Thread: Stephenson's Rocket

Hi All,

Had to dismantle the loco so that I could work on the cladding of the boiler.

I used Tassie Oak as my cladding timbers.

I cut the timber 3mm thick on my saw and then 10.4mm wide. This gave me the 48 timbers that go around the circumference of the boiler. I then put a 45 degree chamfer on the longitudinal section of each board to give a better join.

On the original locomotive nothing actually joins onto the timber - all components are screwed into or welded on the metal boiler. That is why I have the timber cutouts so all my flanges, valves, fittings etc. are secured to the boiler.

I used contact adhesive on the PVC boiler and then on the backs of each timber to secure the timbers to the boiler.

Will now leave it for 24 hours to ensure it has cured and then use needle files and sandpaper to remove any contact adhesive in the chamfered grooves.

Regards

Keith

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Great job on the cladding Keith takes the boiler from a plastic tube to becoming a living train

That's really going to add to the WOW factor big time!!!

The clading, not only effective as insulation just adds that bit of character to Rocket.


I think those two valves are what would today be refered to as test cocks to try and determin the level of water in the boiler. Not really a practicable place to put them unless the engine is stationary.

Hi All,

Finished filing and sanding any contact adhesive that was at the joins of the cladding boards. Then I gave the boiler a couple of coats of primer.
I did a bit more work on the firebox at the joint with the boiler. It is now a much better fit.

I am quite happy how the Rocket is coming along.

Can now get stuck into the Rocket a bit more - lost Preliminary Final at bowls yesterday

Regards

Keith

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Just beautiful, will be thrilled when we get to see it's true colors!!!

Hi all,

Hope you are all having a top Easter.

I have been working on the smokebox smokestack transition piece. I have used a 65mm 90 degree PVC bend as my basic connection. I modified the bottom end and made a frame piece to hold it together. I filled the "void" with bodyfiller and after it cured I used a file and various grades of sandpaper to get it to the form and shape I wanted. I have bolted the transition piece to the front cover of the boilIer. I have temporarily placed the stack in position.

I am now beginning to appreciate why Trevor used bodyfiller so much. It is a fantastic medium to get the forms and shapes you require - although it is messy. (thanks mate).

Hope everyone continues to have an enjoyable Easter.

Regards

Keith

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Now it is really starting to look like Rocket.
Unlike other "rockets" this one is not going to come back to earth from outer space.

Lost for words!

Amazing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You certainly took lessons from the body filler mystro looking good

Originally Posted by Keith_1

I used contact adhesive on the PVC boiler and then on the backs of each timber to secure the timbers to the boiler.

Keith,
Can I ask did you rough up the surface of the PVC first before cladding, to allow the contact adhesive something to grip to? or just applied directly? I never have had much success marrying the 2 together before, jus wondering how you achieved this stunning result?

thanks

Richard

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your comments.

Just a quick sand of the PVC pipe with 80 grit paper.

Then applied the contact adhesive to both the pipe and the timber and let it form a skin before joining both together.

Regards

Keith

Thanks, In your photo, it doesn't look like you'd roughed the surface so I had to ask.

cheers Richard, can't wait to see the painted finished product.