If in doubt... add more blowtorches!

Some significant progress today, I have not yet got a lathe sorted so had ordered some 1/4" brass bearings from the 'Wagon & Carriage Works'. These arrived during the week and look the part.



The main frames have the holes for the axles laser cut already, they just need opening out a little and the bearings then drop in. I silver soldered them in place with the last of the pre-mix solder/flux I had left over from last week.

The main frames then needed cleaning throughly and preparing with flux. I had bought some EF flux for the job which comes as a powder - add some water and a drop of washing up liquid and then it's ready.

The problem I had last week was not being able to get enough heat into the main frames for the solder to flow. This time I had sticks of 842 solder, rather than the pre-mix, but the melting point is the same - 620 degrees centigrade. To try and get more heat onto the work I had bought a brazing hearth (basically 3 fire bricks and a mat) and had been kindly offered a second pair of hands, to work a second blowtorch! Second pair of hands duly arrived with blowtorch, and even better, doughnuts!

The addition of the second blowtorch worked a treat, each joint was up to temperature in around a minute and glowing red nicely, the solder melted no problem and the flux did its job and carried the solder through the joints. We had the whole main frame soldered in less than 10 mins. Once sufficiently cooled, the frame went in the acid bath, the kettle was boiled - time for a cuppa and doughnuts!



After a good soak and some wire wool the frames cleaned up rather nicely, although some further cleaning will be necessary, perhaps a mini-drill with cleaning/polishing bits is needed. On inspection, the joints overall looked remarkably good overall.



Now, looking to the other side of the room, I remembered I had the wheels and axles sitting in a jiffy bag... well... what would you do!? The temptation to trial-fit the wheels was, of course, far too great!



So... thanks to some useful assistance (thank you to Dad for the hands and doughnuts!) it was pleasing to finish the day with something that now at least is starting to resemble a locomotive! A long way to go yet, however. Look forward to seeing the real thing down our way again soon, I took the image below of 70013 almost exactly a year ago and it's due to venture into Kent again on Wednesday (24th Feb). Hope to get out to see it!

Mixed results today

Spent some time separating, cleaning and preparing the remaining parts for the main frames today. Silver soldered the front 'bogie bolster' which went fine. Prepared the main frames for soldering but found that I couldn't get enough heat into the frames for the solder to melt and flow properly. Probably didn't help that the temperature outside was only a few degrees above zero and it was snowing at the time I was out there! Have ordered a brazing hearth from CuP Alloys today, along with some more solder and flux, to see if that makes a difference.

Playing with fire!

A little more progress today... Having tried out the small butane torch yesterday afternoon I quickly found it was only going to work on small pieces. Off to B&Q to get a bigger propane/butane blowtorch....

Now this was more like it... (once I had got it lit - a lot harder than I anticipated! Cue a quick phone call... "Dad... how do you light a blowtorch?") it made a superb roar when it was at full flow. Having cleaned and prepared the rear frame extensions with a solder/flux pre-mix from CuP (see links) I was ready for my first attempt at silver soldering. Supported by a few bits of wood I heated the joints and before too long the steel was glowing red and the solder was flowing. Flowing everywhere in fact! Not a very clean job!



Once the blackened mess had cooled down (it made a satisfying pinging noise for a bit) I made an acid bath using a citrus-based mix (also from CuP) and half a 2-litre milk carton...



Left this for a couple of hours and then took some wire wool to it. The black stuff came off easily, having had a nice soak. The solder joints looked, well, not pretty, but strong enough. And satisfying enough for a first attempt. Still some finishing to be done though. Will have a crack at the main frames next week.

Wheelsets

Away again this week but returned on Friday to find some packages waiting.



Walsall had turned around the order very quickly for the machined wheels, cylinder castings, chimney casting and buffers. The wheels themselves have been beautifully finished, the pictures don't really do them justice! Very impressive service and handywork.



Hoping to get time this weekend to silver solder the frames, must admit that now i have the wheels I have a new-found impatience to get a rolling chassis together!

Some Progress...

Well, some progress to report today - called Walsall prior to going to work and ordered the wheelsets, and cylinder, chimney castings. Had a minor panic when asked about the crank throw... Malcolm helped me out - 7/16" is the magic number apparently!

I was out yesterday, but on arriving back at the office today I was pleased to find that my blowtorch and silver solder/flux had been delivered whilst I was out. I had picked up some wire wool (for cleaning) and butane from B&Q at the weekend so nothing standing in the way of frame assembly now except finding some free time! The main frames are currently slotted together and held with a couple of 1/4" bolts (see pic).

Sourcing Parts

Spent some time at the weekend separating the various spacers and other parts in the frames kit, a very easy process not needing more than a junior hacksaw, a small vice and a file. The plan is to silver solder these in due course.

Have been in touch with Walsall Model Industries (see link right) who can supply turned and quartered wheels along with other bits such as cylinder castings, chimney and sprung buffers. All sounds good and will be getting theses ordered soon.

Still looking for a decent set of drawings. I have been offered the loan of a Britannia book that has, apparently, only "been half chewed by the dog" (!) which sounds like a start!