An update *Shock*.. In the same year as the last one *Gasp*....

 Righto. Stuff's been going on and I have found the time to pen a few words. I'm going to kinda bullet point it all (rock on to GCSE English!) as there is a lot to put down and it will, hopefully, make more sense.

 The Burrell

 Long story short, I lost my way with the Burrell, not quite the dream project I thought it would be. Big thanks to my mate who has kindly taken it on to finish it for me, he has much credit to the work all ready done. If he hadn't agreed to take it on then it would probably have ended up on eBay.

 Not much more to say on that one except for check out the latest pic of it and check out Andy's blog where you will (most probably) find more details of what he is up to with the Burrell.

The Clayton

A bit more to report on the Clayton. (Even been doing stuff m'self!). I decided it was time to give it a full Hydrollic test, so up at a mates workshop we stripped her down and made a start. First job was cleaning it up so it all looked acceptable to the boiler inspector. The photo shows us going full on mad at giving the tubes a propper good clean.. (Baring in mind that I have swept it three times since I have had it, nearly once for each time it was run!).. And there is also a photo of the aftermath!

More New Toys.

Yes, another new model engineery/steam project to join the many! I saw a loco on Gumtree, not too far away for £60 advertised as a 31/2" tender loco.. So off we went to buy it.. as you do on a Sunday you see if your a nutter! Turns out it was a 21/2" gauge loco but for £60 I thought it was still worth it. The photo shows it as it arrived, (oh its an Austerity Ada by LBSC)

So as you would expect on return we plugged her into an air line to see what she would do. She ran, reasonably well for something that had been stood for a long time. Next it was boiler out and assessed and while that was happening I steam cleaned the chassis at work. 

 The chassis appears to be in good order just needs stripping, cleaning, checking and repainting as required. The tender needs finishing, and sadly the boiler will need replacing. But hey for £60 does it really matter?! I have most of the plans but sadly not the boiler plan to get one made, I have however, found them for sale at a reasonable £22.50 for the lot.. Not bad. Some more photos of the boiler..

The reason the boiler has failed is due to some very dry joints, a poorly made firebox, and lots of soft solder caulked round the seams. It will be an as and when project and probably pick up a bit of speed when the Claytons off the bench in the new year! 

 So I'll leave you with that, probably the biggest blog I have ever done! I hope to keep this updated now when I find time with the various projects so check back! 

 I'll Leave you with a photo of a collection of vintage O gauge Bowman locomotives I went to collect with some friends last week, rather impressive I thought! Anyways, Rock n Kebabs.

An even longer time, and then something...

 You may well have not read the blog for a while as... well.. I've not posted. Almost a year infact!! I might of, kinda, forgot my login's and stuff! As I was sat here, with a minging cold brewing I thought I'd do something!!

 Lots has happened in a year, progress has been steady on the Burrell, I have bought another 2" scale engine, my collection of steam toys has increased and is much more focused towards the older British engines rather than, any cheap tat I can get my hands on!

 While I'm not working, or playing engines I play Ukulele with the Southampton Ukulele Jam.. And that'd what I be doing in the attached photo...

 Anyway.. more updates with engine related shizzz this week!!

..a long time.. then this...

..Ok.. It has been a while since I posted...Maybe not quite as regular as I would have liked! Anyway.. since the last posting lots has happend and we are beginning to have bits that resemble parts of an engine.. Shock horror!

 Two weeks ago my mate Andy popped round to check on progress... Clearly he was disapointed as he took away the smokebox and front axel to assemble and sand blast for me... He returned today with this!......

So.. all rather jazzy!.. I plodded on and finished the two front wheels, well nearly.. Andy has taken them away for sandblasting.. but they looked a little bit something like this....

...Then we got all excited and put them together and got all a bit unessasary and it looked like this!!.. Chuffed to nuts I am.. Things are happening!

So all being well this time in a couple of weeks we shall have a nearly finished front end! My jobs to plod on with now are to finish the smokebox by building up the heat proof paint.. Paint and line front axel and finish the smokebox door rings... After that I am going to turn my hand to the rear wheels.. which are big mother f***ers!... So thats it for now.. Keep on keeping on peeps!

Ohh.. More photos and details on Andys blog and check out some of the stuff he gets upto!..He is a bit more into his blogging than I am!..

http://www.workshopmadness.blogspot.co.uk/

..In the beginning....

..Right, thought I would have a crack at this blogging lark! Basically going to try to catalouge the build process of my 2" Burrell Single I'm making from a STW kit.. The blog is a bit of a kick up the arse to keep me out the pub, in the workshop so I have something to post... I hope!

So having had the kits delivered since April, the Saturday just gone (27-10-12), I made a start and nearly finished one wheel.. before being "distracted" away from workshop jollity! Ive got one to tidy up and finish, and another to do the final assembly on. No photos as I didn't see the point untill they are done... Tyres will be stretched on at the same time as the rear wheels.. Bringing me seamlessly onto how much of the engine I actually own at the moment..

Complete front end,
Rear Wheels,
Hornplates,
..And Ive paid the deposit for my boiler..(The expensive bit!)

.. Not much but enough to keep me busy. Build time I hope to be around the 2 year mark, less if I can afford it!! So with not much more to say untill I finish atleast one wheel and get a photo, I'll sign off and leave you with a photo of the first engine I ever made, based loosley on "Simple Sam" by Stan Bray. Amazingly, it worked!!  So thats it really for now... Keep on keeping on!