Model Engine Maker

Engines => Restoration of Model Engines => Topic started by: simplyloco on March 07, 2019, 11:10:44 AM

Title: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 07, 2019, 11:10:44 AM: You buy a job lot like this one. I saw this come up very late the other night on Homeworkshop.org.uk and I sent an email straight away. I phoned at 8.00 am and was first in the queue that afternoon, and the seller later said that the phone hadn't stopped ringing all day!
What do we have here? A Stuart Sirius from WWII, Stuart Sun, marinised Stuart Double 10 with a pumped condenser, another double vertical engine, unused fabulous vertical boiler - gas or coal fired, three steam driven boiler feed pumps, valves, connectors etc. etc...
I'll certainly be kept busy restoring this lot!
John
Happy bunny :cheers:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7894/46578238224_179100c3a8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dXXDsQ)20190306_173617 (https://flic.kr/p/2dXXDsQ) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7917/46386568825_8c142a79d3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dF2hQ2)20190306_173718 (https://flic.kr/p/2dF2hQ2) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: Admiral_dk on March 07, 2019, 11:29:47 AM: Nice find :whoohoo:

But why do they need restoration - I can't see any problems beside minor surface oxidation … :noidea:
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: b.lindsey on March 07, 2019, 12:55:54 PM: Great score John. Hope the price was right too :)

Bill
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: steam guy willy on March 07, 2019, 03:48:02 PM: hi John ....wow....envious ..... I am quite busy just looking at them...beats my car boot finds !!! :ThumbsUp:

Willy
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: steamer on March 07, 2019, 11:15:37 PM: Saaaweeeeeeet!
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: MJM460 on March 08, 2019, 08:02:26 AM: Looks like someone’s life’s work. Sold by the family perhaps?

I am sure the original owner would be pleased that they have gone to a home where they will be appreciated. And over the moon if you can finish them like that beam engine. A great responsibility.

Looking forward to progress reports. You did an amazing job on that beam engine plant.

MJM460
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 08, 2019, 10:08:19 AM: Quote from: MJM460 on March 08, 2019, 08:02:26 AM
Looks like someone’s life’s work. Sold by the family perhaps?

SNIP
MJM460

The seller is 88 and looks 68, has a wonderful workshop, plus a concours Willys Jeep (complete with front mounted monkey bike) and a similar quality MG TB (only 379 were made), and an original Austin Mini, but he never got around to fixing up the items I bought... :NotWorthy:
John
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: MJM460 on March 08, 2019, 11:30:36 AM: So he set a high standard as well!

No pressure of course. Sounds like I will have to take up eating pop corn.

MJM460
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 10, 2019, 06:26:34 PM: Looks like this lot won't take 20 years, so don't buy anymore popcorn! I started the Sirius yesterday, ran it on air to make sure that I wasn't wasting my time, and then started the renovation. As there is no sign whatsover of any wear, all I had to do was polish and paint it!
A few pics:
It started like this. Filthy dirty, a unfettled valve chest casting - it was wartime!- , a lumpy boss on the inlet manifold, and serious tarnishing.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/33464236808_2f1ef0d762_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SZ7XJ9)20190309_162016 (https://flic.kr/p/SZ7XJ9) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

I cleaned it with some petrol. I loosely connected the airbrush compressor and the thing ran like a watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3xXMY67OlA

Quite happy now, I took it apart. There was no discernable wear in the bores or anywhere else!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7849/32398251817_2d5d8dd837_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RmVvwz)20190309_171643 (https://flic.kr/p/RmVvwz) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Most of these I've seen have a hideous connector added to the inlet manifold. I found an original photo and the engine now has a reasonable copy of the original connector. I thought the thread was 0.5" UNF 20 tpi. Unfortunately for me, it was 0.514" UNF so I had to get my hand chaser out to finish the job!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/32398250767_f0c469880d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RmVvdt)20190310_130812 (https://flic.kr/p/RmVvdt) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

It now looks quite nice. I'll grit blast the body at the Club on Wednesday, paint it, refit the flywheel and put it on the shelf to await the completion of my Scotch boiler and the 4'6" MTB!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7871/40375021383_54870c0e7d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24vNxdk)20190310_171105 (https://flic.kr/p/24vNxdk) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7857/47340281671_f4cce9afb2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2f8ijqX)20190310_171116 (https://flic.kr/p/2f8ijqX) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: Jo on March 10, 2019, 07:47:12 PM: Looking good.

At this rate you will shortly have to buy some more engines to play with :-X

Jo
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 10, 2019, 08:28:38 PM: Quote from: Jo on March 10, 2019, 07:47:12 PM
Looking good.

At this rate you will shortly have to buy some more engines to play with :-X

Jo

Thanks Jo. When I saw your name I thought that you were going to *ollock me for polishing off all that wartime patina! :LittleDevil:
John
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: Jo on March 11, 2019, 08:53:06 AM: I thought you would have been eying up my new sandblaster to speed things up ::)

Jo
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 11, 2019, 08:56:35 AM: Quote from: Jo on March 11, 2019, 08:53:06 AM
I thought you would have been eying up my new sandblaster to speed things up ::)

Jo

Not this time, I have one of my own! I keep it at the Club where there is a big compressor.
John
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 11, 2019, 08:48:36 PM: Today's jobs included making a 40 tpi insert for a displacement lubricator: it is only needed for the valve gear, as the Sirius has a wet sump and splashers on the crank. The next a look at the cladding to see if it could be saved, and lastly, make a new head gasket. Managed to do all three, and also fired up the vertical boiler with some nuts... :whoohoo:

Blended in quite nicely!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7920/40387128233_01dec2e1d5_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24wSAa8)20190311_115513 (https://flic.kr/p/24wSAa8) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Rolled out the cladding and cleaned it up: it certainly got rid of most of the lumps!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7892/46629321694_f3c2161d57_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e3tsNj)20190311_123635 (https://flic.kr/p/2e3tsNj) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Cladding cleaned up and the lubricator added.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7868/47299695622_cc099bb321_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2f4HiBu)20190311_133018 (https://flic.kr/p/2f4HiBu) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Fits like a glove! I'll grit blast it and paint it on Wednesday.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7868/46629322164_bff56b3425_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e3tsWq)20190311_135710 (https://flic.kr/p/2e3tsWq) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

A new head gasket from brown paper, cut out the old fashioned way! Who needs CNC anyway... :)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/46629323114_d97bfbcaa0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e3ttdN)20190311_140824 (https://flic.kr/p/2e3ttdN) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Oh, and here's the video running the D10 on coal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyh8VPK7wZA
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 11, 2019, 11:33:52 PM: Carrying on the theme of 'How to keep busy', this is where the Stuart D10 motor and the Scotch boiler I am building will end up. I bought a boat mould at a car boot sale many years ago for just £10, and when I got it home I found this lovely moulded hull in it! I like the shape, and the flat transom bottom promises a fair turn of speed.
John

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7876/46438785715_d4d7a7549e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dKCV6e)20190311_164249 (https://flic.kr/p/2dKCV6e) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7816/33477730728_3ecb95a540_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/T1j7ZW)20190311_164323 (https://flic.kr/p/T1j7ZW) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 13, 2019, 10:34:43 PM: I couldn't resist a trial assembly. It looks a bit bling/OTT but what the hell, I like it!
John

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7871/32430597407_a062a7a88a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RpMhKa)20190313_220226 (https://flic.kr/p/RpMhKa) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: yogi on March 14, 2019, 02:47:02 AM: Beautiful transformation John! :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:
It’s nice to see those engines getting a new life. :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 14, 2019, 08:50:20 AM: Quote from: yogi on March 14, 2019, 02:47:02 AM
Beautiful transformation John! :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:
It’s nice to see those engines getting a new life. :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

I just visited your website! :praise2:
John
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 19, 2019, 02:36:40 PM: Another One Bites The Dust!

The Stuart Sirius is finished, but I have no progress pictures because it was all just take apart, clean, repaint, polish and reassemble!
Anyone want to buy a good looking doorstop...? :cheers:
John

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7905/33544343518_f0cf413962_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/T7cwEj)20190319_130646 (https://flic.kr/p/T7cwEj) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7829/46697037204_f3c527a557_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e9swg7)20190319_130623 (https://flic.kr/p/2e9swg7) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7826/33544344408_109c8410af_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/T7cwVE)20190319_130602 (https://flic.kr/p/T7cwVE) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7903/46697036784_8f4c373217_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e9sw8S)20190319_130542 (https://flic.kr/p/2e9sw8S) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: crueby on March 19, 2019, 07:09:43 PM: Coming out great! So much for 20 years, at this rate it will be 20 days!
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: AJW on March 19, 2019, 07:21:03 PM: Scrubbed up lovely! Powerful little engines that I believe were used during WW2 by bomb disposal when remote drilling of bomb cases.
I have a cherished Sun engine which has been passed down through the family.

Alan
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 19, 2019, 07:46:13 PM: Steamed it today using my vertical boiler. The 'clicking' noise is the exhaust steam in the bucket!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NodvgFuCqw

And with compressed air afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucnNDqdJf1Y
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: crueby on March 19, 2019, 09:02:51 PM: Cleaned up and runs great!!
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 23, 2019, 10:51:23 AM: The Vertical Boiler didn't run on coal that well, so I've deepened the grate a little.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7823/47404699961_c3229b90b9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fdZtK8)20190317_151308 (https://flic.kr/p/2fdZtK8) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/47404700441_f519288f34_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fdZtTp)20190317_153324 (https://flic.kr/p/2fdZtTp) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Next job was to pretty it up a little. These mahogany planks came with it, but were 1/2" wide so that was a job for my budgie bandsaw!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7841/47447447611_3a4d9a2fcc_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fhLz8z)20190321_175647 (https://flic.kr/p/2fhLz8z) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr

Now it looks prettier, but I have to fix brass boiler bands onto it with an invisible join: something that I have not attempted before. Any suggestions?
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7834/32505706807_e180a1152f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Rwqf9P)20190322_204437 (https://flic.kr/p/Rwqf9P) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: Kim on March 23, 2019, 03:38:48 PM: Your lagging sure looks nice!
Kim
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 23, 2019, 09:01:21 PM: Thanks Kim: it's worth the effort because this will be my 'Show' boiler at Club events. I'll have a few engines on a board and I'll let the little kiddies burn their fingers on them... :mischief:
John
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 24, 2019, 05:43:28 PM: What Next?!

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/33581407408_0d6fb7bcd9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TatusU)20190324_165016 (https://flic.kr/p/TatusU) by inkaboat (https://www.flickr.com/photos/28837250@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: crueby on March 24, 2019, 06:26:25 PM: Wow - those bands add a lot to the look! How did you attach them?
Title: Re: How to keep busy for the next 20 years!
Post by: simplyloco on March 24, 2019, 10:02:17 PM: Quote from: crueby on March 24, 2019, 06:26:25 PM
Wow - those bands add a lot to the look! How did you attach them?

Drilled a hole in each end, bent the strip, and bolted them up. More by luck than judgment they butted up just right! They are at the rear so you can't see them... :LittleAngel:
John