The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

AzRob · Last edited by AzRob on Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:15 pm; edited 1 time in total

Got parts ordered from Dream Steam today for Los Dos. I've given up on fabbing my own cab at the moment, and will be modifying a partial standard Mamod cab to make it American outline. I will also be working to get the Ruby running right. I've started taking the leaking cylinder off, hopefully I can sort things there. I think the reverser needs some adjusting too, it seemed like it was too far in the block in forward (despite prior adjustments). Both will see detail parts later from Trackside Details (www.tracksidedetails.com) to spruce their looks up. Hopefully we'll see some action from one of the locos on an improvised track for STWWW.
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'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby

AzRob · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:56 pm Post subject:

Items from Dream Steam posted today...however, there's some sort of Royal Mail strike! Los Dos probably won't be up and running in time for STWWW...that's life. I'll try and get some time in on the Ruby before the kickoff, but nothing is guaranteed.
_________________
'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby

AzRob · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:00 am Post subject:

A package from Dream Steam showed up here in Az., and I wasted no time in butchering what arrived.

Began cutting and reshaping the portholes into American-style windows (which will eventually be framed in scale lumber). Finished that up before dinner and got the first coat of paint on. Looking to have the cab installed and a test steam on blocks later this week.
On the Ruby front, I followed the advice given to me in the loco shed and shaved a bit off of one of the valve block screws. The screw goes in better now, but there's still a blow-by issue from the valve block/cylinder face and some leakage (but less) from the front right screw hole on the right valve. I think the gasket is junk. Not surprising, considering how dry it was when I got it (it was a 2008 kit). Steam oil could only do so much. So now to pull the boiler, shroud, and lift the block. I wish it had been designed to be able to just drop the cylinders off the bottom, but oh well.
Also pulled the boiler bands off. Apparently the boiler is the same size as a TE1 boiler, as the bands are now on Kayenta.
Pictures of Los Dos when the cab is "finished" or at least mounted.
_________________
'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby

johnreid · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:26 am Post subject:

All of the struggles make one appreciate it all the more when it gets going. Pictures would be great.

I fought my Mamod for a month and now it runs like the clappers, whatever a clapper is.

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Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis

Les · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:19 am Post subject:

Keith S · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

Meaning

Go very fast; in a vigorous manner.

Origin

This term isn't common outside of the United Kingdom, and is now considered rather archaic even there. It originated around the time of WWII as RAF slang. The earliest citation I can find is from a 1942 newspaper piece by Associated News staff Writer Alfred Wall, in which he listed various RAF slang terms:

"A pilot chased by the enemy 'goes like the clappers', or full out".

What 'the clappers' refers to isn't entirely clear, although by far the most likely derivation is as a reference to the clappers of bells. An early form of the phrase was 'go like the clappers of hell' and, given that bells have clappers, it may be that it may that the rhyme of hell and bell is significant. RAF pilots were often from English public schools where the ringing of handbells to mark the time was common. Bells were rung more vigorously as the time remaining to get to class/chapel etc. was about to run out. The image of schoolboys dashing to class while handbells were being energetically rung matches the meaning of the phrase very well.

There is another suggestion, that it was first rabbits that 'ran like the clappers'. This notion comes from the French word for a rabbit hole - clapier, which was adapted into English as clapper. Rabbit burrows, especially those that were constructed in order to breed semi-tame rabbits, (or conies, as they were then called) were called clappers. This was known in the 15th century. For example, from the romantic poem Roman de la Rose, 1405:

"Conies... That comen out of her claperes."

The proposal has two significant flaws. Firstly, the phrase and the meaning don't match. Rabbit would have 'run from the clappers', not 'run like the clappers'. Secondly, the 'rabbit-burrow' meaning has long been archaic and unused. The most recent example of its conversational use that I can find in print is from 1725, although there are still some place names that derived from this source - for example Sharpenhoe Clappers in the English Chilterns.. The phrase originated in the RAF in the mid 20th century - long after clapper meant something else entirely.

From "the phrase finder" by Gary Martin

Here you go John. Not very satisfying though is it?
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johnreid · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

I was making a vane attempt at humor. I should know better, but it is a weakness of mine.

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Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis

pauly · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject:

the term ; goes like the clappers ; is still very much alive in Middlesbrough, I say it all the time

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The Woodrow story
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic10347-0.php

Iron and steal runs through the blood of my people and without it we will surley die!

Keith S · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject:

Just trying to help, John.
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johnreid · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject:

Cheers
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Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis

Keith S · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject:

Personally, I think when you ask a linguist about the origin of a word or a phrase, all you're going to get is his own pet theory. Here's mine: I think it comes from the same expression as "Hell's Bells!" as an exclamation of surprise, hence "goes like the clappers of hell". This ties the two "bell" related idioms together quite nicely in my opinion. Obviously there is some kind of infernal symbology involving bells or something.

I clearly need to get started on some new hobby stuff; I can't believe I spent ANY time thinking about that....
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Wasserstand beachten

AzRob · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:56 am Post subject:

Having fitted a cab to Los Dos, my last major bit on the restore/repaint of the loco, I figured it was time for a live test. So I got out the circle o' track, tossed the last of my butane into the tank, filled up the boiler, and crossed my fingers. I would like to say that things went well...

And they did. I improvised a coupling between the tender and loco (via a bent paper clip) and it worked well. Pressure came right up, and a flip of the reverser had the "stack" spitting water, and then taking off down the track. Towing a car (the tender), the loco was much better behaved than before. I didn't notice any steam leaks, and except where it had primed, the track was relatively dry. Probably could have done with a bit more oil. Biggest issue was running out of butane. I took video of the run and onboard the tender...but I didn't have a memory card in, so I can't download them (I lost the cable).
I've got an order in for a set of couplers for the loco/tender and a gravel car, they should be in next week...and the RRR grows. Now to get a stack for Los Dos and get that Ruby sorted...
_________________
'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby

johnreid · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:02 am Post subject:

THere is also some speed control with the reverser lever, it is touchy, but the Loco can be slowed down and thus lengthening the run and getting a little better prototype speed ( for the highball that is

)
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Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis

AzRob · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:17 am Post subject:

Yeah, I'm sure the run time would have been longer, but I figure the tank at probably only 1/2 to 1/3 full. I'll have to get some more and test full run time now vs. how it used to run. I was able to get some speed control, but like you said...touchy.
_________________
'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby

AzRob · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:43 am Post subject:

Got in another two runs today. Runs like a beauty. Here's some pics and videos.

Yes, I know, it doesn't have the roof on it yet (which I do have). I am going to be stripping the roof and repainting/adding details, so I have no need of a roof as of yet. I need to make up a warm water container (simple brass case?) to mount in the tender. I've got a few detail parts that I need to order (steam dome cover, bell, whistle, decals, pilot, etc.), but she runs. Coupler and rolling stock should be here this next week, so hopefully I can shoot some decent onboard footage. I can lay out my temporary track someplace more inviting that inside the class (where I was testing to make sure it'd run for the kids in Science Club).
Videos:

_________________
'48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby