Speedy1500

[Michael Pratt 2Participant @michaelpratt2]

Hi.

I am working on Speedy at the moment. I Would love to contact anybody who has a working model or is working towards completion like me.

Regards Mike

[Michael Pratt 2Participant @michaelpratt2]

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Michael welcome to the forum what is Speedy?

David

[WearyParticipant @weary]

There are two active builders on this forum.

Regards,

Phil

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by David George 1 on 17/11/2018 18:34:29:

Hi Michael welcome to the forum what is Speedy?

David

GWR Outside cylindered 0-6-0 PT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_1500_Class

Edited By Brian Oldford on 18/11/2018 12:44:57

[Michael Pratt 2Participant @michaelpratt2]

Hi Phil.

Please excuse my presumption about Speedy.

Speedy is a well established 5" scale model loco based upon a British Railway GWR 0-6-0 TanK engine.

There are known problems with the valve gear on the model and I am hoping to contact someone who has a working model to compare notes.

Many thanks. Michael

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by David George 1 on 17/11/2018 18:34:29:

Hi Michael welcome to the forum what is Speedy?

David

My answer:

The Mike Burrows-designed Windcheetah Speedy SL (street legal)

Edited By ega on 18/11/2018 14:27:45

[WearyParticipant @weary]

Michael,

One of the builders of Speedy on the forum I linked to in my post above (repeated here for convenience) has created a wiki for Speedy here. Like all wiki pages it is open to anyone to contribute, update, etc., You will see that he has adopted revised valve gear from that specified by LBSC, details on this page here. Don Ashton, the designer of this particular valve-gear revision is a member of the proboards forum linked to above and in my initial response. From memory the other active builder is fitting revised valve-gear. I seem to recall some of the other members of the forum have knowledge of the design from past acquaintance with examples, have information about 'issues', and can contribute useful information. I really would suggest that you have a look there – your response suggests to me that maybe you didn't realise that I had provided you with a 'clicky-linky-thingy' direct to the relevant forum (free & painless to join) .

Regards,

Phil

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

(Phil beat me to a reply by 2 minutes! Removed redundant text)

I'm not a 5" builder, so have no firm knowledge of my own to share. Good luck on what when finished is a beautiful model!

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 18/11/2018 16:16:41

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

HI MP2, I am a slow builder of 5" Speedy, have made several mods and at the stage of making the cab now. Once done, it will be time for boiler certification and initial steaming trials.

You can see from the photo, this Speedy is for doing the wall of death instead of horizontal tracks. Ps in spite of seeing methods for rotating photos, my puny attempts have failed. I see that via edit you can do all sorts of things except the most common reqiest is rotation. Bob (in France).

[paul rushmerParticipant @paulrushmer83015]

Hi Michael

It would help if we knew roughly were you are I am Cambridge club based and have my grandfathers Speedy quietly slumbering in the back of the garage, last run 4 years ago. You would be welcome to come and view and she may be persuaded to run! I think it is built exactly as LBSC intended.

Paul

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

Michael

I've sent you a PM.

John

[Michael Pratt 2Participant @michaelpratt2]

Hi Paul.

Thanks for your reply. I live in Bedworth just north of Coventry.

Any idea when your grandfather built the model, have you driven it ? I am at the stage of machining parts for the Speedy valve gear and would like to get it right first time. Asking around I am told there are several possible modifications and I have had one comment that the improvements are minimal! So, do I stick with LBSC plans or not.

I am hoping to chat with both parties and compare comments.

I am a member of Coventry Model Engineering Society, unfortunately nobody there can help.

Thank you for your kind offer to view your grandfathers engine. Will you be using it on any track days at your club?

Many thanks Michael

[paul rushmerParticipant @paulrushmer83015]

Hi Michael

I think Grandfather finished it in 1974 ,I have driven it a lot we used to take it to local fates to give the children rides on our portable track and raise funds for charities and the like. The valve gear is as LBSC designed, I know he had to file bits out to get full travel, as to performance reluctant to pull away slowly and does not like drifting slowly or notching up but open her up and she keeps up with her name. Sorry this is not of great help. Personably I would try and find Don Astons article in the M.E. before machining any parts. From memory He reckoned most parts needed changing, there is not really enough room between the cylinder and crank pin so a compromise has to be made. The Americans got it right on the USA tank on the southern they drove the rear axle! I have no plans to run the engine in the near future you would have been a good reason! Slowly trying to improve some 3 1/2 wagons at the moment.

Paul

[WearyParticipant @weary]

All the dimensions of Don Ashton's improved valve gear design for Speedy can be found here. (As linked to above.)

Regards,

Phil

[Michael Pratt 2Participant @michaelpratt2]

Many thanks for the link.

Please excuse my naivety, i am having difficulty in navigating the forum.

Regards Mike

[craig chapman 1Participant @craigchapman1]

Hi , I live in Ontario,Canada and have a 4 3/4" LBSC Speedy with a new "dom"steel boiler . my original boiler had a crown sheet failure and unrepairable . The side tanks are empty now for I have an aluminum water tank and coal bunker with hand pump on the riding car . Made alot of changes to the loco . Very strong puller and fast too .

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

Hello Mike,

You should take very careful note of Phil's (Weary) advice.

If you have been told that the LBSC designed valve gear is not worth improving, then those who gave you that advice don't know what they are talking about. KN Harris had a 'go' at redesigning the valve gear, as did Don Young for Reeves; neither solved the problems. Only Don Ashton's redesign gets it right. You can run all 4 on a computer valve gear simulator which will prove what I state.

On the fullsize loco the short combination lever has for the top two 'pins' a 'pin within a pin' to get the required proportions correct with no drop link. The 2 top pins are contained within the valve gear crosshead and guide.

LBSC used a pin below a pin for the 2 top pins, and therefore the combination lever proportions are incorrect.

He also dispensed with the valve crosshead and guide, which causes undue wear on the piston valves. LBSC 'Speedys' are notorious for piston valves that 'blow' after a bit of use, resulting in steam going straight up the exhaust with a 'woof 'woof' rather than a smart 'chuff' 'chuff'.

Roger Froud's example on the modeleng.proboards.com forum site as linked by Phil also has super duper piston valves for bronze cylinders, a redesigned smokebox draughting, and an improved boiler design, and much else besides, plus of course the Don Ashton designed valve gear.

It has the correct curves to the rear of the bunker, and the correct type of rear buffer beam – all defects with the LBSC drawings when compared to fullsize.

Cheers,

Julian

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