30ft 1890's navy steam launch 1/6th scale

[tghs]

milled flats on the crosshead pins, drilled and tapped them for the piston rods.. then it was a test assembly to check fit and spacing,, after a bit of filing on the crossheads everything fits and seem to be true.. with the temp rods extending out of the block top my test pistons that were used earlier were slid down the shafts and slipped into the bores nicely.. working the crank all seems to be working well .. on the other hand I think slim has been into the hand sanitizer... pistons need final work, rods need to made along with the spacers for the locking nuts,, but everything will ..

[crueby]

Wow, you are really working Slim hard, is is out cold!  He, I mean you, are doing fine work!

[tghs]

profiled the pistons tops and bottoms to match the cylinder covers,, slid each cylinder assembly together and measured 1" clack to clack travel,, so the the cranks 7/8" throw all is still looking good.. slim is back on the job inspecting the work..(well at least he's off his back)

[tghs]

extra tool holders for the QCTP arrived, 1 standard, 2 blank and 1 1/8TH inch for the new little cutters,, perfect fit so it was off to cut the rings lands in the HP piston,, the set-up works great and very precise,, measured for the piston rods, turned and threaded the pair, spacers and locknuts added.. have to finish the ring lands on the LP piston . 

[crueby]

Just noticed something in the top of the steam chest that I missed earlier in the thread - around the hole for the valve rod, there are curved slots concentric with it going almost all the way around the hole. What are they for? Does something go through there?   

[tghs]

the steam supply enters directly though the top of the HP chest,, still need to make the fitting, drill and tap 2 bolt holes,, valve rod can ride in center hole while the slots will let the steam in.. one of those scale verses functional model things..

[crueby]

Now thats very clever, combines the two flanges. Thanks!

[tghs]

my valve rod/way bar frames hold the shaft nicely don't know if the top hole will be needed,, I'll not have in the LP chest,, LP rings all fitted to the piston,, a little ink and patterns for the gaskets are all marked out,,found that my model dockyard micro gouges will cut nice little fuzz free holes,, cork borers for some of the larger holes,, slim doesn't like the ink on the block, I think I'll move the sharp tools out of his reach..some light reading arrived (most likely should have read this years back) also found my shop wisdom book has a great 2 pages on setting and timing the eccentrics in a model compound engine..

[crueby]

Slim looks pretty upset, best to move those sharps...   What is the wood-handled brass-cone/steel blade thingy on the left side of the picture? Looks like something good to chase door-to-door salesmen with...

[tghs]

that is the tool used for sharpening the cork borer tube end, keeps things round and puts the correct bevel edge on the outside of the tube..

[tghs]

spent some quiet time this morning making gaskets....

[tghs]

took some of the sharp edges off the crankshaft bearing bases,, still have to clean up the tops and drill them for the oil cups (and make the oil cups) made a shaft fixture with a center so the thrust box supports could be checked for alignment and marked for drilling..

[crueby]

What are the upturned arms on the base at the left side in the photo for?

[tghs]

thrust box mounts,, the US navy used these for some years,, a series of disc mounted on the engine shaft,, the thrust box had matching close fitting slots,, all of this in a lube box,, Idea was any back and forth shaft loads caused by the prop, direction and sea conditions would be taken by the the box and not the engine's bearings,, I did the castings for the box, mine will be for show (except for the lube part) 1st photo is a navy "B" engine that has been the main photographic source of info for my model,, good shot of the disc on the shaft..

[tghs]

while thinking about the thrust box mounts and the making this up as I go along,, the mounts needed to marked,center-punched,drilled and tapped.. plus supporting them while doing all this would be a bad idea.. a chunk of aluminum was measured,cut and milled square.. milled a big groove to match the bearing half faces...clamped in place the mounts back face rested on the edge giving nice support.. all punched,drilled and tapped..not a bad lunch hour.. thrust box castings ready to get some work..