Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I spent a majority of my Sunday restoring this firebox and boiler on this Doll 364/1 engine.

She was rusty and full of tarnish.  This was no easy feat!     

I started by disassembling everything very carefully and slowly.  From there, I removed the boiler straps and undid the steam line and water pump assembly from the engine. 

I found I couldn’t remove the boiler from the firebox because some idiot had soldered it to the firebox at some point in the past. This was a tedious job to remove without damaging this 100 year old boiler. Finally was able to loosen the soldering using some flux and a small torch.

Scrubbed away at the boiler for hours with various different items such as a simple sponge and scotchbrite and soap followed by towel rub downs. 100 plus years of grime under neath was not an easy task. I got most of it off but left some as it is underneath the boiler anyways.  Fully took apart the firebox and removed the firebox doorway and all other screws to prepare for high heat painting. Once this was done, I covered decals such as logos and draft doors with masking tape and used an exact-o hobby  knife to cut the tape to fit the decals properly.    Spray painted it with one coat, let dry, cured in my oven at 450° for 1 hour, then did another coat, and let dry in the oven at 450° again. 

Re-assembling the boiler wasn’t too bad, honestly the most difficult part was the boiler strap screws. Trying to hold the nut under such tight quarters while turning a screw on top that is so tiny is very difficult all while not trying to damage anything.

To polish the boiler I used some good metal polish and had to use gloves and a good gas mask as this stuff as Naptha in it and is very dangerous to breathe.

All in all it turned out FANTASTIC!    I have one slight leak at the water pump inlet, even though I secured it well and put a fresh gasket there. Will have to get to that later. It’s small enough that it just boils off once the boiler is super hot. 

Surely looks pretty on a wood base and a nice shiny brass boiler without rust on the firebox. 

Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts!



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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EevXGTr_i0 [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

  Great job, really a fine engine, Thanks!

Here’s a video of the final product:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ywa-RMz1k

Sorry, you wont want to hear this but I think you stripped all of the history and wonderfulness away from the boiler, firebox and the engine mount  

It wasn't a very sympathetic restoration, looking at the original photos I wouldn't have touched it.

I’d never be selling this engine or giving it away, I prefer it to look shiny and purdy.

It’s certainly a modification, but I like it!   From a collector stand point, you’re right.

  Nice resto - great engine.  Regarding the degree of restoration to be done,
you only have to please yourself.  Great runner, nice video.

  I have a question regarding the pump.  First, I get the impression that yours
works.  Mine will pump into the boiler but only when I am turning the engine by
hand - nothing when it is steamed up.  My pump did not have a check valve ball-
bearing on top nor spring, and I think that is the problem.  Do you have any
advice on this?  I added a video of it running.  I did get all the valves working.
Also, I think the pressure gauge belongs on the end of the boiler where the tiny
filler plug is.  Unfortunately, it is soldered into the location it now has.

https://youtu.be/zeGtUJvW-Aw

Congrats,
Wayne

Did some cool stuff with a new video editor:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRaprESp0fE


Enjoy!

Great job Travis!

Update 4:


Pressure guage installation… no leaks.   Was surprised to know the safety valve was set well past 30 psi.    If I close the steam line pressure will shoot way past 30 psi.  Adjusted the safety valve to pop off around 22 psi.     Even when it is open the boiler is making more pressure than can be released, thus these 100 year old doll boilers really produce a ton of steam, and fast!       

I turned the gas down a bit to see if it helps but not really!

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