Author Topic: Fowler 4f  (Read 14896 times)

Offline DavidA

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Fowler 4f
« on: December 28, 2010, 10:05:54 AM »
I got around to thinking that if I present some of my unfinished ( includes hardly started) projects then I may actually be shamed into removing finger and make some progress.
So,  for a start.   here is the 0 - 6 - 0 Fowler 4f that I started about two year ago and then put to one side to do other more urgent things.

As you can see,  the the dreaded surface corossion is starting to appear. but it is only on the surface. I haven't cleaned it off for the picture as there are still a couple if hole position on there that I don't want to lose. Both sides of the frame are held together by a couple of little rivets at the moment.

The six blocks are to be the bearing horn blocks.  They are a nice thumb press fit in the slots,  and will be cut and machined out when I get around to riveting them in place. I may rough saw them first,  not decided about that.

They were cut from an old truck brake disc.  Virtually every thing I make is from material that I salvaged from the works scrap bins. Some bits,  like  the 1/8" plate for the frames, I have to buy.  But I try to keep it to a minimum.

These pictures are so good as the lighting is rather weak.  I'll do better with the next lot.

Dave.

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2010, 10:14:07 AM »
Ron (Ozzie46),

Just been looking at you project again.

Guess I will use you as my 'builder to keep up with'.  But I'm in no hurry.  No need to turn it into a race. Also my build order is a bit different to yours.
Should be fun.

Dave

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2011, 07:31:06 AM »
Just a couple of pictures .

The first is what it should look like.  I used to see lots of these locos passing through our town.  even got to go on the footplate when they stopped for water.  Course,  that was when trainspotting wasn't a dirty word.  Or even two words.

The next is a picture of some ones model.  Nice,  but it looks out of proportion.  Maybe it's the wheels,  don't know,  but I hope to avoid this.

Dave.


« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 07:55:24 AM by DavidA »

Offline ozzie46

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2011, 03:54:16 PM »



  Don't know how I missed this but I'm here now.

  Don't know about keeping up me. We might end up in a swamp some where.  :D :D :D :D
 
  I was making the crank pins for the wheels today and I'll be darned if I didn't mess 2 up in a row. Measured numerous times and still cut em to short.   :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

  Ron

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2011, 07:20:25 AM »
Ron,

I know how you feel.  There are places on my shed wall where the blood is still wet.
I'm off to do some more on my frame horn blocks. 

I intend to get all the axle bearing stuff done using just straight axles until I am sure that everything is ok,  Then I'll attempt the cranked axle.
I notice from the pictures of the locos that the real thing only has balance weights in the driven axle. Don Young's drawings have weights on the non-driven axles at 180 degrees from the cranked one. Strange.

Dave.

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2011, 11:55:07 AM »
Bit more progress on the axle horns.
They started out as a truck brake disk.

Photo shows various stages. The bit of slotted steel plate is the temporary guage used in milling the rebates.

They still have to be milled after fitting to frames.

Dave.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2011, 11:57:22 AM by DavidA »

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2011, 10:42:45 AM »
No,  I haven't abandoned the project.  I've been back at work for the last few week. After eight hours a day of standing in front of the milling machine I don't really fancy going out into the shed.  But work has dried up for a while, so soon be back to it.

Dave :wave:

Offline shoey51

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2011, 03:09:20 AM »
I for one am looking forward to further progress :clap:

Offline NickG

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2011, 03:29:09 PM »
Dave,

that will make a really nice loco  :thumbup: - I've not seen one like it in steam, pretty rare. I missed this post some how.

Nick
Location: County Durham (North East England)

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2011, 03:36:40 AM »
Interesting project always nice to see others loco work.

They realy are a long term project you just have to keep going back to it and doing little bits then one day you wake up and ther's no more little bits to do.

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2011, 04:03:58 PM »
So,  Now to try my new X1L mill for the very first time.  Remember I bought it in July last year.
I need to machine rebates on the other side of all those horns or the rivet heads will stick out too far.
Off with the drill chuck and on with the Clarkson type milling cutter holder. Both 2MT, but although the machine and drill are imperial,  the Milling cutter holder turns out to be metric.  And I don't have a metric draw bar that will fit. Darn it..

Now where did I put that metric allthread ??

Dave. :doh:

Offline shoey51

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2011, 04:11:09 PM »
Hi David I feel your pain I bought a fly cutter for my X2 mill and found it was imperial and my x2 was metric :bang:
I solved it by going to a local bolt place and got a long bolt  :thumbup:

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2013, 06:36:02 AM »
Managed to make some progress.
Next job is to produce the axle boxes.  After some consideration I am going to make them from Dural. I was going to use Aluminium Bronze.  But an having problems machining this material on my equipment.  In March I am going back to work for a month ,  maybe they will have some gunmetal or brass in the scrap bin.

Here is the frame .



Dave.

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2013, 10:12:19 AM »
No I didn't.

Don't know what has happened here.  I'll get another copy.

Dave.


Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2013, 10:28:23 AM »
Dave/ id.

Thanks for showing a proper picture! I can see what yer doin now!  :clap:

Not a loco man, meself. But I like to watch a project, progress......   :D

That's a fine looking frame! Good luck, for further progress.....  :thumbup:

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline DavidA

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #15 on: October 19, 2016, 08:16:17 AM »
Well, three and a half years (more) and not much progress.

But I did finally get around to attacking the wheel castings that have been sitting around gathering dust.

I made up a fixture plate to make it easier to hold the wheels in the same position.  It needs a slight modification before I give the wheels a final 'to size' skim.

Here a few pictures to show the results.  Four down, two to go.

You will notice the 'Poor Man's'  DRO bolted to the carriage.  Should have done that years ago. It makes life so much easier.

Dave.


Ignore pic file names. Don't know how that happened.



« Last Edit: October 19, 2016, 09:13:07 AM by DavidA »

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #16 on: October 20, 2016, 05:36:16 PM »
Wow! As you say, it's been a while.

Any progress, is good progress Dave.

We'll be watching.......  :thumbup:

David.
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline krv3000

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Re: Fowler 4f
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2016, 03:41:51 PM »
coming a long nicely