Super Simplex & First Time Builder’s Website

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

 

Post by builder01 on May 3, 2018 at 7:17pm

I have been building a Super Simplex, started in June of 2015. The boiler, built by myself, passed it's hydro test in May of 2017 and I have been running the locomotive ever since. It is still not quite finished, it mostly needs paint and a few details have yet to be done. I plan to do that in the winter of 2018-2019.



During construction, I took many photos and I have set up a website to share them. I have done this instead of a build thread, as many of the build threads I have watched, become a place for public critique of the builder, or, diverge wildly into threads about other things that have not much to do with the builder attempting to share his photos and building techniques.

 

 

I hope some of the information will be useful to first time builders and especially those building a Super Simplex.



As a Super Simplex build, it is not a scale exact reproduction of a locomotive, rather, it is a build of a working live steam miniature locomotive that I don't wish to spend a life time building. My purpose was to build a locomotive for operation, and it really is a joy to operate. For me, the destination was the whole point, not the journey. I have seen too many locomotive builds outlive the builder, and the locomotives are never steamed.



For a look at the photos, go to the Pictorial Build pages at the web site, here's the link:

https://supersimplex.yolasite.com/

Edited By David Wasson on 06/05/2018 14:04:54

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

That is a nice looking loco, thanks for sharing.

Thor

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

Hi Thor,

Thanks so much!

David

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Nice work!

Russell

[Jan BParticipant @janb]

Hi David,

Very good and informative text and photos, exelent work.

Jan

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

Hi Jan and Russell, thank you so much! I hope the information will be useful. It is the type of site I was looking for when I first got started, I found none, so, I made a site myself!

David

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

Hi David,

well done, you have produced a fine locomotive.

try & paint it this winter, it's a great temptation to "run & not paint".

regards

Brian

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Beautiful job. And a great website you have built there. It should be a boon to future builders. The question of oft raised of what can be done to attract new and younger people into the hobby. I think your website answers that.

[Trevor Crossman 1Participant @trevorcrossman1]

Hi ​David , as others have said, that is a fine piece of work presented in a very well thought out web-site and I agree with you that this method of presentation can be much more useful to a first-time onlooker than the more usual forum build log, which as you rightly note, frequently strays off topic. Your excellent photo sequence on the boiler construction shows just how much work there is in this component, maybe commercial items aren't so expensive after all!! Trevor.

[Phil H1Participant @philh196021]

David,

Excellent description and photographs. Very helpful. I also like your approach i.e., considering the project as a miniature steam locomotive rather than trying to replicate every nut bolt and rivet. I understand that Simplex is freelance/ semi scale anyway but you know what I mean.

Phil H

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words.

Brian, yes, the goal is to tear everything down this winter, 2018/2019 to do the painting. The winter in the North East of the United States closes our club track for about 6 months. That should be time enough! Meanwhile, I'm running with no paint! (Oh the shame!)

Hopper, I hope my site will attract a few potential new builders. Most of what I know, I read on the internet and in books. Hopefully the small amount of text and the many photos on my site will inspire others.

Trevor, yes, the boiler can take an amazing amount of time to construct, especially for a first time builder. It is also not impossible to successfully build your own first boiler with little or no help.

Phil, yes, much better for a first time build, to think of it as simply a "miniature locomotive" rather than a scale model. Not spending enormous amounts of time on details will get you onto the track much faster. For a second build, a more "scale approach" might be something to consider. With the first locomotive, in steam, the more detailed build will not seem nearly as long, and the time taken to get the second in steam, will not be as important.

David

[John KinnaneParticipant @johnkinnane64270]

G'day Dave just like to take this opportunity in congratulating you in building a very fine Super Simplex it's turned out a real credit to you, I can only hope that mine turns out like yours. Kind regards John Kinnane

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

Hi John,

Thank you so much! I am having a lot of fun with this locomotive. It is not quite done yet, it mostly needs to have the painting and lining finished. That will happen this coming winter.

Today was the Fall Open House for my club, The Finger Lakes Live Steamers. I hauled many many little kids at the event and we'll do it again tomorrow. Everything worked well on the loco, (fingers crossed for tomorrow!).

David

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