A4: Acquisition and early work Early in 2019 I completed a project that had been fifteen years in the making (photo 29).
Although an admirer of Sir Nigel Gresley’s Pacifics, I had never seriously entertained the notion of having one of my own in 5 inch gauge but in 2004 I saw an assembled Winson A4 kit, finished as No 4498, Sir Nigel Gresley advertised for sale on Mike Palmer’s Station Road Steam website. I spent many hours studying the photographs and, although the shortcomings of the streamlined casing were all too apparent (photo 30), I thought the basics looked sound enough (photo 31) and having persuaded myself, and my wife, that this was a rare opportunity that might not come along again, I visited Mike Palmer to have a closer look and took the decision to buy it.
Although there appear to be many Internet forums and websites on the subject, I think that remarkably little has been written in the model engineering press about kit built locomotives. I can think of only three print offerings, all in M.E., one by Doug Hewson, one by Brian Baker and most recently by John Whale. These builders appear not to have encountered problems quite on the scale that I experienced, so the notes that follow may not be representative of the normal experience. I believe that quality was much improved when Modelworks took over after the demise of Winson but I was astonished to discover that even they did not build prototypes to prove the design before putting their kits on the market.
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Esta historia es de la edición 4630 de Model Engineer.
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WORKSHOP TIP - Boring Eccentrics
I am making a 1 inch Minnie traction engine and have arrived at the machining of the eccentric straps.
Wenford A 7¼ Inch Gauge 2-4-0 Beattie Well Tank
The stage has now been reached where the well tank body can be completed but beforehand there are some internal details to add.
Vertical Boiler Locomotives
Vertical Boiler Locomotives
Union Nuts, and How to Make Them
These are quite different from those commercially available and are made from copper
SHOWCASE Paul's Engine
One day my son Paul came to me and asked if we could make something in my workshop, so that he could learn engineering processes.
CLUB NEWS
My secret’s out!
Building Dancer - The Boiler
Dancer needed a boiler that would be somewhat larger than the size permitted under the Model Engineering exemptions in the New Zealand regulations.
An Inverted ‘Ross Yoke' Watercooled Stirling Engine
As with all my hot air engines they are cheap to build, mostly from scrap
A Draught Proposal
A Draught Proposal
A Boiler Feed Pump
A Boiler Feed Pump