When I made a modified Bagars I took the Midwest boiler and made a new
shroud sheet from hobby shop brass sheet. I put twice as many air holes as the
original, and raised the pressure "can" about another 1/2 inch or so. Also
soldered in a ring of "heat gatherers" on the bottom of the boiler can. They
were
stubs of #10 copper wire about 3/4 inch long with most of the wire hanging
down into the fire. I made a burner of three 1/4 inch tubes about 1/2 inch long
soldered (silver solder) onto a tin can metal disk. The tubes were arranged
in a triangle and 1/8 inch fuel line fed them in a Y pattern.
Instead of a Midwest single acting engine I made a double acting oscillator
of 1/4 inch bore and about the same stroke from scrap brass I had around the
shop.
The only problem I had was that I could not find the fine chain and
sprockets and the sprocket I had made me use a large one on the wheel axle and
on O
gauge tin plate (Lionel 027 track) the chain hangs between two of the three
rails so the little guy can not go through a switch or crossing.
I made this engine for a friend so it is no longer in my possession, but
looking through my brass to make an O gauge engine with direct drive to the
wheels, more like a regular locomotive without chain drive. I can knock off
double acting oscillator cylinders now pretty quick as long as my scrap box
holds
up.
(maybe I should go in business and buy some brass and make cylinders and
port plates for small locos that others could adopt to their own locomotive
designs. Any interest? Drop me a line.)
John W. Meacham
High desert of California
LBSC Virginia in 3.5 gauge
