Charawacky

As promised Napier at Harrogate: http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Napier.jpg Tom

Very interesting, are these full scale? Tom

The wood spokes and fellows have been fitted to the wheel hubs and rims: Progress is slow! Here is a picture of originals for comparison - we are looking at the trailer here!

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

Here is a link to the A10 No one has posted a picture of the Napier at Harrogate yet, so here is one from the Sharp Sale before the body was painted

I took part in the Trans Pennine Run yesterday. Nice to see 3 trucks from the WW1 era at the event. The Ex-Sharp 1915 Napier truck now fitted with a open top bus body attended at Harrogate, it ran very well. There was also a 1919 Albion A10 in civilian colours first time out which completed the run. I will post links to images when I see them put up on the net. Tom

I attended the Naming Ceremony for the 2ft gauge locomotive 'Joffre' the oldest known surviving member of a class of 70 locomotives built by the Stoke-on-Trent firm Kerr Stuart in 1915. They were ordered by the French Military for the first World War, hauling supplies and troops on the many narrow gauge railways that criss crossed the battle fields of Northern France. The Joffre Class took their name from Marshall Joseph Joffre, the French Chief of General Staff. Link http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Naming+of+Locomotive+Joffre The WW1 Foden was also in attendance, a lovely day and the rain was absent! Tom

This is absolutely first class:

Hi Ian You can get a new inverted tooth timing chain from RM Fowler: http://www.rmfowler.co.uk/?page_id=112 Inverted tooth, 1/2" pitch, 1 5/8" wide, 62 pitches including connector, 1-1/2" WBG Ref: SSG406.5 I would think it would be the same as I ordered from him last year so just mention my name and he will advise the delivery and price, He may want you to send the original chain for confirmation of type. You may be able to remove the chain without taking the engine out, however: The timing gears are not hardened so will be indented with the tooth marks and the new chain will appear not to fit, you will have to carefully file the teeth down to the level of the indents, then the chain will fit. The new chain was a little wide so had to be fitted the right way round so connecting link misses the timing case casting, you may want to investigate using a slightly narrower chain, with the timing case cover off check the sprocket width and advise Rodney Fowler. The engine crankcase and block with all other parts removed will come out vertically but easier if removed from below, if removed vertically the back block will rub the bulkhead. The rad, clutch and engine gearbox drive coupling need to be removed, in all not a big job with a hoist and will take 2 to 4 hours max. Half the job is knowing what to do! I am very happy the timing chain and engine, it runs very quietly now and a good job. Tom

Hi Ian, Looks like the block has suffered from frost at some time? There appears to be a weld around the top lip on both bi blocks. Nice original type priming cups with new brass screw in valve caps. Don't quite understand the high loop in the oil feed pipe from sump to pump, this is possibly to keep the pump primed as some engines have a habit of draining oil back into the engine and have to be hand primed during starting. When the engine has started, do not let it roar round at great speed, give it a little time to warm up. Examine the oil guage at once. If no oil pressure is indicated run engine slowly, and open left hand side of bonnet. A small cock will found just in front of the oil filler on the crankcase. Open the little cap on top and fill with oil, then smartly open and close the cock, Be sure to close it. This is called priming the oil pump. Oil pressure should at once be indicated on the gauge. The steering box is bolted to the engine, typical 20/25, my 25/30 has the same but all other 25/30 s have a chassis mounted unit, mine must have been change over model when X type engine was brought out. Also steel water connection plates are bolted to the top of the blocks, typical 20/25, i had to make new casting for my 20/25, the 25/30's are made in bronze. Your water block connection rail has been cut extra rubber joint around corner of front block, this was made in one piece, I have a spare from Mr Bendall,s estate which may have come off your engine, as your tender was purchased by the Museum from him and he had previously purchased it from the Sword Collection! I am a little confused by the fan belt drive, have you a special two V driven fan pulley or is it driven incorrectly on the fan bearing boss surface? I suggest you have a look at it. The driver pulleys often have 2 groves for commonality with the staff cars which had a second belt for the dynamo drive. If the driver pulley is worn you can take it off and reverse it so the alternate unworn V can be used for the fan drive The nuts you can see along the crankcase side are for internal oil baffles around the connecting rods to prevent to much oil being applied to the bores, I have successfully dispensed with these during my rebuild and run without oil control rings, if oil becomes a problem later as the engine wears I will fit modern oil control rings to the pistons. I see the carburettor is warmed by the engine cooling system as I have reinstated with the staff car and works well even with modern fuels. No more anorak comments until I see more images. I hope this is useful Tom

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016z8r8/Passchendaele/

Ian Nice 4 jet Smiths Carb, looking for one of those myself. Is that an autovac type fuel system? What is the other brass container on the bulkhead - exhaust flame trap/fuel tank pressure regulator? Tom

Hello Ian The 20 hp Crossley started as theromsyphon then with added chain driven water pump and finally the 25/30 with direct shaft drive pump. Quite right about water in the oil, this has happened on my 20/25 I now have a fabricated gutter to divert leaks and prevent this happening. Regards tom

Hello Ian I would concur with Steve's' analysis. This arrangement differs markedly from the one on my Tender which has a metal slider arrangement. Regards Tom

Hi Thanks for the link, we been away for a few days at the Le Mans Classic. Thought about the FWD? that used to be parked on the course! I look forward to the images. Regards Tom

Drove to the event with my son and the old WW1 Crossley on Sunday, managed to get onto and off the lower field without assistance, but did not attempt the impossible, driving up to the arena, so most people probably missed us. Enjoyed the displays especially the superb demonstration of the field gun in action. The WW1 lads really enjoyed Saturday night by the looks of one tent, which had suffered the effects of drink! I hope Stuart will try again for better weather next year. Tom

I have been watching WW1 TV documentaries and have thought it would be useful to have a thread to post those which are currently available through media centres like BBC iplayer or ITV Player. So here goes, just seen this which relates the 'Fray Bentos' tank story amongst other interesting things. Tom http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vyrzh/The_First_World_War_from_Above/

Funny you should say that, there was a very pleasant German pilot over to take part with the Dawn Patrol! He was explaining the scaling problems with making wing warping work on his Eindecker. Is wing warping the scourge of model Eindeckers or was that the Fokker Scourge? :-D Tom

Hello Runflat, Good information especially as in the end I decided to adopt the Warland system for the wheels I have been in contact with Andrew Warland who is a descendant of the business and lives in Australia. He was able to send a later patent for steel constructed wheel which helped me to decipher the details of the wood wheel system which is now partly made. Things have stalled a bit at the wheelwrights because he is finishing other peoples projects. I am getting closer with the detail drawings whilst learning the 3D solidworks drawing package 'on the job'. My aim is to get together all the materials I need and as many bought parts as possible before next winter when I can start putting things together. Life moves on so fast, 2014 will be here sooner than I anticipated! Tom

Another option I will be sending a porous aluminium sump to these people next winter http://www.impregnation.co.uk/catalog/sectors/automotive.htm not expensive Tom

I had a leaking three inch long external frost crack in a Crossley water jacket and my only concern was the crack extending and circling round until a cast piece could drop out, which looked likely. My preferred choice was to have it metal stitched to mechanically stop it from becoming a problem. The process was very reasonable at about fifty pounds and to my mind relatively risk free. I was advised to use a radiator sealant in addition to the metal stitching, the repair has worked well and has removed a nagging worry! Metal stitching is a very old process and is currently being used regularly on the arms of dough mixing machines for which it is the most effective repair available. Down the road a large mill steam engines cast base which had cracked has also been repaired in this way. I hope this helps, but if do not have a leak and it stays this way when hot you should be OK. Tom

Here is the Tender setting off on its 250 mile 10 hour journey to Stow Maries. Low average speed due to 4 gallon dash fuel tank needing replenishing on a regular basis! Totally reliable but it was very cold sat all day in a 50 mph wind! M62,A1M,A1,A14,M11,A120,A130,A12. Stopped at Longstone Tyres, Bawtry to drop in a wheel, have a coffee and warm up. At Stow, the tender is shown with members of the Great War Society. On Saturday night the Tender took 12 members of the Dawn Patrol to the Prince of Wales (pub) for an excellent meal. Here is an image showing a few of the Dawn Patrol Planes

We left on Stow Maries on Sunday as rain was forecast for Monday and I did not fancy 10 hours of getting very wet in the Tender or Staff Car which leaks quite a lot through the window and roof gaps! but not on the same scale as the Tender! We called in at Shuttleworth for an hour or so on the way home, we can have a line up next time we are down you way. I was kindly shown round the 1903 24hp De Dietrich in the workshop which was very interesting. Pity we did not meet on the day Tom

Stow Maries Royal Flying Corps Centenary We trailered the 1914 Staff Car and drove the 1918 Tender 250 miles down the Motorway from Preston on the Friday. On Sunday we returned home driving the Staff Car and Trailered the Tender. The Tender was happy at about 45mph and the Staff Car 50 mph neither had any issues. Surprisingly we overtook a couple of trucks both on the ways! The Dawn Patrol were great, a pity no full size WW1 aircraft were able to attend due to poor flying weather. http://www.dawnpatroluk.co.uk/site_selection_page.htm Here are a couple of pictures Credit www.lighthouseimaging.co.uk

Looks great, a vehicle to be proud of, just needs running in, need a hand? Tom:)