[modeleng] Re: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5, going on to Sweet Peas

Nigel,

If I can add a couple of comments on the Sweet Pea design.

1) The boiler mounting at the firebox end is a pig to make. It's a "Z" 
shaped piece of metal that wouldn't go right for me. An alternative is to 
make one from a wedge shaped piece of hardwood. It's probably hard to see 
how a wedge replaces a "Z", but the top and bottom faces of the "Z" are not 
parallel and these become the faces of the wedge. This idea was suggested to 
me by one of the guys from our club. I tried (and failed) several times with 
the original design.

2) The piston is mounted onto the piston rod with a thread. I don't like 
using a thread for alignment in such a critical area. To my way of thinking 
the thread should be for fastening, and the alignment should come from the 
fit of a tapered or parallel section of the rod in the piston.

Having said that, the Sweet Pea is a fine workhorse and great way for people 
to express their own individuality.

Cheers,

JohnP
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <NIGELBALL@xxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 8:15 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: [modeleng] Re: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5



Hi all
This is the advice that i was given and have been working on my sweetpea 
for
about 12 months, If you get the chance go to the sweetpea rally and talk to
the owners, they all love it, I've also noticed that no two are the same, if
you  like to follow drawings as drawn then its a good start, if you like to 
add
your  own ideas then with a sweetpea you can do it. Also as is narrow gauge
outline  its a bit like building a 7 1/2" scale model.
Regards
Nigel Ball
Leicester
P.S. does anybody know when and where the next rally is?.

In a message dated 26/09/2005 20:06:40 GMT Daylight Time,
davebeaman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Hi  Jem,

I would go for a 5" loco, not to big but big enough to pull. A  good first
design, ok it's not a mainline loco, is a Sweet Pea. Many  people have
started out with Sweet Peas and many still have them. The  castings are
readily available from Blackgates, as are the drawings and  advice. The 
Sweet
Pea can be lifted easily by 2 people but I wouldn't  advise trying to lift 
it
on your own. It's all outside motion etc except  an axle pump if you choose
to fit one. All is easy access for maintenance  and building, easy to fire,
easy to drive and I have had mine pulling 4  adults, 5 kids and the driver,
up a 1;90 bank, ok we didn't break any  speed records but we got there.
If you have the time, it is reckoned you  can build a Pea in 12 months, such
is the basic design and I have to  admit, I won't be getting rid of mine.
So there you go, all the advice from  around the world. Let us know how you
go, what your building  etc.

Dave.






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