4"

[andrewsleigh]

hi all

Are there any companys out there that do 4" traction engine's in stages apart from model works?

andy

[mutley]

Hi Andy, by Modelworks I guess you mean their sucessor. In short no, quite a few suppliers though have machining facilities and will make the parts you cant handle.

Andy

[andrewsleigh]

OK, thanks Andy.

is the model works sucessor's 4" any good?
i hear bad things about model works models.

afetr seeing some things at the rally, i think it might be nice to have somthing just to trundle around on.
2" traction engine is a bit small and slow for me, but if it was a roller i would think otherwise.

Must try out the clubs 3" some time

[jasonb]

Berrybrook usually have new 4" Fosters for sale that are not much more than the cost of all the Modelworks kits and you get it assembled, painted and running for that. They may well be able to supply part made as well. Would also make a nice change from all the Burrells you see about

www.berrybrooksteam.co.uk/for-sale/for-sale/

Jason

[andrewsleigh]

Thanks for that site Jason. Never seen it before.

At my age, and budget, i would rather get a kit/ one you buy bits for when ever. Being 16, i would never be able to get £17000.
But if i buy bits, then i can do it.

I have been looking around, and have narrowed a few things down.

1) MJ eng 2" burrel roller, i like rollers more than traction engines, but this seems to be abit on the small side. if it was the same size as the one below, then its perfect.
There was a roller at the gmes rally, which i think is very nice, and would be just right, but i don't know if its a large 2" or small 3", and what make it is



2) MJ Eng 3" Scale Fowler Class A7. This is nice and big, but not my fave style of traction engine, but it would do the job.

3) live steam models Marshall 3-inch Scale 'S' type Road Roller. nice and big, but, i dont like the round forecarriage. But its nice an big, and would be fine for pulling me around the estate.


An aveling and porter 8 ton roller would be the best, my favorite roller,
or a traction engine the same as this aveling and porter
www.bailey-steam.com/photosource/cj4160_dsf2k1.jpg

penny for people thoughts.

[jasonb]

Thats a 3" A&P in your pics, the owner posts on Traction Talk Forum. This link will take you to his engine which is on page 6 of a thread about rollers which you may find interesting.

www.tractiontalkforum.com/showthread.php?t=794&page=6

I'm building a 2" Fowler A7 at the moment which is about the biggest 2" excepting showmans & ploughing engines.

Jason

[andrewsleigh]

Jul 16, 2008 14:20:17 GMT jasonb said:

Thats a 3" A&P in your pics, the owner posts on Traction Talk Forum. This link will take you to his engine which is on page 6 of a thread about rollers which you may find interesting.

www.tractiontalkforum.com/showthread.php?t=794&page=6

I'm building a 2" Fowler A7 at the moment which is about the biggest 2" excepting showmans & ploughing engines.

Jason

Ah, thanks very much for that Jason. I shall have a look around at it.

I think i might try and do the live steam models marshall roller

[mutley]

There are a couple of 3" Marshall's in the club Andy. Have a chat next time I'm about.

Andy

[andrewsleigh]

are there any other people who do 3" roller's

[steamfittings]

Andrew,

I'm sure you will find the rumours you hear about the ModelWorks models are predominantly locomotive based and not on the traction engine side. The Burrell engine produced was very successfull and if you talk to the majority of owners who are rallying their engine they will be very positive indeed. It is sometimes all too easy to tarnish every product produced with the same brush.
I was employed by ModelWorks and am now joint owner of the new business so i am slightly biased. My partner, Steve Baldock has a vast knowledge of traction engines. He has not only built and sold 4" up to full size engines he has also scratch built , arguably one of the best scale traction engines ever produced, a 4" scale Foster Hornsby chain tractor which is totally unique.
As a new business we do also realise that not everyone can either afford the monthly kit price or be able to run to purchasing a complete engine in one go, that is why we now offer on our website the option to purchase each part as and when customers can afford them. It will take us quite a few months to list everything but we hope this not only introduces new customers to the hobby but it also offers model engineers the option of purchasing the parts they find the most difficult.
The advantage i see of either scratch building or a kit rather than purchasing a completed engine is that once you've done the work and completed it the sense of satisfaction is huge and then any minor problems that occur down the line you'll have a much better understanding on how to put it right.

Good Luck

Dean

[andrewsleigh]

Thanks for that Dean.
I shall keep my eye on model works, the new ideas sound good.
If you did a 3" roller, i would be straight in there

A

[dscott]

Several items in this message. Firstly well done Dean for securing Modelworks, and what a lovely way to introduce more people to model traction engines.
Secondly great to hear of being able to buy individual parts, hopefully for the locos as well in time.
And thirdly, although running on the road or rough track out here in rural Sichuan China, where I am on a long Holiday, we have single cylindered 1100 cc super tractor, you hear one almost a Km away, looks like a rotovator connected to an open cab, with a trailer or hopper usually fully loaded. 3 gears exposed belts and flywheel, and always painted blue.

Will post some photos if anyone interested. Well they do sort of steam allong the road and would be a very quick model built round a small Honda and some wheelbarrow wheels. While your Foster or Burrel single crank compound took shape.

David.

[andrewsleigh]

Jul 16, 2008 14:52:27 GMT mutley said:

There are a couple of 3" Marshall's in the club Andy. Have a chat next time I'm about.

Andy

Ok.

are they rollers or traction engines?

[andrewsleigh]

After talking to some people, i dont think it will be a roller, more likely to be a traction engine, in either 3"
Some issues that people mentioned were-
roller are slow
hader to handle on the road
they slip on grass

and looking at live steam models, i see that for about £500 more, i could buy the castings for a Foster 6NHP 4-inch scale Agricultural Engine.

so, some options now are-

model works 4" burrell

live steam models 4" foster agricultural engine

Mj Eng 3" fowler

[andrewsleigh]

Is there anyone who does 4" fowler parts. This would be better than a 4" foster, theres somthing about the fosters that doesnt seem right.


and thanks to a friend,i have now found a 4" tasker supplier, which is a possible, but would it be possible to sit on the back, i am not to keen on having a trailer, means mroe to take around and takes up more storage space.

[jasonb]

Bridport do 4" Fowlers in road and showmans versions, thats a lot of work for a first engine and they are seriously large beasts, have a look on Station Road Steams archives for pics of some finished ones.

www.bridporttractionengines.co.uk/Fowler.html

Jason

[andrewsleigh]

I have decided to go for the camden 4" tasker

[alanstepney]

Andrew, dont know where you are located, but if you are near enough, go to the Amberley (Chalk Pits) museum model weekend.
You will see several Taskers, often including Derek Kilburns original, and Derek is now the curator (?) there.
He is always willing to talk to anyone about the engine.

There has recently been talk of some minor modifications to the boiler.
Should you be buying yours from Bell Boilers, they will be aware of any changes, if they have been implemented.
If not, let me know and I will put you in touch with the guy who was doing the new drawings.

[andrewsleigh]

I go to the amberley miniature and model show every year.
last yera i was on MJ's 2" fowler road engine.
I am trying to see if we can take the GMES club 3" engine there this year, but the guy in charge of it didnt reply.

this one was there last year


I am not quite sure about the boiler yet.
I could buy one from bell's, but some people at GMES say that i can save a lot of money if i get someone there to help me build it.

[mutley]

Probably because the clubs 3" Burrell needs a boiler test and some additional work before it can have that test.
There isnt anyone in the club who can help you make a steel boiler Andy and Im not sure who has got equipment at home large enough to help you.

Andy