Locomotive frames and buffer beams are made od mild steel, with axle bushes of bronze. Steel axles are used and all driving wheels are force fit and pinned. Driving wheels are either spoked cast iron or disc pattern. Coupling rods, connecting rods and crank pins are made of steel and bronze.
Cylinders are double acting slide-valve type direct drive. They give ample power in relation to the adhesive weight of the locomotive. The bronze pistons are fitted with 'O' rings. The slide valves are made of bronze. Bronze stuffing glands are fitted to the stainless steel piston and valve rods. All cylinder covers and valve chests are fitted with gaskets and are screwed together.
The valve-gear is operated by slip-eccentric from the driving axle and is set by moving the locomotive in the required direction. Valve-gear components are constructed from steel and bronze.
Lubrication of the cylinders is by the displacement method - steam is condensed and oil is forced into the cylinders. The lubricator is housed either in the cab or at the front of the locomotive.
Boilers are of copper construction and fully brazed and silver soldered. The coal-fired boiler has additional side-stays, foundation ring and water space backhead. All boilers are fitted with a steam regulator to control the power and speed of steam to the cylinders. Internally-fired and coal-fired boilers are also fitted with a steam blower control and hand pump in side tank.
Superheaters are fitted to all locomotives, this economises the use of steam before reaching the cylinders.
The safety valve is usually of the 'pop' type at 75 psi.
Superstructure is constructed from a composition of brass, copper, aluminium and steel, screwed, rivetted and soldered together. Chimneys, domes and other details are turned from brass.
All reversing gears can be notched up and are suitable for radio control.
All loco regulators can be fitted with r/c.
Internally meths fired locos have hand and cross-head pumps, pressure gauge, water gauge and steam blower.
Coal fired locos have hand and cross-head pumps, pressure gauge, water gauge and steam blower.
Optional extras for gas-fired and pot-boilers include:
Minimum details on the locomotive generally include - smokebox hinges and darts. Boiler bands. Scale whistle. Handrails and footsteps. Lamp irons. Couplings and buffers. Side tank fillers. Narrow gauge locomotives have brass nameplates and works plates.
All locomotives are individually date-stamped and have Archangel works plates.
The proportions of boilers, fires and cylinders have been designed with the greatest of care, so that the models raise steam quickly, start easily and pull realistic loads over usefully long distances.
Internally fired models are miniatures of full size locomotive practice and can be kept in steam continuously.
Externally fired models for simple steam operation with minimum attention required.
Special commissions and one-offs undertaken - anyone for a Kitson-Meyer?
Repair service available and part-exchanges (involving only Archangel locos) always considered.
Last updated 26 April 2007
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