[modeleng] Re: Juliet's
- From: "Phill Smith" <steam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:57:06 +0800
G'Day Rich,
The cost of having ANY casting done over here in West Oz is very high. But
then, some of the prices that I have seen for Reeves castings makes our
local ones look cheap..... <LAUGH> I think I'll have to shop around for the
best deals...
I'll set up a search on ebay tonight and see what's out there in the way of
Juliet bits and pieces. I didn't think that there would be much out there,
for some reason.
I am friendly with a couple of the local laser cutting firms, and doing the
DXF's is no problem what-so-ever for me. There's didn't appear to be much
that needs laser cutting anyway. Just the frames. I have a large sheet of
1.2mm brass sheet for the tanks and cab, so those materials are covered, but
the laser cutters hate trying to cut brass as the laser has enourmous
hassels with the reflectity. I could have them CNC punched out..... But the
whole point is to teach my son some hand and basic machining skills. The
more he makes himself, the more pride the item will give him.
I think I will buy a set of drawings, as the original drawings in the ME are
all over the place and don't show the pivot holes for Stephenson's Valve
gear etc. I hate doing things adhoc'. I like to do the frames once, not keep
coming back to them time and again. I find it very frustrating..... The
problem with having studied engineering later (after your apprenticeship) is
that you tend to become a pedantic bugger who is only satisfied with
perfection. <LAUGH> I am slowly relearning "moderation".....
I once had a full set of Juliet drawings, castings, and assembled chassy. I
gave them away, thinking that I would never want to finish it as I'm into
7.25" gauge...... I made them before starting my apprenticeship, and then
with access to decent machinery, got stuck into other projects. Lately I
have been KICKING myself for giving them away.....
From those who have built one in the past, if there is ANYTHING you would do
differently (in hind sight) would you please itemise it for me. I will
already put bushes into the axleboxes, and angle mounts for the buffers.
There was another change I was going to make, but I can't remember what it
is now.... I think a longitudal stretcher would be advantagious. From memory
they are a little flimsy in that area...
Cheers,
Phill.
----- Original Message -----
From: "R.L. Roebuck" <rlr20@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:06 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Juliet's
> Hi there Phill,
>
> A few thoughts:-
>
> * Reeves are much more expensive than GLR and Blackgates (or they were
> last time I tried them), though Reeves tend to get bits out in a week, GLR
> and Reeves have a circa 4 week turnaround (ie best to plan ahead and use
> the cheaper supplier).
>
> * There is a lot of stuff up for sale on ebay at the moment, likely people
> trying to make ends meet. There are Juliet bits up for sale every week -
> might be worth looking into grabbing some of these bits.
>
> * Model Engineers Laser sells some very cheap laser cut bits. The cost of
> his cut bits (which have no scrap metal on them) are about the same as
> buying the plain metal and paying the postage on the unwanted bits you'll
> but off from the ME suppliers - worth thinking about.
>
> * Quite a few bits could be chewed out from solid, using laser,
> cnc or water jet, especially if you need two sets (ie you only need to the
> cad drawings once).
>
> Is that of any help?
>
> Yours,
>
> Rich.
>
>
> On Sun, 17 May 2009, Phill Smith wrote:
>
>> G'Day Alan,
>>
>> That's why I spent many hours steering Samuel (my oldest boy of 13) away
>> from those big engines that took his initial fancy. With the Juliet (with
>> a
>> few minor mod's like buffers bolted on....etc) he could have it finished
>> within 12 months quite easily. He only has to spend 2 nights a week in
>> the
>> workshop with me, and it will very quickly get built. But youth being
>> youth,
>> he will probably get distracted fairly easily, so I reckon on at least a
>> year.
>>
>> I'll have a look at the prices of the castings, first chance I get. For
>> some
>> reason, I think they will prove to be expensive..... Pattern making may
>> become the only financially viable solution, as there will be 2 sets
>> needed.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Phill.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Alan Stepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 2:09 PM
>> Subject: [modeleng] Re: test, for Eric Walker
>>
>>
>>> Yes they are.
>>> A superb engine and easy to build.
>>>
>>> Reeves, Blackgates and GLR all do the castings.
>>> Alan
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Phill Smith" <steam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 2:34 AM
>>> Subject: [modeleng] Re: test, for Eric Walker
>>>
>>>
>>> Yep!!!! Sort off......
>>>
>>> I have a question though......
>>>
>>> Does anyone know if wheel and cylinder castings are available for
>>> Juliet's?
>>>
>>> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>>>
>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to,
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>>
>>
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