3.5" Gauge Netta
Discussion
I have been looking for a model engineering thread under scale models for a time now. There have been a couple of "my dad had one of these" type things. But not an actual thread of model engineers talking. So I thought I would start one. To begin with I shall simply tell you about my locos and projects. If we get enough of a following maybe I'll start another ME thread.
I started ME when I was about 12 (mid 30s now). A friend of my mum asked if I wanted to drive a steam engine. I jumped at the chance. He took me up to a nearby school where the Hatfield and district society of model engineers run.
I had a choice, a 5"G Twin sisters or a 3.5"G Netta. Being a bit of an LNER main line fan I went for the closest thing. That afternoon I learned to drive on Netta. Balancing the water level with the pressure, not letting the fire die. I was hooked the sounds and smells of a full size loco but easy to handle and take home.
I joined the society the following week and have remained a member ever since, dispite moving away to university, coming home again, becoming a mechanic apprentice, working in Harpenden, Watford, Hatfield, Hertford and Cambridge. I make sure I'm always free on club night. I started building a 3.5"G Simplex minor that same year. It was being serialised in the model engineer at the time by Martin Evans. This seemed like a good plan to follow as for the beginner there was considerably more help and advise than just some drawings. I have been working on it for 20 years now. With a rolling chassis and the cylinders in production now. Life does rather get in the way though. It is no small undertaking building a steam engine and having a full time job, track day car hobby as well it can take a while to see real progress.
All this time that same Netta that I learnt to drive on, sat in a cuboard at the club. I didn't really see it get used for around ten years. The Twin sisters beeing a better hauler of big loads when we attended fetes and simply easier to transport when visiting other clubs. Most members also owned at least one loco, so Netta sat rather unloved.
Early in the new century the club decided it needed some money for track repairs. Our available assets where tallied and it was decided Netta would have a better future with someone else. At this point I had been working on the simplex for about 10 years and understood I wouldn't have it running for a long time. The chance to own a complete engine that had been built by some of my friend just after the war. Well I had to have it. Once again the Simplex took a back seat as Netta needed a good overhaul. But the following year she was back on the rails.
She has done great work for the last few years, often being the main runner at our club nights.
Unfortunately last year wasn't so successful. The safety valve not really sealing. The hand pump not really up to spec. With the blower seeming to get blocked up after every use. So this is where I will start my story. I will be in the shed for much of today, although I have some other work to finish first. I will return with pictures and hopefully some achievement. Although I think it will be a day of working out what needs to be done. Because later this year I would like to do this again.
If anyone is interested in my Loco(s) I will keep this up.
I started ME when I was about 12 (mid 30s now). A friend of my mum asked if I wanted to drive a steam engine. I jumped at the chance. He took me up to a nearby school where the Hatfield and district society of model engineers run.
I had a choice, a 5"G Twin sisters or a 3.5"G Netta. Being a bit of an LNER main line fan I went for the closest thing. That afternoon I learned to drive on Netta. Balancing the water level with the pressure, not letting the fire die. I was hooked the sounds and smells of a full size loco but easy to handle and take home.
I joined the society the following week and have remained a member ever since, dispite moving away to university, coming home again, becoming a mechanic apprentice, working in Harpenden, Watford, Hatfield, Hertford and Cambridge. I make sure I'm always free on club night. I started building a 3.5"G Simplex minor that same year. It was being serialised in the model engineer at the time by Martin Evans. This seemed like a good plan to follow as for the beginner there was considerably more help and advise than just some drawings. I have been working on it for 20 years now. With a rolling chassis and the cylinders in production now. Life does rather get in the way though. It is no small undertaking building a steam engine and having a full time job, track day car hobby as well it can take a while to see real progress.
All this time that same Netta that I learnt to drive on, sat in a cuboard at the club. I didn't really see it get used for around ten years. The Twin sisters beeing a better hauler of big loads when we attended fetes and simply easier to transport when visiting other clubs. Most members also owned at least one loco, so Netta sat rather unloved.
Early in the new century the club decided it needed some money for track repairs. Our available assets where tallied and it was decided Netta would have a better future with someone else. At this point I had been working on the simplex for about 10 years and understood I wouldn't have it running for a long time. The chance to own a complete engine that had been built by some of my friend just after the war. Well I had to have it. Once again the Simplex took a back seat as Netta needed a good overhaul. But the following year she was back on the rails.
She has done great work for the last few years, often being the main runner at our club nights.
Unfortunately last year wasn't so successful. The safety valve not really sealing. The hand pump not really up to spec. With the blower seeming to get blocked up after every use. So this is where I will start my story. I will be in the shed for much of today, although I have some other work to finish first. I will return with pictures and hopefully some achievement. Although I think it will be a day of working out what needs to be done. Because later this year I would like to do this again.
If anyone is interested in my Loco(s) I will keep this up.
So I spent all day yesturday in the workshop. It was good to have proper time and not just an hour here and there. At work I am part of a team restoring a classic 911, which I'am the one rebuilding the gearbox. We do not have some of the special tools and they are no longer available, so I'am making them. Slightly off topic but it is engineering and getting in the way of my loco work. So started with an old lump of steel a guy at work found in his shed.
Chain drilled it, cut the size off I wanted (unfortunately by hand as it is to big to go in my donkey saw). Turned the end square (pictured). Then drilled lengthways through each end. Cut it in half again. Turned each half flat on the ends and bolted them back together.
Then center drilled it (pictured), mounted it back up in the lathe. Bored the center out to the size of the dog teeth I need to remove leaving a ring in the center which fits into the large C clip channel on the dog teeth. Probably not explained that well but it finished up looking like this.
Like I say totally off topic, but that is why there was no actual ME carried out yesterday. I did however as promised get some pictures of my simplex in progress.
With the cylinders and steam boxes the parts actually being machined at the moment. Hopefully to be continued soon.
Chain drilled it, cut the size off I wanted (unfortunately by hand as it is to big to go in my donkey saw). Turned the end square (pictured). Then drilled lengthways through each end. Cut it in half again. Turned each half flat on the ends and bolted them back together.
Then center drilled it (pictured), mounted it back up in the lathe. Bored the center out to the size of the dog teeth I need to remove leaving a ring in the center which fits into the large C clip channel on the dog teeth. Probably not explained that well but it finished up looking like this.
Like I say totally off topic, but that is why there was no actual ME carried out yesterday. I did however as promised get some pictures of my simplex in progress.
With the cylinders and steam boxes the parts actually being machined at the moment. Hopefully to be continued soon.
Sorry there haven't been much in the way of updates recently. I'm still very involved in the restoration at work leaving very little time for hobbies. But I stumbled across some old photos of our group in action.
With me driving my Netta at the end.
Another weekend coming up, I will be in the shed again. Might even be able to squeeze some steam engine work in.
With me driving my Netta at the end.
Another weekend coming up, I will be in the shed again. Might even be able to squeeze some steam engine work in.
I have started a general Model engineering thread here,
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So everyone can discuss their models and what they have been up to.
I will leave this thread open for updates on my loco if and when I ever get back into the shed.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So everyone can discuss their models and what they have been up to.
I will leave this thread open for updates on my loco if and when I ever get back into the shed.
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