realworkingsailor

I see what you mean in your second photo. It is most likely hiding a steam safety valve (pop valve). This is a sprung valve that will lift if the boiler experiences too much pressure. I'm guessing the pipe was added to keep live steam from blasting directly into the engineer's and fireman's faces. Here's the inner workings: In your sketch, live steam is collected in that funnel shaped pipe in the steam dome. At the base of that is the throttle valve. This is a saturated steam engine, so there is no superheater, the steam is then sent directly to the cylinders. The straight pipe coming up from the cylinders is the exhaust pipe. You can see how it narrows as it extends, but flares just before the base of the stack. By forcing the exhaust steam out at high speed (but not high pressure) it creates a vacuum in the smoke box (that's the compartment ahead of the boiler flues, the pipes leading from the firebox forward). The vacuum creates a draft drawing air from gratings under the fire bed, through the fire and forward through the boiler flues. The effect of this is creating a very hot fire. Hot fire equals more steam generated in a given amount of time equals greater speed/power from the cylinders. More modern locomotives used a small steam driven turbine to draw air when the locomotive was not being worked. The other "dome" (with the lever) over the firebox is most likely part of a pump/injector system to get water into the boiler. Later locomotives do not admit cold water directly over the firebox. This is partly the reason so many early locomotives blew up. If the water in the boiler became too low and the crown sheet (top sheet) of the firebox became uncovered, a panicked injection of cold water would cause it to fracture. Steam at pressure would rupture the sheet, drastically causing the pressure in the boiler to drop, which in turn would cause any water remaining in the boiler to immediately flash into steam. Steam increases in volume 1600 times from water (at standard atmospheric pressure), considering a boiler of the size you've got, a volume of, say 1.5 to 2 tonnes, you can just imagine the effect. Another thought, is it possible your engine would have been of the "Planet" type (like your picture)? They where one of the earliest locomotives produced in large numbers, starting around 1830. Even by the late 1830s they were starting to be superseded by more improved designs, which would have made some of them available on the surplus market. Andy

This steam fan in me just has to comment.... An exhaust steam pipe would not have some off that dome behind the chimney. Live steam is collected with an internal dry pipe and sent to the cylinders, whose exhaust is sent via a venturi tube and petticoat up the main chimney. This is how draft is also created in the firebox. I could go on at length...but that might bore some people Andy

Duct tape....?

What's this? Sjors actually posting photos of progress? Has the world gone mad? Andy

Great work. I'll get there one of these days. Andy

You've gotta love photos taken outside in the sun! Very nice Andy

Whoa... you've been quietly busy all this time.... very nice job on the planking... Andy

Using a pencil jig is about the most accurate way to do it. Make sure your hull is level and you work on a flat, smooth surface. A string, no matter how tight you pull it, will always find the most direct route form point A to point B, unfortunately over a curved surface, it's not necessarily a straight line. Andy

I'm just wandering over to your Mirage build hoping for an update......

**Walks in.... has a good look at the goings on.....** ......sigh....... **turns around and leaves**

You sure it's not some deep seated psychological fear of starting another build? Subconsciously sabotaging spars in order to postpone the inevitable...? Andy

Looks like a very interesting build. Don't see too many ships of this era being built. Nice collection of workshop toys too... Andy

If you're up to it, start a build log, when and if you get stuck, post some photos and you'll be mobbed with help and offers of assistance. It's often easier to help when it's just one step at a time rather than a generalized "Help me with everything". Don't feel bad, though, we all started somewhere, and we've all gone through the same experiences. Andy

Thanks guys! I'm on my way to the airport as we speak. As soon as I can, I'll get my camera unpacked and ready for the continuation of my other thread. Andy

Hello. The basic knots you need to know: Clove Hitch Half hitch Reef Knot Figure Eight Knot Bowline Learning those five should get you started rigging. Have a look here: http://www.nauticalmind.com/Knots-c-400.html Some great introductory books on know tying to help you figure out each knot's purpose. Hope that helps a bit. Andy

Based on what little I've read about the subject, snaking was only done in wartime, so leaving it off would not be a mortal sin... Andy

Why not try a brig like the MS Syren, or Niagara. Or one of the Caldercraft collection (Supply, Badger, Cruizer, Mars or Jalouse). Or if you want, the Amati Mercury. If you feel up to it go for three masts, the Amati HMS Fly or Pegasus, or the Caldercraft HMS Snake. All good high quality kits with a sizeable following On MSW. Amati follows the same construction style as Caldercraft so they would be a good warm up/prep for what you would experience with the CC Vic. Andy

Kevin, thank you very much. I'm looking forward to your progress. I see you slowly inching your way towards rigging. Wes, I hope I've done ok for you as far as the picture department goes. As for a serving machine, I ended up making my own, there are many variants out there from other people, find one you like or are capable of putting together, and you'll go miles. Andy

Thanks Larry, Hamilton, Alistair and Matti... And anyone else I've missed With any luck, my next outdoor pics will be of a completed or very nearly completed ship.... Fingers crossed Andy

Aldo, that kit wasn't laser, but CnC cut. Andy

Take lots of photos! Not just for me, there are many people around here who would love to see them. Thanks in advance. Andy

Always glad to oblige you folks with a photo or two when opportunity presents itself. Popeye, you should know there's no such thing as "normal" in the transportation industry The way I'm looking at it, two months now means a longer break until spring AND I get Christmas at home... Well worth it if you ask me BE, Steve, thank you both for stopping by. Always nice to get some positive reinforcement from a couple of Pegasus/Fly vets such as yourselves. Jason and Sjors you're just two of many names that popped into my head when I thought of doing my own rigging manual... Keep in mind that at the moment it's still only a possibility, I'm neither a writer, and artist or a teacher, and there's a lot of ground to cover.... That and I'd like to try to get my ship done next spring...... I hope... Andy

Personally I think it looks ok. I think it will be a nice contrast if you plan on leaving the planks below the wale a natural colour. Keep at 'er and you'll be done planking that football field before you know it Andy

I think it has been done in a limited sense already. The Lumberyard's Oneida comes with all the frames laser cut. I think the bigger issue is the limited market. Although on here you may see a very strong enthusiastic positive response, but as large as this group of dedicated ship modellers is, I don't think we're the whole global market. Maybe in the future it will become economically viable... You never know... Andy

Looks excellent! Great to see her stretched out like that. Andy