Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Where users can chronicle their builds. Start one thread and continue to add on to it.

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Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Alright, I'll do a good washout maybe with a little soap when I do the initial hydro then. Carryover shouldn't be too bad to deal with given the height of the dome, but I have seen sight glasses cloud up from leftover crap in new boilers.
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Well I just got my flue material. $210 for 40ft of K copper. Only needed 32ft but the local supplier only sells it in 20ft sticks.
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

All of the couplings are welded to the barrel and the beginning of the turret dry pipe is threaded and hard soldered into place. Now to grind the steam dome in preparation for welding, and also need to bevel the holes for the safety valve and whistle couplings in the lid. Then this thing will be ready to start mating together.
IMG_0251.JPG
IMG_0252.JPG
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Got the throttle line in today along with finishing the turret dry pipe. All copper and silver soldered in place.
On top of that but not pictured is the steam dome has been ground to match the inner radius of the barrel. Just need to prep the barrel and weld the dome in.
IMG_0254.jpg
IMG_0253.jpg
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Got the dome welded in place today along with the couplings welded into the lid! Just need to fit the gasket I got and install the throttle linkage.
IMG_0255.JPG
Also started an interesting approach to the fire tube. Took a bunch of 1/4"x3/4" steel segments and welded them together to make the elliptical fire tube. We'll see how it works out, if it doesn't I'll buy a piece of 4" DOM tubing and squash it.
IMG_0256.JPG
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
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Builder01
Posts: 726
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 5:26 am
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Builder01 »

With the steam dome welded to the boiler, how do you service the parts inside the dome? (I'm just used to the dome being bolted to a bushing that is attached to the boiler which allows the dome to be fully removed.)

David
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Builder01 wrote:With the steam dome welded to the boiler, how do you service the parts inside the dome? (I'm just used to the dome being bolted to a bushing that is attached to the boiler which allows the dome to be fully removed.)

David
The throttle valve and levers are on a flange that will come out through the dome. Thats the only part inside that would really need any maintenance, the turret dry pipe is just basic copper pipe.
I actually just got the throttle modified for push-pull operation and mounted to it's flange tonight. Still some work to do for it, mainly the reduction levers that also go in the boiler.
IMG_0257.JPG
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
User avatar
Builder01
Posts: 726
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 5:26 am
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Builder01 »

Okay, sounds good!

David
jlakes85
Posts: 228
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:07 am

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by jlakes85 »

Looking good. Where are you getting all of your pipe caps/couplings from?
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

jlakes85 wrote:Looking good. Where are you getting all of your pipe caps/couplings from?
Thanks John! They're all from McMaster Carr
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Got the throttle linkage in the boiler. Still need to do the throttle rod, but that shouldn't take long.
IMG_0259.JPG
Also got the flue holes reamed and the sheets beveled. Test fit everything and found I need to grind a little more on a couple places. I plan on mating the firebox to the barrel on Thursday though! Then have to figure out how I'm going to move the thing, its heavy!
IMG_0258.JPG
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

Theyre mated! Also gave the boiler its first washout after prepping the front flue sheet area for welding, so it got its first lightbulb in the firebox to help dry it back out. We'll see how well a "65W" ( really 49W) bulb does, may need some other source of heat to keep her dry.
IMG_0260.jpg
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
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