Thetford Works (Cornwall)

Here's a couple of pictures of the two Burrells which I need to get finished for the end of November. Back wheels are all done so it's just the plumbing & all the fiddley bits. They can really soak the hours up though! still, the telly is rubbish these days anyway.




All the motion work is in and fits really well, the cleading is getting ready in the paint shop & that's the last of the spraying.

Looking very good Steve, i'm sure the owners will be thrilled to bits.

You lucky person or is it fool?
Building 2 longside each other. I bet they have different personalities when it comes to steaming.
Looking wonderful.

Thanks for the kind words, they are getting to the stage where every bit makes them look better. For quite a long time one has parts all over the place, it's nice when they all go together & it looks like an engine. Personality wise I'm hoping for twins!

The twins are nearly there! one is about three hours behind the other!

Forgot to mention, had 'Lady Val' running on air today, all sweet as a nut, no leaks or knocks so she's going to have a fire in her next week.

Hi

WELL now how can I put THIS BUT WOW Love your work .....
I thort I did a lot BUT not now .
Thanks for the pics and up date .........................Good luck on the rest

Had the first steaming of 'Lady Val' today and all went well apart from a few small leaks which is to be expected with a new engine. Main thing is it all ran sweetly and she ticked over for about an hour on 60lbs pressure until I was losing the light so called it a day.

Was it difficult to get the pressure up in this cold weather ? I tried steaming a couple of weeks ago when it was -3 and could not get above 30 psi with a good fire i was wondering if a blower on top of the chimney would of helped.

It was a bit of a dead air day with not a breath of wind so to help things along I used the wifes hair dryer pointing in the front of the ashpan. Worked a treat with the hairdryer on it's low setting, fortunately she doesn't read this!!!

Hi

I am so envious of your workshop. Lots of space. Good job on the first firing

The first engine to leave the Thetford Works(Cornwall) has found a good home & new owners not far away just in time for Xmas

[url=https://servimg.com/view/15064118/19][/url]

Does that lorry look familiar?!!!

The workshop looks very empty at the moment, however there are three more sets of Road Loco/Showmans engine bits to put together so it wont be empty long.

Steve

Very impressive, I did not realise you were doing THREE Showmans/Road Locos when do you go to work or is this it???

We are more or less keeping up doing just one road loco.

Brian

I don't sleep much & yes there is a day job!!

Holy pistons
Well done and I have been told I am in the shead toooo long

Steve Traill wrote:I don't sleep much & yes there is a day job!!

Actually, he returns to a box of earth each morning, before sunrise.
Tim

You promised not to mention that!!!

Hi,
2 lovely engines you completed there - may i ask what paint you used on lady val i am building a dcc road loco and am still deciding on a colour for her. decisions, decisions

The Thetford Works (Cornwall) has been busy this year but not all of it with engines, here's a 1968 'Broom' waterski boat that I rebuilt from a wreck. All the woodwork is new as it had been left in a garden for 33 years mainly without a cover.

[url=https://servimg.com/view/15064118/26][/url]
This is the latest item soon to be gracing the STW showroom!

Here's a couple of pics of the 'Broom' when I first picked it up.
[url=https://servimg.com/view/15064118/31][/url]
It's booked in to be one of the 1000 boats following the Queens barge down the Thames next year

After four months off it's wheels 'Trelawney' is mobile again with new vulcanised back tyres a new paint job (well the wheels & axle anyway).
Here's some pics:
url=https://servimg.com/view/15064118/33][/url]




I repainted the gear guard as it was showing some wear & tear, this is the new colour scheme that eventually the whole engine will sport. This will be next year now as I have to crack on with the Road Loco & Showmans. Looking forward to not worrying about my tyres when the weather is hot this year (assuming it is!)

Hi Steve,

Looking very nice,how did you do the lining on the spokes?

Kev

All the lining is done with a beugler pen, really quick & easy as you have a nice edge to work from. I put the wheels on a 'lazy Susan' so I can spin them around easily so I don't have to change position. Also I make little ply disks to fit in the wheel hubs so I don't damage the paint when it moves as although the paint is dry it takes weeks to get really hard & I found the finish can be damaged.

I have a beugler so I will give it a try,how do you get the fish tails all the same?
is that freehand until the guide takes over for the straight bit?

thanks

Kev