Accucraft Ragleth - beginner's guides

C

Chris Bird

Steam,gardening, photography
Hi all
Last week I made a trip to PPS and came home with a new Accucraft Ragleth. I
only really needed the power unit to fit the new Swift Sixteen body (www.swiftsixteen.com), but couldn't wait until August when they are due.

Anyway, there was this new loco sitting on the kitchen table, so I thought I
would make some videos - primarily aimed at the newcomer to live steam.

"Accucraft Ragleth Part 1 - the Locomotive", examines the loco and explains the
various parts. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V29_KlRoRk

"Accucraft ragleth Part 2 - steaming up", deals with steaming up, clearing a
blocked jet (unplanned!) and the first run outside. It was superb and you can
see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WNJ-9XL94

"Accucraft ragleth Part 3 - fitting a Summerlands Chuffer " deals with.....well
you guessed it :), but there is film on the railway too! It is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWgpMiQeq0s

These will all be on my website under "Other Stuff" and Part 3 will be on the
News Page.

I will be adding more videos as I make the modifications.

Cheers
Chris
www.summerlands-chuffer.co.uk
 
Very informative! Many of the mysteries (and trepidations) of live steam operation explained and nicely dealt with in a visual format. In fact, a live steamer is now on my "most wanted" list!

Thanks for taking so much time and trouble for all us non-steamies!
 
Fantastic work Chris :thumbup:

Hope your free loco from Accucraft arrives soon :bigsmile::rolf:
 
Great videos Chris, nicely done.
I was wandering if PPS steam models has a proper shop or is it mail order? Going past on way to relatives soon.
 
Alan has a showroom as part of his house, which you can visit. Just check the opening times on his web site. http://www.pps-steam-models.co.uk/ He has lots of goodies! Steve
 
Thanks Chris for taking the time to produce such informative videos. Showed it to my father yesterday and he immediately wanted to step into live steam.

regards
Klaus
 
Thank you very much for posting those videos Chris. They are very informative and everyone who is getting a live steamer for the first time should watch them. I've had my Edrig for a couple of years and had never thought of letting a bit of gas out before lighting the fire - I did that over the weekend and it lit first time without the customary fireball out of the smoke box. So thank you very much for that tip!
 
Nice vids, I;ve only brief skimmed here at work, does it cover oiling around? Something I'd like to be sure I'm doing right!
 
pmorgan_cym said:
Nice vids, I;ve only brief skimmed here at work, does it cover oiling around? Something I'd like to be sure I'm doing right!
Click to expand...
Thanks to all for the positive comments guys - and yes Part 2 covers the oiling round before steaming up. I use thin motor oil which does the job nicely. Apologies that Part 2 is so long (I normally reckon 5 mins is the absolute max) but it really does take a while - especially with a blocked jet to clear!
Cheers
Chris
 
Excelent videos Chris, may I make a small observation, I noticed that when you fitted your chuff pipe you used pliers to screw it home, would not a screw slot aligned with the scratch that you have on top make it easier to screw it in? as I say very instructive videos.
Shaun
 
TLR said:
Excelent videos Chris, may I make a small observation, I noticed that when you fitted your chuff pipe you used pliers to screw it home, would not a screw slot aligned with the scratch that you have on top make it easier to screw it in? as I say very instructive videos.
Shaun
Click to expand...
Thanks Shaun - and that is a good question, because we do put a screwriver slot in some Chuffers where access is limited. However, this is normally where there is a more robust thread than the 3mm on many Accucraft locos. My logic in using pliers is that when it becomes tight, they slip - whereas a screwdriver might tempt the fitter to do it too tight and break the thread. Of course adding a slot it is also another job for Nigel (the Master Chuffermaker), it needs a thicker cap and reduces the resonator volume a tad (though probably not enough to notice).

Many hundreds of these SCAC2's have been fitted and it really is just a couple of minutes - so I don't really want to add another cost to the process when people seem to manage just fine. Having said all that, if someone ordered a Chuffer direct from Nigel and asked for a slot, I am sure he would oblige .......:)

Cheers
Chris
 
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