The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

steamyjim · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:37 am Post subject:

It will look good!
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syrtismajor · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject:

Since my blowtorch has kicked the bucket and decided to no longer work, I've been working on decoration before I can buy a new one on Saturday.
As I said before I've been learning from my previous mistakes and this time there is no tangle of pipes under the boiler. The intake for the regulator is internal and the return pipe from the lubricator to the cylinder will use an elbow joint rather than a long bend. Makes everything look neater and shortens the distance the steam has to travel before being 'phutted' out through the chimney

I stole the old dome so I can still have a piece that was not machined properly, and it still acts as a funtioning dome! (soldering that pipe in place was 'interesting' to say the least).
All in all, Sovereign is a much neater and prettier beast now. And my confidence is increasing in what I can achieve without any plans or diagrams!
Here she is as of tonight ( 06/02/08 ) with her polished Brass bands and sky blue and black coaching lines.
The camera has made the bulk of the blue seem rather to bright and lightened it too much. The previous vids give a better indication of the colour. I'll get some daylight pics when her cylinder is back in its rightful place

But until then, hope you enjoy my efforts:

You see MTA? Not over complicated at all

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Nick · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

I know I've said it before, but I really like your choice of colors. Thumbs up!

steamyjim · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

Its the Banshee in miniature!

Looks great!
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Sandman · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

Gee, that's shaping up nicely.

What a looker.
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Les · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

That is looking very nice. Well done.

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theyounggun · Newbie Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 13

looks good
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James · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Terrific!!

I want one (hint hint)

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barry1946 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject:

Looks great!

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syrtismajor · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject:

As promised! (well, a day late) Here is new pics and video's of the new boilered* (is that a word?

) Sovereign!

Firstly here is a picture of her bum again to show the new plumbing layout:

As you can see, there is a header to the right of the sightglass that takes steam from the dome and directs it to the regulator. There is a new lubricator made from hex brass followed by a continous (un soldered) pipe to the base of the boiler where it goes up to the cylinder (as before). This way there is no solder close to the flames risking solder-meltification* (I know it's not a word, but I think it sounds clever).

Here is a relatively glare-less picture showing her off nicely and close to true colour:

Once again, that is not the final chimney! Just a piece of pipe to stop steam and oil firing out of the 'blast pipe' and across my kitchen.

Once again I used my SE1 burner full of Meths, hot water from the kettle and a healthy painting of oil and waited for her to raise steam.
For once (and my jubilation) she did not leak! Just a bit of smoke from the paint baking on then nothing. Just an occasional hiss and click of the water coming to life in her boiler. Mamod has redeemed themselves a bit there

The moment arrived, I opened the Regulator, and Sovereign responded in all her glory and stature by squirting red hot oil over my hand from the lubricator

My fault, I used a dodgy o-ring and didn't screw the cap on tight enough. And my hand is ok

Second attempt:

She lives! Looks like she's running in reverse but that's just a trick of the camera. There is a lot of steam coming from the cylinder area but that's just a packing failure around the piston rod causing a small leak on the return throw (if that makes any sense

)

Here is a driver-esque view:

Running smoothly!
All she needs now is some better packing in the gland nuts and for the timing to be smoothed out (she clunks a bit and stalls when running very slow). But all in all, I finally have the success I wanted!

Cue dancing bananas:

Now the serious bit, since getting this far has taken quite a bit of my time recently I'm going to put her on hiatus for a while so I can concentrate on other things to clear the slate. I need to relcaim the few remaining tatters of a possible social life that has been severed by the phrase: 'I must ger her working' or 'Just one more evening doing this' etc etc...
I'm not going anywhere, and neither is Sovereign. There just won't be much on this thread for a while. But we will return! Hopefully with a Stepper motor generator!
But until then, farewell from Sovereign
(I'm still here though, you think I can leave these forums and you lovely people?

)
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Les · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

Well done, it's a credit to your persistance.
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Nick · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject:

One day, you will finish this one, then what will you do?

TRAPPERKEEPER · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject:

Excellent work, glad you decided to take on this great project

johnreid · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

Wow, it is even better than before, I hope you fit a proper stack etc and post more pictures.
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