Poppet valve regulator (LBSC Britannia)

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I'm about to start making LBSC's Poppet valve regulator for my 3.5" Britannia (i.e. the one in the smokebox). To be honest I'm rather intimidated by it, and also concerned about how reliable it would be. Does anyone have any tips before I start please, and is anyone using one in their locomotive with success?

The temptation to use a ball valve instead is overwhelming… as the boiler has been made with the smokebox regulator in mind I can't go back to a dome regulator.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I guess that answers that! I'll look into other alternatives. It just seems a very over complex design compared to my other locomotive.

[Simon CollierParticipant @simoncollier74340]

Jon there is no point asking loco questions on this forum. If you look at, say, the last 50 latest posts you will see what I mean. MECH Forum is the place for loco people. And the search function there works. Downside is that you can’t directly post images as you can here. That’s a real pain.
A mate has a 3-1/2” Brit and it has a ball valve regulator in the smokebox, I’m almost certain. Ball valve regulators, whether dome or smokebox are very popular in my club.

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

I cannot speak for the smaller brother, I have experience only of the 5inch, but have just changed my regulator from the complicated poppet valve version to a gas valve – the improvement is marked.

I think it is best to choose a better-quality stainless gas valve (just a few sheckels more) and adjust the linkage to suit, but I have found it very much worthwhile.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Thank you both. I've ordered something that is rated high enough for superheated steam. I do use the other forum quite heavily but can only access this one during my work day as the other is blocked.

I will do some experiments and see how we do. Thank you!

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I wonder what the proportions of each facet of the hobby this forum supports. I had always supposed that Live Steam was the most popular, but as you say the most recent list of forum posts suggests that isn't the case.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Posted by Jon Lawes on 24/03/2022 00:12:09:

I wonder what the proportions of each facet of the hobby this forum supports. I had always supposed that Live Steam was the most popular, but as you say the most recent list of forum posts suggests that isn't the case.

I certainly don't agree with the comment that there is no point about asking here about loco issues, but MECG is certainly a more specialised forum.

However I think that even on MECH no one is going to ask 'How do I build a model locomotive' – the queries people want advice on are far more likely to be small scale – how do I carry out this machining operation, where can I buy this, how do I address this issue with this machine. Looking at the list of recent posts there are three groups – introductions, enquiries of the type I have just listed and 'Tea Room' items of general engineering interest.

Most of these posts could come from loco builders, be applicable to those interested in this aspect of the hobby, or indeed any other aspect such as Traction Engines (who have Traction Talk Forum in addition) or building stationary or IC engines.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 24/03/2022 09:27:19

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