The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

CCairns · Last edited by CCairns on Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:52 pm; edited 1 time in total

Again another one out of order (No.5 is stuck in a box at the bottom of my cupboard), but as steamyjim wanted to see a photo of this I got this one into the studio recently.

So my Live Steam Loco No.7 is this Mamod SL1, which was purchased at STIA in 2005.

The trader told me it was a kit loco, and as it was fitted with a meths burner he recommened fitting a lubricator.

This is the meths burner which has been identified by Titan (Thank you) as an MGM Engineering one. The water top-up valve is the kind that Cheddar Models used to produce, and the safety valve is again unidentified and goes off at about the same pressure as the Mamod safety valve but at least it goes into a fountain upwards when it blows!

This loco is more of an SL1 than an SL1k, as the sidetanks are obviously SL1's, the cab front had a lot of paint loss and I've badly repainted it (it was an SL3 one), and the original cab back was also from an SL3 but that has gone to Mamodevon for his backless SL3, and has been replaced by an SL1 one. The boiler is the screw on backplate which is good.

I purchased and fitted an IP Lubricator, but as I've stated before on this forum it was very ineffective so has been removed. The boiler caused a lot of problems, so it was paint stripped, the bush for the steam nut has been resoldered, the solder fillet on the bottom replaced, and the steam pipe was re-bent to allow it to go right up into the steam dome and stop the condensate that I was getting whilst running (just like the MSS Saddle Tank).

I believe those pistons to be the upgraded 'O' ring type and these have required a lot of lubrication to get them going. Whilst I am still considering on fitting a Roundhouse type lubricator, I've adopted a tip that I read on another Yahoo group.

Fit a silicone tube to the exhaust pipe to bring it to the top of the chimney, put the reverser fully forward, inject some steam oil into this tube, and turn the wheels backwards to suck this oil through the reverser and into the cylinders. Not too much oil or turning the wheels for too long will prevent oil getting into the boiler.

I was originally going to call this loco 'Iver' as I got some 'Iver' nameplates from the Cheddar Models sell-out at Merstham in 2005, but as I've now got a Cheddar Iver it will be called 'Archie' instead, after my late Grandfather who used to take me to that great model railway venue in Glasgow, the Clyde Model Dockyard, to buy some bits for my OO gauge model railway when I was a lad.

When I get the workbench built and have practised my spray painting skills, it will be repainted in red with lining and nameplates, and I've obtained the following bits to enhance it's looks.

L to R - Lamps and Lamp irons, plus brass tools from Brandbright, Tool box and brass whistle from IP Engineering clear-out, and 2 cylinder covers which had been badly punched to look like rivets.

Thanks for looking.

Chris Cairns.

johnreid · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject:

Those will dress it up quite nicely. Please post pictures once you get them done.
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SillyBilly · Guest

I'm liking those cylinder covers!

Sandman · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject:

Oh yes Chris.

I look forward to seeing the finished product.

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CCairns · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject:

As I said the rivet detailing is very poor, so I intend on sanding them flush before painting.

They are quite easy to make from some sheet metal if you have the right size tool to form them around, otherwise you can get ready made ones from IP Engineering - see here http://www.ipengineering.co.uk/page71.html

Chris Cairns.

SillyBilly · Guest

steamyjim · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject:

Nice loco. Leave the rivets they look great. They will be painted aswell wont they

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steamyjim · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject:

Nice loco. Leave the rivets they look great. They will be painted aswell wont they

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Mother of the free,
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bessytractor · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject:

another green kit loco

A good little project. Should be a looker when finished!

CCairns · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

It is not too obvious from the photo but the rivet detailing is not very straight or evenly spaced, you should see the sidetanks I got that were done like this but even worse.

Sorry but I'd rather stick on some rivet detailing which would be nice and straight, properly spaced out, etc. Someone does these as a plastic extrusion but cannot remember the name of the dealer at present (nearly got some on my visit to the Merstham Steam Rally last year).

Chris Cairns.

Mamodman123 · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:28 am Post subject:

Looks like a good project.

Nothing beats a good old SL1 restoration

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Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 753 Location: Derby

That loco I think has had quite a few of the MGM Engineering modifications. Not just the burner, but the cylinders, and unless I am mistaken the wheels too have also had the MGM Modification to stop them working loose, which I think involves re-boring the centres and truing up on a lathe, and then press fitting on to new axles - do the axles finish nice and flush with the wheels rather than being stamped to secure them like Mamod do?
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It's a Mamod Jim, but not as we know it!

CCairns · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:11 am Post subject:

Titan - Yes you are right about the wheels (I had not really noticed the difference before).

Any more information on who MGM Engineering were? Produced some good modifications for these Mamods, but I assume they have gone the same way as Mike Chaney and others who have stopped making these modifications, or have ceased trading. Certainly not seen any of these MGM items on ebay before.

Chris Cairns.

Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 753 Location: Derby

MGM Engineering comprised of Mike Goodall (Who pioneered the Goodall water top up valve) and Mike Moore. Sort of Mike Goodall Moore if you see what I mean. They were basically in direct competition with Mike Chaney (Why everyone doing upgrades to Mamod locos was called Mike I do not know!)

They were based in South Wales, and were active from the mid eighties to the mid ninteys.

They produced burners, silver soldered boilers, radio control kits, as well as the water top up valves and other bits and bobs. They also did an overhaul / refurbishment service, where you sent them your Mamod and you would recieve it back rebuilt to your specification - usually at least upgraded wheels, meths burner and O ringed pistons. The loco would be fully tested on steam and came with a gaurantee. Locos so treated were normally supplied with an "MGM Engineering South Wales" builders plate on the side of the smokebox, with space for a builders number to be stamped on it although I don't think this was ever done.

I think things pretty well stopped when Mike Moore moved to London around 1997.
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It's a Mamod Jim, but not as we know it!

CCairns · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Well being a little frustrated with the lack of performance from the SL1Ks in the workshop, and with 'Ginny' back on display duties and the IP Jane having a well earned rest after her double headed train, I thought I'd give this loco another run under steam.

As previously posted, it was going to be called 'Iver' as I bought some Cheddar Models 'Iver' name plates in their Merstham 'end of business' sale. Then it was going to be called 'Archie' in memory of my late grandfather. However I've now come up with a very appropriate method of naming my locos, and its new name will be revealed when I receive the name plates from alan2525.

So here is a very short video just to prove Mamod locos can run backwards as well.

And for those who prefer YouTube - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lnS5gBYyRHE

As we tend to run these locos without the cab backs so we can check the water level, this loco will probably need lead weight adding below the cab floor as it is a bit light on its wheels going backwards. I've read the suggestion of casting cab steps to disguise these weights, but not sure how easy or messy that would be.