www.mikes-models.com blog » Fowler A7 2″ scale traction engine build

I created ash with the ash pan for the Fowler today!

Mike Freeman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:22:22 +0000

The ash I am talking about came form the burning of the sacrificial board when silver soldering the top edge to the pan itself!

Today's ash pan session was spent by soldering up the four corners using the highest temperature silver solder I had. The reasoning being that I could use a lower melting point for the connection of the top edge to the
ash pan.

After the corners were done I decided to place the ash pan into the pickle solution whilst I chain drilled the copper sheet being used for the top edge. Once the drilling was completed the sheet of copper was
taken to the Proxxon bandsaw and the inside cut out.

The ash pan was then mated to the top edge and a scribe mark placed around the pan so it could be located again when soldering. The silver solder paste was then mixed and 'painted' onto both the edge of the ash pan and the top plate.

To hold the ashpan in place a couple of heavy steel blocks was placed on top and then lengths of silver solder cut and placed against the edge of the ashpan and into the flux.

The ash pan itself was then heated with the propane torch, bringing the ash pan to cherry red, where upon the solder rod melts itself and flows between the joint.

It is important that the flame does not impinge on the solder rod itself, melting it before the surrounding metal is ready. I started work on the left hand corner, moving the flame around to the otherside when the solder started to flow.

The ashpan unit was allowed to cool before placing it into the pickle solution. After cleaning up a little, the ash pan was then placed onto the up turned boiler and pleasingly the holes and pins were still aligned.

The next job will be to file up the inside edges of the ashpan top edge then make the fittings for the grate and the damper plate, not forgetting the holes to be drilled in the four pins for split pins to reside it. It is the split pins that hold the ash pan in place and these are pulled out if the fire needs to be dumped quickly, when in use.

A few words but a lot of work done..................

Annealing we shall go! Ash pan for the Fowler

Mike Freeman — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:57:46 +0000

Annealing the ash pan proved difficult and a little frustrating, Well that's not quite true, the annealing was the easy part. The forming of the copper however was a little more difficult. No again, that's not quite true it was &**^%$ difficult!

I started at the corners as the build manual suggested and the copper was easily formed after annealing but there was a lot of copper which didn't want to go anywhere, but outwards. In the end I had to remove the excess metal and will have to silver solder the joins. I am not really pleased with the results but there is much work left to do so perhaps I will reserve judgement. Anyway I here are a couple of photo's for your delectation.

Fire grate on top flange of the ashpan

Trial fitting of fire grate in the yet to be finished ash pan

All steam ahead now for the Fowler 2″ scale A7 traction engine

Mike Freeman — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:33:31 +0000

Well the Fowler will now be the center of my attention over the remaining weeks of the year since the Mills diesel engine is now finished. having reviewed the whole project recently, there are four 'short' little sub projects to be sorted first.

They are a new lever (not happy with my quality of the previous one, I think I can do better now); the dummy front plate for the front of the firebox part of the boiler; the steering offside front casting for the steering drum and wheel link bar and the fire door (under construction now). See photo below.

Following these four outstanding items then the Hornplates will be attached to boiler. This will allow her to stand on her own four wheels (one of the targets set for this year) and leave the cylinder being attached to the boiler, as my final target.

However I don't believe the cylinder attachment is viable because there is considerably work outstanding before the holes will be drilled in the boiler (a very very nervous time!!!!). So watch this space!

Fowler A7 Traction Engine – Progress report

Mike Freeman — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:19:27 +0000

Well since I can't do much to the Mills diesel engine (see other posts or visit www.mikes-models.com ) the Fowler project has been the focus of my attention. After a thorough review of the project I decided to attend to tasks 'skipped' over in the past. So my focus has been to make and attach the dummy manhole to the boiler and to make and fit the fire hole door (see picture below).

A full description of the work done can be found on my website www.mikes-models.com or a direct link here

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