1 1/2" traction engine

[ace]

Hi
I would like to build a 1 1/2" traction engine, I have a myford ML7 lathe (complete with accessories) and a small milling machine. my engineering skills are reasonable and I wondered if someone could give me some ideas as to which model would be good as a beginner's model. I need to know about obtaining gears etc as I don't have any gear cutting equipment. Could anyone suggest a supplier for plans, parts etc.
I have looked at buying part built ones off ebay but wondered where to get the parts to finish one off.

Cheers
ACE

[baggo]

The most common traction engine in 1½" scale is probably Royal Chester, the Allchin by Bill Hughes. Castings and plans are available from Reeves or Brunell models. Ready cut gears etc are also available. Reeves do class Royal Chester as a beginners engine but having started one many years ago I am not so sure! The larger sizes i.e. 2" and upwards seem a lot more common and probably less fiddly. The limiting factor is being able to turn the rear wheel rims although you could farm those out if you decided to go bigger. The Allchin rims can just be turned on the ML7.

John

[spurley]

Hi Ace

The 1" Minnie is a popular choice for beginners, parts are available frequently on ebaY and most of the suppliers; Reeves (if you're loaded), Blackgates, GLR etc provide castings, boiler kits and gears. The book by L C Mason is very comprehensive fairly easily available and is aimed at someone who has not built before.

I note you are talking about 1 1/2" scale so this may be too small for your 'want' but, as a beginner, you might want to start small and work up? The rear wheels would be the largest component and would fit your machine.

Cheers

Brian

[spurley]

Hi Ace

Just noticed that there is a Minnie book on ebaY, Item number: 140121011006, no connection by the way!

You might want to have a look and see what you think?

Cheers

Brian

[ace]

Hi chaps, thanks for the tips. I will probably buy a book first and then decide. I have looked at Blackgates 1 1/2" models but thought I would seek advice first. I know its going to be expensive - but I need something more challenging than redesigning and customizing mamod engines. I will look at the ebay book and bid on it if its useful. Again thanks chaps.

[alanstepney]

Minnie, being freelance, is less complicated that the Allchin, although the latter is closer to prototype.

The disadvantage of Minnie is that it will only barely haul one person and then only on a decent surface.

Minnie times two, making a 2" scale model, is a better bet as it will haul people ( 1 or 2 depending upon the surface) and is not as complicated as the true to scale models.

Moving up to 2" opens the field enormously. Some 2" engines are little bigger than the Allchin, depending upon the size of the original.

I suggest looking at examples of all of them, at rallies etc, and then decide what suits your needs.

[ace]

Hi ... thanks for that info, I normally visit the Harrogate show but was unable to this year, thats where I was going to look at some that have been or are nearly finished and get some info that way. Plus its being able to buy books and stuff there first. Having joined this great forum I feel confident that when stuck I know help and advice won't be far away thanks Chaps....

[peterhill]

Why not build the minnie in 2in scale, you can buy the castings from Blackgates engineering, just use the drawings for the 1in and double the dimensions to get to 2in. The boiler will be 5in od, back wheels 12in dia length36 inches hight 22.5in.

peter

PS i am building minnie in 2in scale

[jhaines]

I too have recently finished a 2" minnie, great engine and will pull a fair bit, The wheels are the biggest thing to turn but I believe you could use the Plastow 2" fowler rims which can almost be used as cast. Prior to building the minnie I looked long and hard at the 2" Durham and North Yorshire, a very simple engine to build and far less complcated than the Allchin. As it happens I am now building a 3" DNY.

[rodwilson]

I have been considering the 2" Burrell Gold Medal Tractor, as a retirement project, largely as there are very detailed instructions in back issues of "Engineering in Miniture". Do you think I would find the Durham and North Yorkshire tractor easier? This will be my first serious ME model. I have 3.5" lathe. milling machine, drill press and shaper.

[mackintosh]

Hello rodwilson yes the Durham & North Yorkshire is the easier option. But is it the one you prefer, don't go for the DNY if it's just because its easy.

[durhambuilder]

The DNY is certainly a simpler engine to build, the prototype was very early so itself a little crude, The Gold medal Tractor was produced towards the end of full size TE production and was fairly sophisticated. The DNY was serialised in ME around 1979. At the end of the day enthusiasm is probably more important than skills, Its no good building an easy engine if your hearts not in it. The best advice I had was not to build anything too complicated to start with if your dream is a 4-6-0 loco build something simple first.................like the tender! Similarly with the TE look at the plans and do the easy bits first, by the time the harder bits come around you'll be amazed at what skills you have picked up.