Build Diary entries for November 2020

Here are the diary entries for this month. You can use the forward and backward links to see the next or previous months. Most photos taken before 2018 are small size. From 2018 onwards, most photos you see below will have a link to a full size image by clicking on the photo.

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Back in The Assembly Shop
02/11/2020
	The frames are now back in the assembly shop and have been turned the correct way up. They are sitting alongside the frames for the B17 Sandringham project. We've set them up so that they sit at a representative height as if the wheels were on. At the moment we're working on the buffer beam components to establish the right order of assembly - the buffer beam assembly will use hot rivets. We should be starting to erect the frame extensions soon - the rear of the frames is nearest the camera. If you look closely at the photo you will see temporary packing plates between the firebox support (in red primer) and the frames. These will be removed prior to fitting the extensions.
Hind Beam Gussets Complete
09/11/2020
	The hind beam gssets are now complete and are in the inspection bay at CTL Seal. The last 2 machining jobs were first to machine the boss for the pony truck bolster - seen nearest the camera. This is the base of the gusset. The second job was to spot face 5 mounting holes on each gusset. These were very close to the plates and we wanted to make sure that the bolt heads sat squarely. After inspection, these will move to the Assembly shop
Frame Inspection
16/11/2020
	With the frames back in the assembly shop, we've been spending sometime on inspection. Before we start assembling any more components, we want to make sure that we have a solid foundation to build on. Carl, the CTL Seal inspector, has been using his Faro Arm to take a set of measurements around the key areas of the frames. These will be passed to our team so we can confirm all is OK
Buffer Beam Progress
23/11/2020
	This is the large triangular gusset that sits behind the buffer beam and outside of the frames. Inside the frames, there are 2 more gussets but they are smaller. The gusset started off as 8 separate parts. The top and bottom flanges will be riveted to the frames and the buffer beam. The triangular gusset itself came in 2 halves and has been welded together (as per the British Railways drawing); then it was tack welded to the flange plates. Now it has to be finish welded along the whole of the flange length. After that, the gusset will be off to the machine shop for a light skim and to ensure that the flanges are exactly at right angles. On the BR drawings, the footstep support was a piece of angle iron, cut to shape. We thought it would be simpler to use 2 pieces of plate and weld them together. The footsteps and stays are in stock.