Building Kozo's New Shay locomotive

[Roger B]

Looking magnificent    Those numbers must have taken some patience    Still enjoying the build   

[b.lindsey]

Very nice crueby!!  Once you get a few of those things hung in the cab I'd be tempted to open and close valves and make choo choo noises Still following your amazing progress.

Bill

[crueby]

FINALLY! got some big progress on the boiler - was finally able to cure those last pesky pinhole leaks and get it to hold pressure.    There must be a good way to solve those pinhole leaks (that shoot a super-thin stream under pressure) - I have not found it yet other than repeated reflow. I am pretty sure that a lot of the problem was poor fit on the inside joint rings used to link the tube sections, and also on the strips that closed the tube rings. I was settling for a good structural strength joint, did not make enough effort to get a good tight fit all the way around like I should have. Oh well, still lots learned from first shot at a boiler! This one will spend most of its time as a display model, run on air, so that is acceptable - not worth going back and remaking the whole boiler. Lesson learned for next model though!
So, time to get it polished up and get the boiler jackets on and painted - looks like a session with the paint sprayer is coming up for the jackets, cab, smokebox parts. Will post some pictures when that is done....

[Dan Rowe]

Congratulations on the successful boiler hydro. 

Dan

[b.lindsey]

That is great news...congrats on the successful boiler!

Bill

[crueby]

That is great news...congrats on the successful boiler!

Bill

Thanks - had an excellent Belgian beer from a friend who owns a microbrewery - perfect way to celebrate! 

[fumopuc]

Hi Crueby, congratulation for this excellent test result.

[vcutajar]

Pleased you got all the leaks sorted out.  Been following your build and I never miss your posts.

Vince

[crueby]

Thanks guys! Its a big relief to get past that milestone. Today I am going to get some paint on the cab and boiler shell, should really make it look different again.

[Roger B]

Glad you got the boiler finally sorted    just an engine to make now   

[daveb]

Its a great feeling to get the thing to hold pressure, I know that feeling!!  Going thru the same with the engine but things are getting better.  I really enjoy reading your posts. 

Dave

[crueby]

Glad you got the boiler finally sorted    just an engine to make now   

Still a few weeks to the engine itself, gotta make the throttle, safety valves, steam dome, sand dome, and steam brackets. Getting close though!

[ths]

A great way to be winding up the year, well done on the pinholes. You'll be riding it soon... All the best, Hugh.

[crueby]

I have the first coat of paint on the boiler/cab parts - needs some touchup in places after it dries. Looks like I'll be able to assemble those parts and get some pictures of it under the tree tomorrow...! Very neat way to wrap up the year as THS mentioned.

[crueby]

Here is the most of the rest of the water gauge assembly - since last time got the last of the parts threaded and silver soldered together. First the mounting ring onto the main column, as well as the crossbars onto the glass holders (photo 1). Then, with a piece of rod as an alignment guide in place of the glass, soldered the rest of the parts on.

After that, made up the union nuts that go around the glass tube, and compress the o-rings at the ends of the tube. (photo 2).

Made up the top/bottom plugs, and test fitted everything (photo 3). Getting the tube, o-rings, and nuts all in is a bit fiddly, but it all works. All that is left is to make the valve stem for the drain valve at the bottom of the glass (water drains out of the little tube stub at the very bottom), and bend up/attach the tube that goes to the manifold. Cant do the tube till the boiler is back from the paint shop (corner of the basement) so I can work out the length and curve.

I also took some pictures before starting paint, of the boiler and cab in place. With the boiler jackets on it all looks great in raw brass, but I am going for the painted-real-train look (plus keeping all that brass shiny would be a pain!). Pictures of it painted should be up tomorrow sometime....