Bristol Society of Model and Experimental Engineers The Bristol Model Engineer Merry Christmas from BSMEE The Newsletter No 115 Winter 2016. Incorporating “Our Cog”, the BSMEE Technical Journal www.bristolmodelengineers.co.uk Editorial From the Richard Lunn Chair Norman Rogers In the Begbrook report on the recent club As we approach the end of the year my auction I say how I bought a box of assorted thoughts turn to 2017, the AGM and a new grease nipples hoping that some would fit my year in the life of Bristol SMEE. Within this Morris Minor. In the box of bits were also edition of The Bristol Model Engineer you several different sized nozzles to fit on the will find a communication from Roger, our end of the grease gun. I discovered that the membership secretary, concerning 2017 sub- reason I couldn’t get any grease into the trunnions on the kingpins scriptions and this prompts me to say a few words around the time- was because the nozzle on my grease gun did not match the grease liness of paying subscriptions. nipples on the car. I fitted a nozzle from the box of bits and bingo! Trunnions all greased up. It just goes to show what treasures can The (current) handbook states that ‘A person shall cease to be a be found at our club auctions. Member by non-payment of the Subscription Fee within three I have now fitted the new tubes to my 4” Foster traction engine but months from the date when the same shall be due provided that the have been told by my tester that it now needs to be treated as a new Committee if they deem fit may readmit such person to member- boiler and hence needs a hydraulic test to twice working pressure. I ship upon payment of the current arrears of subscription’. usually have trouble with the glands on the water gauge glasses leaking when having a hydraulic test although they don’t leak un- Subscription fees are due at the date of the AGM so that is when der steam. I am always worried about over tightening the glands the three month period commences. Membership lapses if a sub- and breaking the glass. For this reason I have replaced the glass scription fee is not paid before the end of the three month period. with steel rods for the test so the glands can be tightened more. Something to note here is that only paid-up members are covered I decided to change the fuseable plug at the same time and found it by our insurances and that is clearly a major consideration particu- was absolutely solid in the top of the firebox. I made a square drive larly in relation to the railway. Any individual continuing to par- which fitted snugly on the plug, applied pressure with a long sock- ticipate in Society activities when their membership has lapsed et bar and promptly snapped the square drive off the end of the would be placing both the Society and themselves in a perilous plug. The only answer then was to drill out the remains. Working situation and that is something that cannot be allowed to happen. upside down with the engine on car ramps was not easy, also the So please pay your subs promptly, that will avoid an embarrassing firebox is too small to fit a drill into. I looked around for a means or compromising situation arising. If for any reason you have to of drilling the plug and found an old chuck from a Black and delay payment then please speak with Roger in the first instance. Decker drill which is fitted via a ½” x 20 tpi thread. I cut a thread It appears to have been a good year for new members with quite a on a length of bar and screwed the chuck onto it. I could then put few joiners in recent weeks. Looking at the information Roger the bar in the electric drill and use the extension chuck to drill out provides there are quite a few interested in or involved with steam the plug. I managed to remove the plug without damaging the and others who are engaged in aero modelling, instrument making thread in the firebox but it was not an easy job. The moral of the or experimental work. Doing some quick mental arithmetic the tale is to regularly remove the plug to both make sure it is servicea- average age in the club has been reduced by a considerable amount ble and to ensure it can be easily removed if needed. by the recent influx of new members! A warm welcome to you all. I took the boiler up to 150 psi, which is 1 ½ times working pres- However you celebrate, have a great Christmas. Norman sure, without any leaks using the engine’s hand pump and then borrowed the tester’s pump and gauge and took it up to 200 psi. An email from Richard Lunn asking for presenters for the Steam Dave Evans from the MSRVS came to test the boiler with John Road Vehicle evening at Begbrook made me realise how little I Harris as the witness. had done on my 2” Durham & North Yorks TE since the last such The boiler passed the hydraulic test with no problem. As I had a an evening. On that occasion I was able to show the gear blanks I new blanking plug welded in the front tube plate I also needed to had been machining so I thought Richard’s request was the ideal show a copy of the qualification certificate of the boiler maker who prompt for me to be brave and cut some teeth. welded the plug along with the material specification of the new An arbour was needed to mount the gear wheels on; morse taper at tubes. one end to fit the dividing head, the other turned to a diameter of ⅝ The first time I steamed the engine it primed really badly because inch with a thread on the end for a clamping nut. A simple piece of of the oil coming off the new tubes. Having changed the water the work and I found a ⅝ x 26 die in the club workshop which I second steaming had no such problems. booked out to myself. I screw-cut the thread intending to use the Hopefully by the time you are reading this newsletter the engine die just for finishing but to my horror instead of finishing the will have passed a new steam test and will be back on the road. thread it promptly stripped all the thread I had patiently screw-cut. On close examination one side of the die is left handed the other I have been asked by David Giles if there would be any interest in right. Look carefully and you can see this from the pictures below. having a steam road vehicle day at Ashton, probably combined Now that must have taken some making! The actual thread form with a club day. Please let David or me know if you would like to was pretty rough too. support this. My problem was easily solved by reducing the threaded section of the arbour to ½ inch diameter and used a die from my own collec- All that remains is to thank all those who have sent me articles for tion. As for the offending die …… well I returned it to its home in the newsletter including the Begbrook scribes who I have press the workshop but of course it’s not much good without a matching ganged into service and to wish you all compliments of the season. set of taps. I can feel a chairman’s challenge coming on! ——————————————————————— I didn’t get so far as cutting teeth for the Begbrook evening; that A Christmas message from Bernard North. has started since. That might be another story in due course! See page 8 A big thankyou to everyone who helped with the Santa Special. Our ‘new’ Santa Roger Perrin did a grand job ably assisted by his gang of elves. I would like to thank all those who helped with the set-up on the Saturday, the running on the actual day, the ladies in the tea room, the engine drivers and, of course, the clearing up after. Plus thanks to our retired Santa, George Ganley, pictured on the back cover taking a well earned rest. Another event to be proud of from the BSMEE. 2 Railway Manager’s Secretary’s Thoughts David Giles Report Derek Todman Seemingly in the blink of an eye, my second running season as railway man- ager has come to an end. I like to be- lieve that I came into the role with my eyes open, but never the less it has been a challenge. On the whole, we had a very successful year, There have been three Committee Meetings since the last Newslet- with several of our long term projects progressing well. Of partic- ter and the main topics discussed are the Society Officers for elec- ular note are the refurbishment and re-equipping of the ground tion at the forthcoming AGM, the Awards to be presented and the level carriages, the ongoing re-laying and upgrading of the ground Handbook update. level track and the refurbishment of the two signal boxes. The Society Officers has been a significant issue for the Commit- tee as there are a number of posts that are lacking a volunteer to fill This means that we now have a complete set of ground level car- the position.