Fire Queen construction series

[LukerParticipant @luker]

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Hi fellow builders; here’s a sneak peak of my next construction series. It’s a complicated build; so the series does not focus on the detail but more on the interesting bits like the use of some ‘new’ alloys and machining techniques. The series also looks at some of the myths surrounding this exceptional loco. Just so that the old hands don’t feel left out, one technique (used to plate the expansion link) was in common practice before this loco was first steamed. I hope you guys enjoy the write-up! When the series get going I’ll add the odd photo etc. to the forum…

[WearyParticipant @weary]

Hi Luker,

This promises to be a very interesting series indeed. I'm especially looking-forward to how you get round the issues in 'our' sizes surrounding the lack of a frame in the prototype. I assume that it will be 5" (1.25" to the foot) gauge?

Regards,

Phil

[Phil H1Participant @philh196021]

Excellent stuff. Looking forward to this.

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Thanks guys…

Yep, it’s modelled in 5g (spot on… 1.25" to the foot or 9.6 scale factor). It’s a small loco, smaller than the Ballaarat, but with similar design tractive effort. The model is very close to the original, and the designer of the prototype was decades ahead of everyone else in many respects. The sub-frames are a boxed construction and incredibly strong even when scaled down for the model. There are a few cheats to improve strength for our track but not many…

One common theme in the series is how I dealt with tolerance stack up, both on the machining and assembling side of the build. With the sub-frames, slanted cylinders etc. small deviations ended up compounding very quickly!

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

That looks amazing, I shall watch out for that!

John.

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

Luker,

The Fire Queen looks excellent and very interesting, as do the other videos on your YT channel.

I've only recently started building (static) steam engines which I think is the sweet spot for me regarding size, cost, and complexity.

But, as you mention, I'm looking forward to hearing the "… interesting bits like the use of some ‘new’ alloys and machining techniques." … you employed during the build.

Regards,

Ches

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Hi guys, the Fire Queen series has started in Model Engineer. I hope all the readers enjoy the write-up. I've just finished the copper boiler design and description so that will be included somewhere down the line. I put the following video together with a few additional pictures that never made it to print, please excuse the narration, AI is much better at reading to script than I am!

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Did you get Hal from 2001 a space odessy to do the voice over?

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Posted by duncan webster on 31/03/2023 11:19:18:

Did you get Hal from 2001 a space odessy to do the voice over?

A little before my time …

[LukerParticipant @luker]

For everyone following the Fire Queen series, here's some pictures that show scale a little better than the ones in the magazine…

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

A truely beautiful model. Being a true philistine, my second thought was take off the coupling rods,change the wheels, put a perch bracket under the smoke box and turn it into a traction engine ? Noel.

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Posted by noel shelley on 23/08/2023 10:19:42:

A truely beautiful model. Being a true philistine, my second thought was take off the coupling rods,change the wheels, put a perch bracket under the smoke box and turn it into a traction engine ? Noel.

Sorry Noel, missed your reply! Thanks, but all credit goes to the original designer of the Fire Queen. He was a brilliant young engineer, and his design was ahead of its time. Sadly, if you read up a little on him he was clearly not as good as Gresley or Crampton in promoting and selling his work, which is often the case with brilliant engineers.

Totally agree with the traction engine modification! I’ve finished the calculations and design for a lovely little traction engine of a similar era, again with the original designer far ahead of his time, and not receiving half as much credit for his work than what he deserves! Some of the castings are done already!

[LukerParticipant @luker]

Hi Gentlemen, if there are still builders lurking on the forum (I say tongue in cheek), here’s a video of the upcoming tender build for the Fire Queen. I hope everyone enjoys the write-up.

Fire Queen tender video

 

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