Hello from Folkestone

[davewoo]

Hello, I've been lurking around looking at some of the very good information and build logs on the forum for some time, and have finally got around to joining, I'm newly redundant/ retired so at last hopefully will have some time to get on with my projects. I moved house a couple of years ago and for various reasons have only recently got my workshop into some sort of organised state, I no longer have to climb over things to get to the machines.

I've been a model engineer for a long time having built a Simplex which needs an overhaul due to excessive wear, most of a 5" Britannia (sold tenderless as it was too heavy to move around once my son left home) , have a 2 1/2" Crab waiting for me to build the boiler ( I built the tender first this time!) . Before we moved I bought all the castings and laser cutting for Don Young's Aspinall in 5" gauge, having  seen and driven one many years ago it has long been a favourite of mine. After the trauma of the Britannia boiler I ordered one for the Aspinall from western Steam and have just been informed it's due at the end of this month,  I suppose it's cheating a bit to buy the boiler ,and I will build the crab one , but at the time of ordering was still traumatised and couldn't even look at a stick of silver solder .  

At the moment I have to finish a Kennet grinder that has been part finished for so long as to cause pangs of guilt every time I see it and then it's off to building loco's again, I do tend to get sidetracked by making tools at times, a great fan of  the late Geo Thomas.

If I get brave and manage to learn how to upload pictures I may even start some sort of a build log, if only to show how things shouldn't be done! I look forward to taking part.

All The Best

Dave

[millman]

Welcome to the forum Dave, not cheating to buy a boiler, if you ever sell the loco a commercial boiler would make it more desirable. The 2 1/2 gauge crab is a lovely loco, are you a member of the 2 1/2 gauge society?

[barlowworks]

Hi Dave and welcome. There are a few Britannia build threads on here so no shortage of help and inspiration and of course we do enjoy a good build thread on here so go for it.

Mike

[davewoo]

Thank you Millman, Yes I am a member I was membership secretary for a couple of years until I'm afraid work got in the way. the crab stopped because I needed to remake the driving wheels, the castings I used have much too heavy rims and the spoke shape is completely wrong. I did finish the machining on some cylinder castings for someone in exchange for them providing the software to get wheel patters 3D printed by shapeways. The cylinders went back finished three years ago- I'm still waiting for the software!
I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get down to some patternmaking,which will be a first for me, are you an association member?

Thanks Mike, I'm afraid my Brit was sold a few years ago as a cables, tenderless but steaming engine. I believe it has been through a couple of hands and is now renamed Iron Duke and is in the west country.But I have followed the Britannia threads with interest.

Dave

[coniston]

Welcome Dave, nice to see someone making the smaller gauges, and there are a couple of Aspinal builders here as well. Good luck and look forward to seeing progress on your models.

Chris D

[millman]

Dave yes I am a member, living up in North Hampshire, nearest track to me for 2 1/2 is the superb Andover club site, unfortunately not a member yet , was going to join a couple of years ago but the big C got in the way and now I am getting out and about again along comes this wretched Covid 19. I understand that Reading also have a 2 1/2 gauge track, when we are allowed out again I must investigate. I am building a Toby, chassis nearly done.

[JonL]

Folkestone or North Hampshire, I'm confused! Either way, it's great to hear from you.

[uuu]

You're confused because they look alike - could be twins.

Wilf