Hi Julian

This is something I have considered and thus far ignored for the time being.

With that said, I will be bushing all areas that require threaded connections, including the safety valve spring piston linkage.

The boiler will be constructed similar to the one shown below.

I do also think that the top gauge glass fitting will be silver soldered as well, similar to above but more along the lines of the original and screwed to the boiler before soldering.

Morning John/ Julian

I reckon I would drill and tap the regulator and dome bush before fitting to the boiler, it would be easier for me.

In terms of the attachment of the regulator stand to the boiler barrel, I would assume that this is no longer standard practice? I am referring to the GA above.

What is the modern standard?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

HI Julian

Would copper for the various bushes be OK?

Also, excuse my ignorance but "all the fitted bolts out of stainless for all the fixings"

What are you referring to here?

Regards,

Ryan

I have done some more work on Tich, this time on the brake gear.

I'm sure you would have all seen the naked brake shaft in some of my previous pictures of the full locomotive.

The first item made was the drop arm, this was marked out, drilled, cut out and then filed to final size.

Next, the two actuating arms were made. As these needed to be exactly the same in every respect, two plates were soft-soldered together and the operations were performed on both arms at the same time.

Above you can see the fine line where the soft solder is.

The shape was then rough cut with a hacksaw.

Filed with a bastard file.

Then filed with a second-cut file.

Finally finished to shape with a smooth file and the edges draw-filed.

The small hole at the small end was lengthened into a slot to accommodate the changes in radial length as the nut is screwed up and down.

Finally the two pieces were separated with a bit of heat.

Cleaned up.

and then test fitted to the shaft and locomotive.

The whole lot was then silver-soldered, remembering the square nut between the arms before soldering.

Edited By Ryan Norton on 06/02/2018 15:59:24

I have been working again on Tich, with emphasis on the brake gear and valve gear.

I blackened the brake column with some used motor oil which worked wonderfully.

I am happy with this result. At least it is protected from corrosion and will not chip.

Next up were the brake hangers which were all made at once.

Four slices of 2 mm thick steel plate were cut and using the first marked up piece, drilled accordingly with a 1.6 mm drill.

The pieces were then riveted together with three copper rivets and shaped using files.

Finally the rivets were filed flush and using a pin punch, removed. The edges were filed smooth and the lot oiled lightly.

They are all the same.

Here is a pic of an existing Tich loco with the rear beams adjusted as per my previous post.

Brake gear aside and onto the valve gear.

The reversing shaft was turned down on both ends to a tight fit for the lifting and reverse arms. The side with the lifting and reverse arm will be brazed and the side with the single lifting arm will be drilled and pinned one the valve timing is sorted.

Here is a picture of the rear brake hanger showing the clearance issue with the rear brake beam.

I am going to make these a bit longer.