Aster Schools rebuild

[sdelaroque]

Hello! As I said in my presentation I recently bought an Aster Schools class in non working condition


I started dismantling it to understand why it didn't run


It appeared the left crosshead was not straight: the sliding part and the nut were misaligned. We can see on the photo below the sliding part "going up":


While waiting for a solution I continued the dismantling to make sure there's no other issue. I found the left side was also binding because there was too much graphited yarn in the piston groove. I reasswmbled the piston without anything to fill the groove but I read some folks add a cotton wire with copper grease
About graphited yarn, there was nothing in any gland, so I wrapped teflon tape to replace the graphited yarn where the manual says we have to add it


I then assembled the two cylinders and air tested them by blowing and manually acting on the valves


I then mounted the cylinders and links, trying to make the left cylinder work by not screwing the left slider but this didn't make it


What do you think about the cylinder groove? Do I have to make it vapor-tight with a greased cotton wire, or get graphited yarn?

Thanks for reading

 

[ol_hogger]

Hi,

Maybe ran into something similar with Else:

Post in thread 'More Regner Else and no water' More Regner Else and no water

I very cautiously applied the lathe, my reasoning being that piston and rod might be misaligned or off-center or askew, therefore binding regardless of what the groove is filled with.

 

[sdelaroque]

Thanks! I swapped the right and left crossheads for testing and it did not bind so I'm pretty confident the binding comes from the left crosshead
A new left crosshead should arrive in the mail next week, fingers crossed

 

[sdelaroque]

I received a new left crosshead (thank you David from Vancouver) and no more binding!
I will now start reassembling it

 

[sdelaroque]

I made some progress! Here's a short video of an air test at 0.2~0.3 bar (3~4psi) with a manual air pump

 

[sdelaroque]

While I'm waiting to receive insulation sheet, roller tester and suction fan I made a steam test with one of my Wilesco boiler

 

[Paul M]

Looking great! Very ingenious.

 

[sdelaroque]

Today I mounted side plates after having washed them! Still waiting for insulation sheet


I really like this green

 

[sdelaroque]

I assembled the side plates upside down, thank you Alberto who spotted this mistake!
I fixed that asap

 

[sdelaroque]

Hello!
I received real insulation sheet
It looks a lot better, isn't it?


I then installed the boiler assembly on the chassis



and closed the smokebox


I check on air: it still runs smoothly
The blower and the exhaust both blow through the chimney...
Steam test is not too far!

 

[sdelaroque]

And here it is!

 

[Jasper]

The enthousiasm of the younger generation is the best thing!

 

[sdelaroque]

Today I finished assembling the cab. When I'll get a M6 brass thin nut I will open the smokebox to add it and adjust the blower which is too high
Then I will assemble the smoke deflectors
I will soon receive the 3-link couplers I ordered from ExclusiveModels.eu and will try to make window frames that were missing and I didn't notice until I read the assembly instructions

We can see at the end of the video the right valve gland unscrews itself, I have to threadlock it

 

[playmofire]

Today I finished assembling the cab. When I'll get a M6 brass thin nut I will open the smokebox to add it and adjust the blower which is too high
Then I will assemble the smoke deflectors
I will soon receive the 3-link couplers I ordered from ExclusiveModels.eu and will try to make window frames that were missing and I didn't notice until I read the assembly instructions

We can see at the end of the video the right valve gland unscrews itself, I have to threadlock it

Going great guns!

 

[Paul M]

Fantastic!

 

[HobbitFertang]

What a superb model that is!

 

[sdelaroque]

Yes it is nice looking and seems to run wellm thank you
I will attend an event this weekend, hopfully I will be able to run it on a track! I'll keep you posted

Next step will be adding some restriction 0 maunsell coaches (I will try building a single one to test my ability before ordering more)
Has anyone any experience on Bowaters kits?
I plan to order a complete coach kit including boggies and 3-link couplers
Thanks!

 

[Northsider]

I built one of the Bowaters narrow gauge kits during the C-19 lockdown. It looks 'right', and was pretty straightforward to make. My biggest gripe was that the beading (which was was cut from MDF) looked a bit clumsy, but of course I couldn't go out and buy anything better. I think Fezwig built one a little later with thinner beading, and it looks way more accurate than mine. I've left mine as it is, as it now represents a period in my modelling history!

 

[sdelaroque]

Thanks for sharing!
Please pardon my ignorance but I don't know what the beading is
Do you have any photos of yours?

 

[viaEstrecha]

Marvellous. I admit live steam is too frightening for me, so I admire your bravery too