Before I could start to plan my workshop layout there was a few bits of fabrication needed, Some of the workshop tools I bought were without bases so after some careful thought and looking at my SE1 I came up with a solution.
The holes in the SE1's base are nigh on identical to that of Meccano so I started to trawl ebay for old Meccano bases, I turned up 2x #53 bases (3.5"x2.5") for £2.60 posted to act as bases for my tools. Having got them home I offered the green mamod hammer up to it and it sat perfectly central and all the holes lined up so that was dutifully bolted down,
My Mamod Press although it is brand new didn't come with a base so the decision to use the Meccano #53 plate seemed to be the answer, However at first the press wouldn't fit because the two feet on the press were bigger than the holes in the plate. I centred the press on the plate and marked the holes then gently drove a drill through the plate at low revs so as not to distort it. After a little filing to take the burs off the holes the press fitted in nicely I decided to drill the two opposing holes so I could orientate the press either way.
Some repainting is needed of the plates to make them look as close to original mamod bases as possible, 90 degree brackets will be attached to the Meccano to enable the secure bolting to my main base of choice.
Pictures to follow.
The latest undertaking in my projects section is the repairing of a 60's SR1\A, it has suffered some very poor 'Heath Robinson' work and as such this is a repair as a restoration would be almost impossible,
I commenced the stripdown as soon as I recieved the roller, However this proved to be more difficult than it ever should have been due to the afore mentioned bodges.
The firebox had been braized shut rather than rivetted like it should be so i broke out the dremel to gently remove the brass solder, this was simple in comparison to freeing the boiler from the firebox. As most will know the firebox and boiler are held together with copper rivets but not in this case more bloody brass solder which had to be drilled out.
When eventually the drill had done enough to free the boiler it was discovered that we had made a hole in the back of the boiler about 5mm round so as such this will have to be resoldered before the rebuild can begin. The level plug on the boiler has at some stage fallen into the boiler so the previous owner has braised a 13mm nut to the back of the boiler it's functional but ugly.
The roller is now all stripped down with the exception of the wheels still in the firebox.
The backplate of the firebox is going to need some hefty reconstruction to make it look acceptable due the the drilling and the irregular hole forged for the level plug, I propose to use chemical metal to rebuild the structure and then re drill as necessary
The boiler is also going to see some tidying on the rear to enable me to rivet it to the backplate as was originally the case. A piece of copper plate will be cut to shape and soldered to the rear of the boiler encasing that foul 13mm nut and will have a nice neat hole drilled for the level plug bolt and two fresh rivet holes at 3mm each. This should hide all the poor work from before and allow me to mount the boiler in the original manner.
A member of mamodforums.co.uk has machined me a new insert and boiler end cap to enable me to repair the boiler properly and neatly. I have just today bought an early Mamod SE2 that is in a state of disrepair initially this will provide the early whistle i need for my roller resto. but i expect that one day it will be restored to running order.
Pictures to follow:
