Making a Start

Hello everyone!
Just want to say hi and give a little intro. After spending every summer from the age of 4 to 14 watching my grandfather (Dennis Weeks) build a 4” Burrell, Foster and Portable from scratch I became fixated with Steam Models anything any size! I attended every steam rally I could. Unfortunately he passed away and the family didn’t feel the engines were for them due to no experience running and maintaining them so they were all sold off (to my disappointment, as I had imagined running them all ). I spent the next 12 years pondering what could be done.

However I am now 26 and have the spare time to build one from the kits that STW supply. With a limited knowledge of engineering STW kits are a gift from the powers above for myself and others like me. I’m now waiting for the first kit to arrive and look forward to the cuts and bruises I will be getting.
I have seen so many beautiful engines on this forum and I look forward to adding my engine to the ever growing gallery.

Regards

Chris

Welcome aboard Chris.

Yes you will get cuts etc. also say goodbye to your nails.

Thanks Lynn. seen some brilliant pics of your showmans engine.

Regards

Chris

Chris:
You'll have great fun. I have.
Tim

Having built three of these engines they are a well sorted, powerfull engine. Enjoy the build, take your time with each kit and the finished result will give pleasure for many years.

Yes good luck Chris, will be good to see another build underway.

Welcome to the forum Chris, weekends and spare time will never be the same !!!
Enjoy the build, the last few bits, and the first steaming give an enormous sense of pride and achievment.
Good luck mate.

Mal

Thanks for the welcome people! I'm sure I will be picking your brains at some point!

Hi all,

couple of questions for all of you, any help would be appreciated.

Q1. How did you go about preparing your metals for primer and undercoat?

Q2 What paint did you use for the boiler and hornplates?

Q3 would it be easier to get it sand blasted? if so what would be the rough cost?

Thanks in advance

Chris

Hi Chris
What I use for preparing the metal are various flap wheels and a 4" grinder. Use the grinder for taking the sharp edges off and then a flap wheel in a drill to smooth it all off. To get the millscale off there are various wheels that fit a small grinder but they are all quite expensive and I've found they don't last very long. The best thing I've found is a rubber wheel with tungsten teeth in it. It fits in a drill and at a slow speed takes the millscale off easily. I picked it up at Dorset this year in the NTET tent. It leaves a sort of shot blasted finish which gives the paint plenty to grip to.

I recommend the Craftmaster paints, the enamel range have all the traditional engine colours and it gives a really hard finish. For brushing use straight out of the tin or for spraying thin by about 5% depending on the temperature you're spraying in.

Sand blasting is good for a paint finish and if you have someone nearby then I would use them, one word of warning though some industrial sandblasters can leave a really rough finish that is hard to get smooth again. Check the finish before handing over any parts! Costs vary depending on how busy they are so shop around.

Thanks for the info Steve this has helped.

Is it best to use heat proof paint for the boiler?

What about the hornplates? (Standard enamel?)

1st Kit arrived today! Time to get dirty

Congratulation on first kit.

On the boiler I used stove heat resistant paint as it only needs 200 degC couple coats and I also done a heavy coat of zinc primer on top. The sides of the boiler I kept to 1 coat of heat resistant 500degC and quite thin. This area is well covered so should not take impact and you want think where the hornplates touch so that the paint does not thin out and loosen the horn plates.

On my horn plates I have used standard paints. In my case 2pak imron coach paint as the hornplates should not get overly hot.

[quote="Chris.C"]1st Kit arrived today! Time to get dirty

Oh, you're just gonna love that isoflex.....

Finally the Xmas period has ended, managed to kindly convince my mum to build a large garage/shed in the garden before Xmas and to my surprise its nearly finished. She is as excited about this project as i am.

2nd kit came before Xmas as soon as the electrics are installed i will be posting build photos and plan to keep my own little build diary.

One problem i have encountered is that the clue to hold the rubber Tyre together has come loose and i know have one round Tyre and one long piece of rubber! any info on what i can use to re glue it?

I think simple superglue is used, but check with Steve. He may suggest sending back.

yes super glue get a good one

Thank you, wanted to double check before i get covered in it

3rd Kit arrived last week, Garage/Large Shed will be finished in the next week so i can get started Missus wont be happy im going to be coming home covered in ISOFLEX!

Been trying to find Julia Olds build diary but the links provided are not working, can anyone provide info?

Traction talk has a working link or I think one of the steam suppliers do possibly berrybrook?

Chris
Got my copy of Julia Old's Burrell Builders Diary from MJ Engineering Tel. 01252 890777
The Forge, Cricket Hill Lane, Yateley, Hampshire GU46 6BB
About £29 if I remember correctly but well worth a read - has helped me a lot so far with my build
Regards,
Simon

Here you go Chris

If you are a memeber of Traction Talk you should be able to follow this link. There is a picture in the middle of the page, you just click on it and it asks you if you want to save the file or open it.

http://www.tractiontalkforum.com/showthread.php?t=11246

Regards

Brian