Author Topic: Alyn Foundry Sphinx  (Read 17235 times)

Offline RayW

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #135 on: November 28, 2019, 11:51:54 AM »
Finally finished painting Sphinx No.129 and feeling really pleased with the results. The colour is mid-bronze green, the same as my 1/2HP Stuart. I debated what colour to paint the background of the brass nameplate and decided on a dullish red which makes it a nice feature.
The nameplate came originally as a flat plate, and on Graham's suggestion, I machined a piece of hardwood to the correct convex radius ( a 2 5/8" hole saw proved ideal), then sandwiched the plate between that and an aluminium block of the same diameter as the water jacket. A few careful hammer blows on the aluminium block easily bent the plate to the required shape to fit the water jacket .
Next job is to make a trolley and source a suitable cylinder for a water tank. One idea I had is to use a piece of stainless steel ducting of the type used for wood burning stoves.
Ray

Offline Alyn Foundry

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #136 on: November 28, 2019, 01:21:02 PM »
Very nice Ray, very nice indeed.

I like the colour contrast in the badge.

Considering the poor finish of the " as cast " components you've done a remarkable paint job!

Cheers Graham.

Online Jasonb

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #137 on: November 28, 2019, 01:22:33 PM »
Who said you can't polish a turd :LittleDevil:

Looks really good ray.

Online Jo

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #138 on: November 28, 2019, 01:28:23 PM »
That does look nice Ray  :)

Who said you can't polish a turd :LittleDevil:

Someone mentioned to me the other day that he thought you sprayed yours Silver   :noidea:

Jo

P.S. I think he was implying they were the dog's not yours personally  ::) and he also mentioned that it is best to keep dogs away from model engines otherwise they might do things on to them but he hadn't seen that reaction previously :-X
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Admiral_dk

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #139 on: November 28, 2019, 09:40:25 PM »
It looks really good Ray  :praise2:  and I too like the colours  :ThumbsUp:

Offline RayW

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #140 on: February 22, 2020, 12:16:18 PM »
As if to welcome me home from my 12 day hospital stay, what should arrive a couple of hours later but the April 2020 issue of Stationary Engine magazine containing my Sphinx article.
Ray

Offline cnr6400

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #141 on: February 22, 2020, 01:29:42 PM »
Great engine and great article Ray! Glad you are at home again too. Easy does it.  :cheers:
"I've cut that stock three times, and it's still too short!"

Offline Flyboy Jim

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #142 on: February 23, 2020, 04:05:42 AM »
What a nice welcome home! Twelve days in the hospital can make one lose touch with the real world (don't ask me how I know). I bet seeing this article really helped!

Jim
Sherline 4400 Lathe
Sherline 5400 Mill
"You can do small things on big machines, but you can do small things on small machines".

Offline RayW

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #143 on: June 17, 2020, 03:58:31 PM »
Completed at last! A very successful first run of the Sphinx following painting and re-assembly, and mounting on an oak trolley with its gas supply, cooling and ignition systems.

Ignition is by a 12 volt Minimag SS Buzz coil which is neatly hidden directly underneath the engine. Gas supply is connected via a modified needle valve, which gives excellent fine control. All electrics are hidden under the trolley, the only wire being visible above is the one going to the fixed ignition contact. The battery connects to two brass knurled terminals mounted to the back end of the trolley.

The water tank is made from a piece of 4" diameter stainless steel exhaust pipe with the base and water connections silver soldered in, and the boss for the drain tap ( a modified gas tap) soft soldered. The exhaust pot is made of aluminium with a screwed-on base. All other exhaust pipework is of steel.

The following link to YouTube shows the engine running at both fast and slow speeds.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAJR1PfUgQo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAJR1PfUgQo</a>
« Last Edit: June 17, 2020, 04:21:28 PM by RayW »
Ray

Online Jo

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #144 on: June 17, 2020, 04:11:58 PM »
 8) Nice

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Online Jasonb

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #145 on: June 17, 2020, 04:15:35 PM »
Very nice indeed

Offline Alyn Foundry

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #146 on: June 17, 2020, 04:47:18 PM »
Hi Ray.

Stunning, and running beautifully, very well done indeed.  :ThumbsUp:

Cheers Graham.

Offline Trevorc

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #147 on: June 17, 2020, 04:55:53 PM »
Very nice engine, well done.
Are drawings and castings still available for that engine?
Trevorc

Offline Roger B

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #148 on: June 17, 2020, 06:18:25 PM »
Excellent  :praise2:  :praise2:  :wine1:
Best regards

Roger

Offline Art K

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Re: Alyn Foundry Sphinx
« Reply #149 on: June 18, 2020, 02:47:27 AM »
Ray,
The Sphinx runs great and looks as good as it runs.
Art
"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you" B.B. King

 

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