bolier plate

At last I have been able to resume work on the Fowler A7 traction and the last item to
be done before the hornplates can be attached and she can stand on her own two feet,
or should I say 4 wheels!

So progress to date? I have sourced the copper sheet! and thats it.....until
tomorrow.....

Tuesday 11th November 2008

I started by measuring the width that the dummy plate will need to be. Because
of the rounded nature of the plate I used some masking tape to make the
measurement. The next task was to cut the semi circle out for the boiler to fit into
and this was marked out with the aid of a piece of alumium. I needed the extra
material to let me use a compass as the top of the copper was too small.

Having now marked out the plate I took it to my Proxxon bandsaw and cut as
close to the edge as I was comfortable with. A little filing to clean up and the
plate was tested for fit. A couple of high spots were marked on the plate and a
little more filing saw a good fit.

The next task is to round over the two edges and to help me do this I am using
the boiler itself as part of the former. The other part to make was a block of
wood that would sandwich the plate and secure it whilst the edges were
hammedred over. The first side was started and will now need to be annealed to
let it go soft again for further bending. And thats the starting point for next time.

Friday 14th November 2008

Today was the first time I could get back into the workshop after the fishing trip
(see our Dartmouth fishing blog: click here. and decided to mark out the holes for
the dummy rivets. I used the digital height gauge to mark out as per plans and
then drilled the forst of the holes for the 1/8th" copper rivets, and the optical
making fixture. There are certain tools that you buy that actually exceed the
performance you expect and both of these tools fall into that catergory.

The first problem arose when looking for the number of rivets needed and the
amount I have in stock. Needless to say they didn't match! Not only that by the
copper rivets I did have were 1/8th x 3/4" and there would be a lot of wastage
cutting them down. I need to buy some shorter rivets and thats the next task.

While I will wait for them I will make a start on the blowdown cock casting. How
I go about this will follow soon.

So it was a short session but some progress has been made. Hopefully I will be
well enough to have a longer session tomorrow..........

Saturday 15th November 2008

The dummy plate was drilled and the reverse side had counter sunk holes in to
trap the rivets. After riveting the plate was cleaned up and wire wool used before
it was warmed and fluxed. Next the plate was tinned before the boiler front was
treated to the same treatment.

After this the two were brought together and heated before using solder to fill the
joints on the sides and around the boiler barrel.

The next task will be to machine the blow down cock casting. Maybe
tomorrow.......

Sunday 16th November 2008

The only work carried out on the fowler today was the cleaning of the boiler from
flux and other debris from yesterdays work. I did check on the tapping size for
the 9 boiler stays on each side for securing the hornplates. I will now try and find
18 x 4BA x 3/4" round headed screw bolts. The slot will be filled when painting
so they will look like rivets.

Didn't get to the blow down casting as I got tied up with the cams for the hit 'n'
miss engine...........