Mery Explosive Engine

[Chipmaster]

The final lubricator fitted to the middle of the cylinder, the engine is quite long.

IMG_1833 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1835 by Andy, on Flickr

The two vacant holes drilled from below when fitting the countershaft lubricators are filled with 2BA allthread + Loctite then sawn off.

IMG_1839 by Andy, on Flickr

While I was filing those 2BA plugs I decided to tidy up the aluminium base and filed off the 'MARTIN MODEL' in relief from both sides of the casting.

Before,
 IMG_1844 by Andy, on Flickr

After,
 IMG_1840 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1842 by Andy, on Flickr

I see several other constructors have done that and a few have removed '1895 MERY' as well.

The next area to work on will be the inlet tract, I have a spare Jerry Howell propane gas demand valve that I made some years ago which can be used with this engine. There's also a lot of fettling to be done.

IMG_0648 by Andy, on Flickr

Andy

[Dave Otto]

Hi Andy

You are moving right along on your engine and everything is looking very nice! I guess I better get busy and try to put some drawings together for Max's mixer.

Dave

[Chipmaster]

Hi Dave,

yes please, drawings of a tried and tested mixer gratefully received, particularly as Max’s engine runs so well.

Andy

[Chipmaster]

I have spent quite some time making up my mind on the colour paint to use on this model. I have several tins of enamel paint that have had less than a quarter used because I prefer to use a different colour for each engine if possible. Arc-rite used to sell enamel in 250cc tins but they're gone now 1/2 litre seems to be the minimum quantity unfortunately £££
This time I have chosen RAL 7038 Agate Grey from Paragon Paints, similar to the colour Jason used on his Vickers Inverted Engine recently. As the major parts of the engine are finished I have taken advantage of the fine weather to do some brush painting. I think the engine bed would be difficult to spray paint but I'll probably spray the flywheel and pulley.

A couple of days ago I started with acid etch primer followed by high build undercoat then I applied the first top coat this afternoon. I haven't used such a pale colour before, hope it's OK.

The aluminium base will be painted Graphite Grey, it has a darker grey undercoat in this picture,

IMG_1865 by Andy, on Flickr

The engine bed with one coat of Agate Grey enamel,

IMG_1864 by Andy, on Flickr

The cylinder,

IMG_1861 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1860 by Andy, on Flickr

I can think about an ignition system whilst painting.

Andy

[Dave Otto]

That is going to look very nice Andy!

Dave

[Dave Otto]

Hi Andy

Attached are the drawings that I made of Max's mixer, please let me know if you or anyone else finds any errors or problems.
As far as I'm concerned this is just a baseline that can be adjusted and tweaked to the builders liking, his engine does run very nice with this design.

Also if there is a better place for these to be posted let me know.

Thanks
Dave

[Chipmaster]

Thank you for posting the drawings Dave.

Andy

[Dave Otto]

Just to muddy the waters, here is a drawing that came from Morrison and Marvin. I'm not sure if Gary Martin has this drawing or sends it out with his kit.
This would go back to the time when Roland was selling the Mery kit.

Dave

[Chipmaster]

Hello Dave, I have seen that sketch but it wasn't included in the set of drawings that I bought from Martin Model last year.

Andy 

[Chipmaster]

The paintwork so far.

IMG_1881 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1886 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1887 by Andy, on Flickr

A pleasant activity during the hot weather we're having in the UK at the moment. 

Andy

[Jo]

Looks very nice 

I can report Surus has been following along and he has been having regular fondling session with my his Mery castings  I do hope to get back in the workshop at some point  (Waiting for the Doc's ok  )

If you fancy a day out the Mike's and I will be displaying our models at the Guildford "Choo Choo" Steam Gala on the 5th of July at the Guildford Club.

Jo

[Twizseven]

Andy.

Thats looking good.

Colin

[Chipmaster]

Hello Jo, tempting but unfortunately the 270 mile round trip is a problem. I'm attending my old grammar school reunion the following day and won't risk being too knackered for that.
However, pleased to hear Surus is following along and enjoying some fondling. 

Cheers Colin, perhaps it will be ready for the Midland show in October, hope you'll be there too.

Andy

[Chipmaster]

I have painted the exhaust valve chambers and started work on the inlet tract/manifold. The two explosion chambers are linked with a length of 5/16" brass threaded 32tpi at each end and a 3/16 hole bored through the centre.

IMG_1276 by Andy, on Flickr

An 8mm brass compression tee piece suitably modified should look ok for connecting the gas mixer and not be too bulky.

 IMG_1905 by Andy, on Flickr

I'm going to solder the tee piece in the centre.

IMG_1894 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_1896 by Andy, on Flickr

The 1/4" bsp thread (which is 1/2" OD) for the nuts on the tee piece is enough to take a 3/8 x 32tpi female thread intended for attaching the gas mixer and the thread turned down to blend in.

Copied from Dave Otto's drawings.


This is just a dummy mixer at this stage.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2renZX7]IMG_1906 by Andy, on Flickr

I will use Loctite to seal and keep the manifold in position. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that once assembled the explosion chambers will have to be fitted or removed as a single unit.

Andy

[Chipmaster]

I have spent a lot of time repainting the cast aluminium base, a layer of Upol Dolphin Glaze, rubbing down then spraying synthetic enamel - Graphite Grey left over from my Retlas and Stuart Major, the result is fair, I must move on to make the mixer as drawn by Dave Otto.

 IMG_2071 by Andy, on Flickr

The end of the mixer is threaded 3/8 x 32.

IMG_2067 by Andy, on Flickr

The mixer was tightly screwed into a brass bar mounted in the milling vice and the DRO used to ensure the cross drilling was on the centreline.

IMG_2074 by Andy, on Flickr

The needle jet thread was 2-56 UNC on Dave's drawing, I have used 8BA. A brass 8BA bolt occupies the position of the needle valve in this picture.

IMG_2081 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_2085 by Andy, on Flickr

The needle and throttle barrel are the next jobs. Forming a needle on the end of an 8BA thread should be an entertaining job.

 IMG_2069 by Andy, on Flickr

Andy