Traction Engine anyone?

[ron]

Hi All
I'm getting near to finishing the Stuart Victoria and have started looking for a new project.
I've a notion of building a scale traction engine in either 1 1/2" or 2" scale as a long term project, I've been advised not to go smaller, ie Minnie, as the boiler is a bit on the small side for ease of use, anyone been down this road and offer any suggestions and any pitfalls to beware of?
Ron

[Steve M. W]

Its the same number of parts for large or small go for as big as you can then you will have an engine that can do some work not just look nice.

Steve

[ron]

Size matters ;D

I presume the bigger they get the dearer they get?
Ron

[greasemonkey]

Hi Ron
Steve's advice is pretty spot on! A 2" scale engine is the smallest practical size in my opinion for use on the rally field. The Plastows 3" Burrell is a good size engine that will still fit in the back of an estate car. The 4 inch would be my weapon of choice.
Yes as they get bigger so does the bill for parts but not neccesarily in proportion. A 3" usually has a copper boiler and a 4" normally uses steel.

Andy

[Jo]

I would have thought a 3" was as small as you really want to go.

A few years ago I started a 4" BB1 and she was a useful size. But having lost her due to circumstances beyond my control I am now thinking more along the lines that 3" may fit in the car but you get back ache driving it. 4" is the minimum to be able to sit on it but if you need a trailer to move it around then why not go for 6"?.

As they say size matters and 6" would be very nice....
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Andy: How's the clubs traction engine?

Jo

[ron]

I've only got a 3 1/2" lathe and a vertical mill, much as I like the sound of 3" and bigger, I think they are beyond my machining capabilities, I think it comes down to either a 11/2" or 2", If I had the money I'd love a full size one, wonder what the neighbours would think if I parked one in my drive.
Ron

[greasemonkey]

Hi Jo
Its sitting in my workshop having been gently ministered to and now awaiting boiler test. Still a little worried about the lubricator though. Anyone got any plans for a traditional wooden cart with spoked wheels to go behind a 3" Burrell? A 4" BB1 now that sounds like a nice engine, who's design was that?

Andy

Andy

[3405jimmy]

Most of my 4.5 Burrell was built on a Myford. Gear blanks and the flywheel are the only problem. 2” will run on a rally field but to remove worries about ground conditions length of stubble, grass, cow pats etc. 4” is probably a better bet.

Jim

[ron]

This is getting a bit sidetracked, I haven't really any interest in steam shows and rallies, [spend enough time at classic car shows] I was really more interested in a long term model engineering project, although the ST engines are interesting to make they don't really take a lot of time. I've almost finished a Tich, but locos have the big drawback of needing rails, there isn't a model club near me with rails, hence why I thought a model traction engine might be interesting.
Ron

[greasemonkey]

Hi Ron
I think the point we are trying to make is that there is as much work in a small one as a large one! Once you get to 3" scale and above it is possible to road register it and then your play ground is as big as you want/water will let you travel.

Andy

[dscott]

Being firmly addicted to rail born fun, imagine my delight to having a go with a 3" alchin, even in very heavy rain, wow,
And a friends son built a 2" Burrel. which looks just perfect. SINGLE CRANK COMPOUND. of course.
You could dress it up as a 4 wheel buggie, the ones that get everywhere these days and you do not have to have a licence or numberplate!!!! Put me down for a steam powered one when I am older.
David Scott.

[greasemonkey]

Hi All
Geting into legalities here but if you road register then you will get a number plate and a tax disc is required as is Road traffic act insurance!!!

Andy

[alanstepney]

dscott said:

Put me down for a steam powered one when I am older.
David Scott.

At one of the exhibitions many years ago, a disabled model engineer had built and was using a steam powered wheechair.
Had an amazing turn of speed too.

There's an idea for the (hopefully far distant) future!

[Jo]

Hi Ron,

My neighbor is selling his full sized steam Roller £105K if anyone is feeling rich.

Back to size: Friends have said that the 2" were fiddly. so based on what you have been saying I'd suggest you go 3". And I cannot see why you would want to drive a 3" on the road it would be too dangerous. Lets be honest most garden lawn mowers are bigger than a 3" and they are not registered.

As for what type Compounds are more interesting than singles. 3" is still just about small enough for a copper boiler which is probably the most expensive bit and its also the chassis!

As for some thing to play with without a railroad: I'm building my nephew a 2" Clayton steam waggon. They regularly come up at about £400 for an abandoned project (I paid £250 for a full set of virgin castings and boiler bits). And it is pretty quick to build in comparison with a loco.
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Andy: My BB1 was design/drawn up from measuring full sized and scaling down. I still have over 200 slides of my ruler on holiday over various parts of BB1s.

[greasemonkey]

Hi Jo
If you really want to drive on the road then you really want a 6", that way you sit inside it and have some form of protection. I live on a nice quite estate, well its quite till I get in the workshop, and a 3" would do quite nicely pottering about whilst not needing a trailer to move it any great distance.

Andy

[steamjohn248]

Hello Jo

Now you've really upset me. Most full size rollers sell for between 15K and 25K, I've recently sold mine! 105K??? really??? does your neighbour know something the rest of us dont?

Steamjohn

[alanstepney]

There is a nice looking traction engine on Ebay right now.
When last I looked it was around £40,000.
Only problem was "collect only-no postage".

[wayne]

Hi jo

The reason I am going down the 1" Minnie rout for my first engine is if I make a mistake and damage or cock up a casting its a lot cheaper to replace than the 2" or larger scale, i.e. i intend to use this scale to hone my skills when machining raw castings.

Wayne

[Uzzy]

I see that there is the complete set of castings for a 2inch Burrell on ebay if you have the money, I wish I had?

[ron]

Tempting, interested to see what it goes for.

Ron