Engines > Restoration of Model Engines
Sirius: Alco "Firefly" version
redhouseluv:
Having just completed the Sun engine I thought it would be a good time to look at its big brother, the Sirius; I bought this at an auction some time ago where it sat amongst a lot of Hornby trains and other locos.
Its a Sirius, but was connected to the Alco generator sets in WWII (see below for complete set). There is an excellent website for those interested in the history https://alcofirefly.com/
As you can see someone has gone a bit crazy with the paint scheme which is funny as it was designed for covert operations :D
Jobs to do:
- get it running
- make an exhaust
- replace the missing pressure gauge
- remove the draincock at the end of manifold and then put it back to its original location
- finally return it to its more somber army green colour
As usual I haven't got the taps and dies I need and am puzzling over the thread sizes. Also back to having soldering issues which I still haven't cracked......I'll post some pics
Roger B:
Looks a fun project :) :ThumbsUp:
I once had a chance to play with the successor to this, the Mk814:
https://www.stationroadsteam.com/mk814-steam-generating-set-stock-code-1995/
It had a single cylinder engine and a boiler like a motorbike cylinder.
Jack Hampshire had a Sirius to drive a dynamo for the lights on his Foden Steam Wagon :)
redhouseluv:
That's a big piece of kit; I like the boiler is has a great shape
Jasonb:
Depending on age you may have some small Whitworth threads as well as 26tpi
redhouseluv:
Threads
Ah okay, small Whitworth threads .... are they less than 26 or bigger i.e more or less threads per inch?
From the current Sirius drawings the exhaust is 1/2" x 26 and the inlet 3/8" x 26 (neither of which I have, but have ordered). The manifold however has a cap which can be removed and looks like it has been designed to take a brass nipple (see pics).
I have tried the 1/2" x 20, 1/2" x 13, but it looks a lot 'courser' than the exhaust 1/2" x 26, so I have no idea what it can be as none of my thread gauges fit?
Solder
This is my collection of soldering stuff; none of which I have manged to have any success with other than the yellow tub with the electrical solder on it which I have used to temporarily solder bearing brasses. All I want to do is solder brass fixtures to copper pipe; I have watched numerous videos all of which make it look simple, but I end up with flux which doesn't run, but burns or solder which doesn't melt. If someone can tell me which flux with which solder that would be a good start?
In desperation, I used soft solder to fix a nipple to a 1/4" pipe and was thinking about drilling through the cap to make the union for the manifold?
Any help with threads or soldering correctly greatly appreciated, thanks
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