The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

spatial_pan · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: boiler band blue

[b]
Hi
I'm new to this forum and new to steam engine renovation so I need a little help.
First of I'm doing a reno job on a se2 from the sixties.
I have the baseplate repainted (it needed it) and I have the boiler and firbox in progress. I know exactly where I'm going with this project with the exception of the boiler band, which on this particular model is a rusty strip of rusty stuff.
Originally was this tin plate or chromed copper or what ?
I feel I have two options , buy in som tin plate or use a copper strip. I live in NI and I don't beleive there is facilities for chroming
any suggestions
thanks in advance
mike[/b]

Atticman · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Hi, and welcome to the forum,

The strap started as copper in the 40s, and progressed to a chromed piece of steel by the end. The chrome is really thin and flakes off very easily.

Youve come to the right place, and others will advise the type of strap from the 60s, though I think it depends on how early or late 60s it is. Basically all got cheaper and thinner as time went on usually

Is it possible to see any pics ? They are easy to put on here?

Les · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum from Bournemouth.

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johnreid · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:

Welcome from Indiana USA, I hope you have success in your restoration.
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spatial_pan · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

Hi here/s the said engine prior to any work

thanks for your replies
mike

flywheel61 · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

Hi, and welcome from OZ. I wouldn't bother with the chomed/polished steel strapping, just use a good quality steel as the chrome flakes off after awhile and the polished steel soon dulls from firing. Better still see if you can find a bit of stainless steel if you want it to look 'puckah'.

Cheers

Chris
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johnreid · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

That one will fix up nicely
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spatial_pan · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all your comments,

I like the SS route, I thought about it myself but hesitated because it was too modern looking. However I do work as an engineer at a fabrication company and we have a good supply of the shiny stuff. SS will polish to a mirror almost chrome looking In fact just for my own entertainment I was also considering making my own scratch engine from ss based on an SE2 boiler if I can find a spare one and displayong it on here as a MYMOD me2 engine. But yeh I'm happy to make a stainless strap maybe make a spare one and ebayit...thanks flywheels

re Johnreid.
Yes it is cleaning up lovely and it has encouraged me to continue with this new hobby. The firebox which initialy looked fragile has been reduced to a nice grey steel look and the boiler looks amazing now even just after steel wool, The finished item will be terrific. I know all the debate about paint/nopaint but this is my first it isn't for resale nut for my own enjoyment and that newky painted rosso red base looks great if not neccesserily original

I have one more confession as well so I may as well get it out the way now. I wont be pop riviting anything on this unit (as the purists amongst you scream crucify him) I want to steam this engine for the children from time to time and then I want to be able to clean it properly. So I will be using m3 or ba equiv screws and acorn (domed) nuts. If I ever want to pass this on at later date I can easily pop (no pun) some rivets in but for now I preffer a less permanent arrangement.

IndianaRog · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

SP,

Hey, the engine is YOURS....no apologies needed for repaint, nuts and bolts or whatever. I'm personally of the camp that first and foremost the owner must be happy with his engine...some like to leave the bumps and bruises of history on display, others restore to equal or better than new condition. The choice is yours and YOU must be happy with it. We'll admire it either way!

cheers,
Rog

ps...gotta ask...what is the significance of "spatial pan" name?
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spatial_pan · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject:

Indiana writes...

ps...gotta ask...what is the significance of "spatial pan" name?

mmm When I first started this obsession I surfed the net looking at other peoples websites for advice etc. It was an ozz guy who recommended this forum to me. In conversation I told him I intended making a video a matrix esque type vid where the camera pans around a frozen in time se2 through 270 deg as it then kicks into full speed all done against a blue screen etc. I was sure just how to do it but that it was doable
In reply he said if you can pull of a spatial pan such as that and put it into forum then you would be the talk of the town.

hence the username and hence concurrently with this se project I'm building an indexable turntable to try and pull it off once completed

Obsessive nature? what me? never!!!

thanks for asking and you guys dont miss much do you

johnreid · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

I am still trying to figure out how you got that picture of me for your Avatar.

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IndianaRog · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Thanks SP....you sound nutty enough to fit right in with the rest of us...welcome aboard and we'll look forward to that video, it sounds like something incredibly creative.

cheers,
Roger
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toxx · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

... welcome to the forums, mate!

Lookin' forward to seeing some pix of your progress. Say, how did you come by your avatar pix? Looks like that jolly bird might be pickin' the photog's camera to pieces ...

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spatial_pan · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks
you are a friendly lot!
Not sure where the avatar came from... google images probably. I once had a lama stickin its tongue out which was quite good.
I may upload some progressy pics later.I was heitsting because I don't want to hog the forum. But while ya mention it and it is relevant to this thread Does antone know what shape the boiler band should be. The original sorta came out lookin like the dead sea scrolls. I have the right length of SS new holes drilled and formed the curve but not sure if it should be tangential to the boiler or bowed or whatever

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spatial_pan · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: Progress report

be gentle with me
Here is it so far roughly cleaned and loosely put together for this photo shoot

look at em shine look at em shine pa!!!!