The work keeps moving forward on the project another 3 days this week . Tuesday, we continued working on the fireman’s side tank for 5668 to get it finished and out the way . The back panels were trimmed ready for the joining section to be bent to fit . The front back panel was removed and stood aside ,the top panel was then removed and had mastic applied it was replaced then bolted down ready for riveting . The team continued with the polishing of the rods. They are starting to look good but still need more work .![]()
Talking of rods, our new connecting rod machining is coming on well at Automation Technologies (see pics and Video)of the work moving ever forward to its completion.![]()
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The work on the boiler is coming on very well at HBSS Liverpool with the new repair patch where the whistle had dripped over the years and had eroded the pads away. This has now been welded in place and the crown stay hole repairs have been done as well (see pics)![]()
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Friday, the team reamed out all the holes on the tank top section to allow the riveting to take place without delay. The drainpipe that takes excess water from the tank top when filling the tank has been prepared ready for welding in place Some more rod polishing took place as well ,work on the water gauge for the new tank continued. ![]()
Sunday, the team spent the day riveting the top section on the tank ,we also riveted the front capping strip as this must be done before we can fix the tank filler as we could not get to the rivets on the capping if it was in place . The tank drainpipe was welded inside the tank .We can now fit the filler next week ready for riveting in place and rivet the baffles in before fitting the back sections . Thanks to everyone who helped this week on the project .
The week has been a varied mix of jobs done on the project.![]()
The work for 5668 new fireman’s side tank carried on from Sunday’s efforts the last bit of welding was done on the front splasher support bracket. The splashers that were marked up were unbolted and drilled then refitted to the inside of the tank . We also moved the back sheet into position next to the tank after the drilling was completed then cleaned down the panel ready for the welding to take place at the weekend. The team started to cut up some more old tubes from 4253 for some egg timers as stocks are getting low and with the sales season upon us, we are going back into production and the clock maker is doing the same .![]()
The team set to work cleaning the rods removing the years of accumulated crud they have started to look very good indeed . The newly built blow down valve arrived , also the split pins were fitted in the new steam heat valves (Thanks Brian) who made them all .![]()
Friday, we carried on with rod polishing as well as painting the front sheet with primer, the brackets were cut and drilled for the back splasher after some detective work to find the steel in the storage rack . ![]()
News from HBSS the last of the copper stays have been fitted ,the longitudinal stays have been drilled to allow the split pins to be fitted and the main steam pipe has started to be put together (see pics). Automation Technologies have started to machine our new connecting rod. P.S .anyone want a bucket of swarf (see pics ). ![]()
Sunday the varied work continued the brackets were marked on the back tank sheet then welded on ,while this was happening the baffle was removed and drilled then refitted to the new tank for 5668. The back sheet was trimmed to length then both back sheets were fitted temporarily ready for the joining plate to be bent to fit .Other jobs done today were tapping out all the holes for the bolts that stop the bushes from rotating in the rods as some were totally unable to hold a bolt (knackered ).Some of the team went to Tenterden to the C&W to move the tank sheets from 32670 inside for painting in its new livery Improved Engine Nappy . Thanks to everyone who helped this week .
This week the team kept the pace going getting more things done on the project over three days .![]()
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Tuesday 3 of the side rods were taken to Automation Technologies for some remedial work after the Sunday measuring session .We discovered that 2 holes on the trailing rods needed to be skimmed to bring them back to round to allow the pins to fit correctly .The intermediate rod needed a recess and an oil hole to be machined . ![]()
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The drilling team started drilling all the fixing holes for the tank back front sheet on the new fireman’s side tank this was completed then moved back next to the half-completed tank. The holes for the back section were marked from inside the tank (thanks George )the sheet was then taken down and removed to our main work area for drilling .![]()
The work on the boiler is progressing well at HBSS Liverpool our Boilersmiths the longitudinal stays have been in the boiler barrel (see pics ).![]()
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Saturday the rod came back from the remedial machining works . ![]()
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Our sales team were also attending our first fundraising event of the year at the St. Mildred’s Church Model Railway Exhibition. ![]()
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Sunday a lot more measuring took place of all the rods we can now move to the next stage of starting to get them fitted to the loco and with the final crank pin being finished we are moving forward . ![]()
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Most of the team were working on fitting the baffles on the front sheet of the new tank .This involved cutting strips to weld on the sheet, these had to be marked and drilled before welding on this was done by the end of the day . Tuesday, we do it all over again on the back sheet . ![]()
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Thanks to everyone who viewed our post last week it was the highest number of views we have ever had . ![]()
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If you would like to see pictures of the loco running, please go to our web site www.4253.co.uk and please help us get the loco back into traffic ASAP. ![]()
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You can purchase a share to become a part owner of the loco as well as stays or washout plugs or just donate to help us get the job done . This will ensure we can bring you an update and pictures every Sunday .![]()
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Many Thanks from the 4253 team .
A bonus how the milling is done of the oil box on the intermediate rod for 4253 , Thanks to Nick for the vid
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Set of 3 Stays (Sponsor)£99.00 -
Life & Times of 4253 Book£9.50 -
Pen & Torch Gift Set£6.00 -
FLUE TUBE CLOCKS£27.50 – £30.50 -
BOILER TUBE EGG TIMERS£15.00 – £18.00 -
4253/WISE OWL CIDER TANK IN OO GAUGE£15.00 – £20.00