Steve_S
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M158STAGE 1....
As you may know I recently purchased this wonderful object....
Well, I've taken it to bits and discarded the horrible home made firebox. What remained was the dirtiest engine I've ever had to deal with, but underneath the grime was pure gold. I've re-assembled it with the firebox donated by Mooseman, and it's beginning to look like it should.
I've run it with the burner I made for my M140 and it works very well... a very pleasing chuff and a powerful blast from the exhaust.
Watch this space....
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tmuir
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Thats going to be fantasic when finished.
I was worried the boiler might of had corrosion holes in it, glad it didn't.
Got yourself a bargain there.
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oldstuff
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Nice job Steve...a labor of love. 
Those pics made me grin, I bet you were grinning too, looking at it all shiney and
nice now. The vids were most satisfying...  lots of steam at exhaust made
me think...that thing is really processing steam efficiently, nothing I have performs
like that! Get us a pic of the burner, too if you can. It must play a big role in getting
this engine the steam it needs to run so well. 
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Wallace
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Increible transformation there
Well done
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SPOKESMAN
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Bleddy fantastic - what colour are you going paint the base? Looking beautiful, another Bowman back from the dead!
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Sandman
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Great to see.
Well done mate.
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buzz
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Very good job i can't believe it is the same engine!
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Steve_S
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Thanks for the comments... I can hardly believe its the same engine either!
Tmuir: Yes, I was worried that the boiler might be damaged, but I was lucky that it turned out to be in pretty good condition.
Chuck: The burner I used for that run was the one I made for my M140. There are pictures of it in the restoration thread for that engine. That exhaust blast is the best of any of my engines. The piston is a very good fit in the cylinder... it seems like brand new!
Mike: I had already decided before it arrived to paint the engine frame the orange/red that you sometimes see on Bowmans, so I was pleased to find traces of that colour under the grime. For the base plate I think I'll go for a dark green... no sign of original paint!
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Mamodman123
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WOW 100% improvement already and not a dot of paint  Boiler came up really well! Can't wait to see it finished 
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Steve_S
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STAGE 2...
I've painted it in traditional M158 colours (I think!) and I've made a new decal for it using more or less the methods described by Odilon on the Mooseman website. The only thing I did differently was to use dry rub off decal paper, which is obtainable in single sheet quantities on eBay.
Things still to do are to make a burner and a chimney. Bowman chimneys aren't simple tubes... they have an inner tube which fits over the steam dome, so it'll be a bit more tricky than the Latimer and Burnac chimneys that I made. Some experimentation required! I'd be grateful if someone could tell me the dimentions, length and diameter, of an M158 chimney, or, even better, a picture of one next to a ruler. Thanks in advance! Also could someone confirm my belief that the M158 and M140 chimneys are identical?
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erikl
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Wow, you did a great job restoring this engine! If you look at what it was when you got it, it's a astonishing result!
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MTA
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Steve, I have an M158 (still in bits!) which does have a chimney, so tomorrow I shall post up pictures and any dimensions you need
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Sandman
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Oh yes Steve.
Another job to be proud of.
Well done.
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John Chapman
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A brilliant job Steve, congratulations.
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Manxman
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You are a truely gifted person. That is very very nice. A great job.
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Steve_S
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Thanks Erik, SM, John, and Manx! I'm pleased with the way it turned out. It's an improvement anyway! 
MTA, that would be great... thanks very much!
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Sandman
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| Steve_S wrote: | Thanks Erik, SM, John, and Manx! I'm pleased with the way it turned out. It's an improvement anyway!
MTA. that would be great... thanks very much! |
You're a master of understatment Steve.
I would have that in my front window with a flashing neon sign saying "I Did This"
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Steve_S
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That would amuse the neighbours wouldn't it?
...don't think wife/daughter would go for it though!
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Sandman
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| Steve_S wrote: | That would amuse the neighbours wouldn't it?
...don't think wife/daughter would go for it though! |
LOL.
Maybe I tend to get carried away.
The missus says I should have been, years ago.
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MTA
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Mamodman123
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Yes yes now thats what its all about Steve!
Looks brilliant!
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SPOKESMAN
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A great job Steve, from what I know the M158 is a single cylinder 140.
I would think the chimneys are the same too!
Looks terrific.
Hope you used one of my decals!
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Steve_S
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More pictures and videos....
Here's the M158 and M140 compared. Most of the pieces are interchangeable.
... and here's the M158 running. Its quite strange about the perfect condition of the cylinder and piston. To look at the state of this engine when I got it, you would think it had had a hard life and might be well worn. In fact it seem as new... as if it's never been run in. It's certainly running easier with every run, just like a new one would.
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Mamodman123
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Very nice runner Steve! My dad always tells me that he thinks most engines are only used a few times then put away in the loft or worse (a shed) and dug out years later! Sadly rusting away but saved by the likes of us .
Its one to be proud of Steve
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Steve_S
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Yes, I think that must be it MM... it's not been used much. That's part of the fun of buying old wrecks... you never know quite what you're getting and there are usually some surprises!
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Mamodman123
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| Steve_S wrote: | | Yes, I think that must be it MM... it's not been used much. That's part of the fun of buying old wrecks... you never know quite what you're getting and there are usually some surprises! |
I guess in a way its better than buying a "minter" because if that turns up with a scratch on it you're dissapointed
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Steve_S
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Yes, and its much cheaper too!
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SPOKESMAN
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Great pics steve - always fascinating to see . . . .
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Griffin
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Joined this one a bit late  , what a transformation that is a first class job Steve.
A really nice engine, great to see.
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MTA
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Steve, M158 chimney pictures as promised (albeit a day late..)
A picture of the whole chimney displaying the hole for the exhaust pipe.
A closer pic detailing the flared chimney top.
A photo of the bottom showing the insert so that the chimney fits over the steam dome.
A photo showing the difference between the diameter of the top and bottom holes. Steve, just say what measurements you need
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Mamodman123
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Whatever happpened to your Bowman MTA, not heard too much about it recently  or for a while anyway
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MTA
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Still in bits, but after seeing Steve's in full glory, it has spurred me on to do something about it! My aim is to get it ready by Amberley's Rail Gala I think a repaint is in order, plus I have 3 Bowman logos (thanks Mike!) that I can use The only thing that won't need a paint is the engine frame...
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Mamodman123
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| MTA wrote: | | Still in bits, but after seeing Steve's in full glory, it has spurred me on to do something about it! My aim is to get it ready by Amberley's Rail Gala I think a repaint is in order, plus I have 3 Bowman logos (thanks Mike!) that I can use The only thing that won't need a paint is the engine frame... |
when would that be?
Sounds good MTA! I've been looking forward to seeing it cleaned up too! so i'm glad you are going to get on with it
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MTA
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The rail gala is, umm, let me check my calendar...
it's on the 14th-15th of July. So plenty of time! Although I don't want to rush things, as this will be my first restoration
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Mamodman123
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| MTA wrote: | The rail gala is, umm, let me check my calendar...
it's on the 14th-15th of July. So plenty of time! Although I don't want to rush things, as this will be my first restoration |
Aye! best not to rush into anything
Although you've had it so long I don't think there is any danger there
Should look good once it's done
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MTA
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It'll also be my first time to solder, as the nut on the steam pipe nearest the port block was tight, I applied just a bit too much pressure, and the joint is no more... I shall now have to invest in some soldering tools!
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Mamodman123
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| MTA wrote: | | It'll also be my first time to solder, as the nut on the steam pipe nearest the port block was tight, I applied just a bit too much pressure, and the joint is no more... I shall now have to invest in some soldering tools! |
It can be a little tricky to solder down there. A G clamp will help you MTA.
If you need any help, then i'll give what advice I can
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Sandman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | MTA wrote: | | It'll also be my first time to solder, as the nut on the steam pipe nearest the port block was tight, I applied just a bit too much pressure, and the joint is no more... I shall now have to invest in some soldering tools! |
It can be a little tricky to solder down there. A G clamp will help you MTA.
If you need any help, then i'll give what advice I can |
I'll help in any way I can as well MTA.
Just take your time and take one job at a time.
You'll be surprised how you get on top of it.
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SPOKESMAN
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Aye, steam in MTA - get the engine sorted!!
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MTA
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Thanks guys for your words and offers of support It obviously has been a long time, as a couple of weeks ago I was speaking to James on MSN and he didn't even know I had it First thing will be a clean, then assess what needs to be done
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Mamodman123
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| MTA wrote: | | Thanks guys for your words and offers of support It obviously has been a long time, as a couple of weeks ago I was speaking to James on MSN and he didn't even know I had it First thing will be a clean, then assess what needs to be done |
Yes I remember you bought it MTA! Should be a very ncie model when finished
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Steve_S
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MTA thanks for the pictures, they'll be very useful! Could you tell me the diameter of the main tube, and the length from top to bottom? I can work out the rest. Thanks!
As for your engine, just take the plunge and go for it! The good thing about soldering is that if it goes wrong you can just clean off all the solder and start again and no harm done.... happens all the time to me! I'll be very interested to see how you get on with it.
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MTA
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Sorry for not getting back to you sooner Steve, I have been at Amberley all day and my right arm and right leg are quite numb for some obscure reason
Diameter from outside edge: 19mm
Length: 82mm (the bottom is radiused to fit boiler, so measurement is from top of flare to longest part of radius)
Thickness of brass: 1mm
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Steve_S
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That's great MTA.... I can work out the rest from the pictures. Thanks very much! Now I'll need to fine some suitable brass tubing.
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MTA
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| Steve_S wrote: | | That's great MTA.... I can work out the rest from the pictures. Thanks very much! Now I'll need to fine some suitable brass tubing. |
Glad I could help Steve, is the MM2 twin cyl. going ahead still? The subkect has gone cold for quite a bit, I have a drawing for a baseplate BTW
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Steve_S
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I still intend to have a go at making an MM2 twin. I need to make a couple of Bowman burners and chimneys first, and also tidy up my E135 which is a good runner but a bit tatty. I also have a marine engine and some vague ideas for a boat, but that can wait. Hopefully I'll get some inspiration at STIA!
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