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Author Topic: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER  (Read 20594 times)

patternmaker

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BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« on: March 19, 2012, 09:11:15 pm »

Stuart V twin oscillator based on the old Cheddar Pintail engine 7/16” bore and stroke, very powerful for Its size,  I am building mine from scratch and a 5” x  3” dia cross tube horizontal boiler.

Pattern made in mahogany used for casting the Standard in Gunmetal.
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Bernhard

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2012, 09:42:26 pm »

hi Mick....super,...look to be a nice castning.... :-))

Regards
Bernhard
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mogogear

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2012, 03:24:08 am »

Nice --well look at all of us on our 1st post!!! {-)

Good all was saved!! Following this !
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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2012, 08:16:58 am »

Excellent work! :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2012, 02:36:16 pm »

Now completed, I will post pictures of the build if anyone is interested.

Mick
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steamboatmodel

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2012, 12:50:09 am »

Yes we are interested.
Gerald.
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2012, 09:38:57 am »

Yes we are interested.
Gerald.

OK so here we go,
Part 1
The standard was cast in gunmetal by a foundry that owed me favours from my patternmaking days.
These pictures might help for those who are maching the standard & crankshaft, the crankshaft bore was centered from the boss on the casting each side, bored undersize then reamed to size, I then made a mandrel which allows the standard to be fitted in a 3 jaw chuck or milling vice which ensures that all the faces are machined
perfectly square with the crankshaft.
The crankshaft was machined from one piece of steel rather than fitting a separate pin, much easier and more
accurate.
 
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2012, 12:34:41 pm »

Part 2
The port drilling measurements are critical, a good centre punch  is essential I use a 3/32 drill first to make sure they are correct before drilling to 5/32”. The reversing valve is machined from gunmetal.
The cylinders were machined from 25mm dia brass, top & bottom cylinder covers and cross heads from phosphor bronze, piston rods stainless steel.

Assembled engine running on 15psi air http://youtu.be/HIDA0EUCISg
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steamboatmodel

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2012, 12:32:27 am »

Thank you that is great.
Regards,
Gerald.
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2012, 10:14:47 am »

Cheers Gerald.

Part 3

The boiler is quite easy to build, the barrel can be 16g 1.5mm thick, I used 12g 2mm, the end plates are formed from 2.5mm, annealed with a 3/16” flange formed on a hardwood block .5mm oversize to the inside dia of the barrel which allows machining of the flange to fit.

The burner tube is 28mm copper with end fit plumbers elbow and end fit caps  whit 7- 3/16” cross tubes arranged in A spiral at !/2” centres. Make
The the 28mm copper tube longer than required as the end caps will be cut Off after soldering and hydraulic test to 50psi.
The boiler stays & bushes are phosphor bronze.

Mick
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2012, 03:43:19 pm »

Finished boiler, condenser, gas tank & completed plant.

Thanks for all the interest shown?
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gondolier88

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2012, 04:07:30 pm »

A very tidy little plant there Mick, the main casting was very good quality- could I ask who the foundry was? I like your turned funnel cap, a nice little detail.

So, what boat is it going in..............?!?

Greg
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2012, 05:56:49 pm »

Greg,
I cannot name the foundry for privacy reasons The foundry owed me quite a few favours when I retired from my patternmaking business in 1999

The plant is going in a Krick Alexandria which I am currently rebuilding purchased over 3 years ago from a MBM member described as Museum quality, its that Museum with no windows or lights, I was going to give it a Vikings funeral but decided to rebuild it as the kits cost over £200.00. When finished I will it sell to recoup my costs.

Normally the Alexandria has a vertical boiler but I think it will look much Better and be more stable with a horizontal boiler.

Mick
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gondolier88

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2012, 10:52:02 pm »

I look forward to seeing it...
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steamboatmodel

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2012, 12:01:50 am »

Thanks Mick, It looks great.

Greg the castings are still listed at Stuart Models at Price: £73.50 (exc VAT)
http://www.stuartmodels.com/inprod_det.cfm/section/casting/mod_id/89
Regards,
Gerald.
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Circlip

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #15 on: May 09, 2012, 09:21:23 am »

Sadly Gerald, with respect to the quality of Stuart castings, "Fings ain't what they used to be"

  Regards   Ian.
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gondolier88

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #16 on: May 09, 2012, 05:59:18 pm »

Hi Gerald,

Thanks- I was actually more interested in jobbing founderies that make a good job of small non-ferrous castings.
I have to concur with Ian on the state of ST castings- I've had to do allsorts to the bedplate of my D10 just to make it machineable!

Greg
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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #17 on: May 11, 2012, 01:34:25 am »

When did the quallity of the Stuart castings start to go south?
I have a set of D10 casting to do, but I am not to sure how old they are is there any way to tell?
Regards,
Gerald.
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gondolier88

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #18 on: May 11, 2012, 07:29:03 am »

I bought the castings around 2 years ago- I understand there could always be batch problems, but having been given a much older ST cylinder casting, the difference in quality is astounding.

Greg
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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #19 on: May 11, 2012, 11:24:14 am »

Alignment of the pattern "Halves" seem to have been a problem at times and also the sizes of the castings, not allowing much waste material for machining. This would appear to have happened after the Engine operation was sold on from Stuarts. There were tales of horror of someone at Stuarts gleefully burning wooden patterns before the sale.  >>:-(

  Regards  Ian.
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ooyah/2

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2012, 11:43:47 am »

Alignment of the pattern "Halves" seem to have been a problem at times and also the sizes of the castings, not allowing much waste material for machining. This would appear to have happened after the Engine operation was sold on from Stuarts. There were tales of horror of someone at Stuarts gleefully burning wooden patterns before the sale.  >>:-(

  Regards  Ian.

Ian,
What year was that ?
George.
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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #21 on: May 11, 2012, 01:34:32 pm »

Grey cells and all zimmers George but was just before Stuarts became Chedder and Braye (Guernsey). I think the Viking funeral was reported on one of the M/E forums. I remember Braye Road were going to redraw all the engines on CAD to update them before they started re - selling the kits as the new operation. Belive castings are going to be made back on mainland now?

   Regards   Ian.

 Sorry for the hi-jack Mick, your work, as ever  :-))
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #22 on: May 11, 2012, 03:53:36 pm »

All castings produced in 2 halves, the pattern is doweled to ensure correct alignment in the foundry core boxes providing the core boxes are aligned properly, not easy with small castings not much room for error.
The secret of a good casting for small items is the mould mix, Fine Green Sand mixed with a fast curing adhesive gives a very good finish.

Generally I have found  Stuart castings good, once the crust has been removed with a 1/32” first cut with sharp lathe tool about 300 rpm and No Lubricant then resharpen to finish.
My only criticism is that Stuart's should allow more material on their Castings for machining, Pattermakers allow for contraction on patterns.
Most problems come with machining valve chest covers being only 3/16” thick, and the crust can be quite thick.
If you have a problem with a particular casting Stuarts will replace free of charge.
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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #23 on: May 12, 2012, 10:03:57 am »

When did the quallity of the Stuart castings start to go south?
I have a set of D10 casting to do, but I am not to sure how old they are is there any way to tell?
Regards,
Gerald.

Gerald,
Don't be concerned about the age of your castings or in machining them, if you do as Mick has posted you will be O.K.

Over the years Stuart in there old capacity and in the new one on the channel island they must have sold thousands of 10v & D10 castings and of all the postings that have been made on various forums I can only find 3- cases where people are unhappy with machining them but this could be due to their inexperience in machining and the proper grinding and setting of tools and doing things that are not supposed to be done according to the design and the drawings.

I personally have had no problems with these castings and have lost count of the number of the 10 series and steam pumps that I have made without any casting problems.
 At present I am working on a Launch engine set of castings which are of unknown age and so far no problems.
Do you have the book  BUILDING A VERTICAL STEAM ENGINE  which has a very good explanation on how to build the 10V , I can recommend it.

George.
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patternmaker

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Re: BUILDING A STUART V TWIN OSCILLATOR & BOILER
« Reply #24 on: May 25, 2012, 04:37:54 pm »

Completely rebuilt hull the plant is going in.
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