I distinctly remember saying I didn't want a green one. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to find out I own a green one...
I've got nothing against the colour, its just that I seem to own a few green engines and some variety would have been nice. However, I dithered for too long and the only colour available when I got my act together was green. I can't say I'm upset, indeed I'm rather smitten with the thing, so I'll chalk it up to a 'first world problem'.
Its a 7/8ths scale Accucraft 3 Ton Type 1 Decauville, although if you read the name plate its apparently a 'Decuville'
Its actually pretty small, even by 16mm standards, taking up just 21cm of track excluding the buffers. It gains a good 30mm or so height over the normal 16mm engine which helps contribute to its shorty good looks. All of the easily removable detail was taken off for the above photo, its was actually getting ready for its first run and I wanted to be able to check all the steam joints for leaks etc
I'm pleased to report that I stayed with tradition and modified it before steaming it, although to be fair the previous owner had test steamed it to check it was OK for delivery so its not like it was mucked around with in its virgin state. Mind you, given the state after its after its first steaming, the mods would have been appropriate out of the box. The exhaust pipe was the main culprit, a piece of 2mm bore copper pipe leading straight up the chimney from the valve block, meaning any condensate, steam oil etc goes straight up, shortly followed by straight down over the paintwork
The quick fix is to crimp the end of the pipe, then drill through both sides 1.2 mm or so. The actual restriction in pipe terms is at the threaded fixture where it screws into the valve block, the top end is larger than required and the two new holes have an area greater then original. It does mean all the exhaust smeg gets directed against the chimney walls and thus the engine stays a lot cleaner.
The test run was successful, in that it highlighted the known big issues, but I bought the loco knowing what was coming so I can't hold that against it. The first batch which went to the US had big problems with fuel surge, this was traced to the gas tank overheating in its location in one of the side tanks. Part of the problem is that the boiler is very short and the smokebox front plate also acts as the side tank wrapper - heat build up in the smokebox is then transferred to the tanks and gas tank. The 'fix' for the UK delivery was to fit a smaller gas tank and add insulation around the side tank, unfortunately it seems the shrinking of the gas tank was a little over enthusiastic
This means you fill the gas tank, the boiler and lubricator, light the burner (which roars something rotten) and wait for pressure to build. The suggestion is you take it slowly to avoid transferring too much heat into the smokebox, so about 10 - 15mins to raise steam. You then turn the gas off, fill the tank again and relight - its then good for about 10-15 minutes of run.
Its a bit crap really. I know mine isn't run in (it is very smooth which is a bonus) but 15 minutes light engine, with the burner turned down and a low regulator is poor. The 'fix' is a bit drastic, making a new gas tank to go under the cab floor. That alleviates the issues and there is plenty of water capacity in the boiler to cope with the extra gas volume so its the route I'm heading down. When I could feel my resolve weakening a couple of weeks ago, I picked up some material for the new tank at the local engineering show, now I'm just a filler valve short of components. There are a few other suggested mods which I will do at the same time, then then are some cosmetic changes, chief of which is getting some wood strips up in the cab roof. Thats enough moaning for now though, it really is a pretty little thing in my eyes, so here are a couple of photos with the cosmetic bits back on after a wipe down.
Whilst I work out the design for the gas tank I've been keeping up the wagon works, need something to pull around now
They are all from the Model Earth range of wagons, the aim is to produce a 7/8ths 'tanker train' consisting of as many different type of wagons and tanks as I can come across. Aside from the three tanks at the back, one of the wagons in front will be getting the two barrels to the right, I have a carrier to hold those whilst the wagon on the left will get a scratchbuilt tank, probably half the height of the others and welded construction. The middle chassis is for an open wagon with sloping sides, my current thoughts are to fill that with hoses to support using the tanks.
Standing at the back is the driver for the Decauville, sans appendages for the moment as I need to mount him in the cab to get his arm position right - he is designed to be nonchalantly leaning against the rear cab sheet with his hands hooked over the rail. I bought two of them giving me an option to change the pose to suit cab first running.
That lot should keep me quiet for a little while, in between stealing the odd run at home
Steve