Building a Clayton 2" Scale Steam Wagon

designed by Robin Dyer

built by Tony Simons

Cab Fittings

Attention was now diverted to making the steering mechanism. The thread on the column moves the lifting block up and down the column housing and two drop links pull/push on the relay bracket. It is important that the drop links are the same length, so I made a jig to ensure alignment when I silver soldered them together. I found the steering impossible needing something like 20 turns lock to lock. I decided to modify the thread and considered cutting a 2 start thread. I found on eBay  could by lengths of 4 start thread with nut very cheaply, they are used on 3D printers. So I purchased a length and modified the column to accept it. It much improved the situation!

Steering wheel was next, a simple construction, I rolled a piece of 3/16" diameter to make the rim and then gut the spokes out of some plate. Brazed together and fitted it looks fine.

The reverser was next and follows locomotive practice, except I couldn't work out why there were no notches on the reverse side and then it occurred to me unlike a loco Steam Wagons don't go far in reverse!

The cab floor was cut from 16g steel sheet using a jigsaw and I fitted the front draw bar which was machined from solid.