2/1/11 - Last Minute Items

The Mikado is about ready to set on the rails. All that's left is a few odds and ends and the list seems to keep growing as I get closer and closer to completion. So here's a summary of the most recent construction activities...

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Image 202 -- Boiler Welded to Angled Supports

The smokebox is now bolted to the saddle, and the boiler is welded to the angled supports. This signals a final chapter in the locomotive assembly.

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Image 203 -- Piping Connected between Frame and Superstructure

The steam piping between the frame and the boiler have been connected. I don't plan on separating these again for a very long time.

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Image 204 -- New Reverse Rod connected

The relocation of the Reverse Shaft also required that I discard the original reverse rod and replace it with a new one. But the principle remains unchanged.

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Image 205 -- Reverse Lever Detent Tensioning

The reverse lever "reverser" or "Johnson Bar" is held in position by detents in the lever stand. But the bar won't stay in the detent without some force applied. In an actual locomotive, a hand operated clamp is used to secure the bar. But here, I'm using this tension lever to do the same.

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Image 206 -- Air Chuck for the Ersatz Boiler

This used to be a lot harder to get to. It was up under the boiler. I moved it to this location to make connection a lot easier. A similar action is planned for the air tender.

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Image 207 -- Grab Irons or "J" Bars added to Cab

These are vertical grabs used to pull oneself aboard the locomotive. These appear in the erecting card as a "J" shaped bar.

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Image 208 -- Cab Roof Prop Rod

There it is in the back of the photo. This little prop rod engages automatically and keeps the roof from crashing down. It doesn't hurt anything. But it's just annoying when it does.

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Image 209 -- Walkway Anti-Slips

No sense in letting someone slip off of those glass smoothe flat walkways. The pieces of edging also act to stiffen the walk ways.

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Image 210 -- Flag Holders

Gotta have these. You can't fly flags if you don't have any place to put them. These are just simple pieces of brass pipe. Painted black, they will be less of an eyesore.

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Image 211 -- Whistle Mounting

Time to mount that whistle. You can't see it, but inside the whistle manifold is a 1/8" NPT air muffler that converts high pressure into high volume - quietly. Again, once painted, the whistle will look better.