources to the project.

The link I posted to the online pdf of Tich articles contains all the information as published so would be an alternative to the book.

Hi Steven,

What will you do for a running track? All the UK tracks I have seen have the 3.5" track up on pillars so your feet dangle and you can reach the controls without breaking your back.

Tich versus Juliet