Presedential Candidate??

Excellent!

Pictures look good .looks like every one had a good day

we have plenty of mugs at STW, just not the type your talking about

Looking good Kev

Did you take any vids of the outing?

Would be great to see and hear your engine in action and pulling a bit.

I was thinking of getting one of those mini video cam thingys mounting on the engine somewhere once mine is up and running.

Not a permanant thing just for the odd run now and then

Kev

I have a video clip from the Iphone in 3rd gear pulling up a hill but the waterpump is on and takes over a bit. Not sure how to post them on here, i've only done it a via u tube before, and it takes ages to upload.
If anyone knows an easy way, let me know and i'll post it up.

cheers

Rick

You can' beat a bit of steam in the winter. I think the best way of doing a video would be to do a link to YouTube. Out of interest did you get the whole way round on one water fill up?

Best wishes
Simon

I did take a video of a short part, not the best hill sadly as we realised after the event that we'd already travelled the best bit, it's very shakey as it's my son being rattled to pieces in the trailer on a very poor road, you don't know how much the slightest hole in the road surface affects you until you've been on the road on one of these. You can't hear the exhaust that well either and the veiw isn't ideal so might try again on another run in the New Year.

Water wise I filled it up to the top in the tender and belly tank and it got back with some to spare but to be fair I was being very cautious as that was the only supplies I had, as we were working so hard it really got through some water so was a bit concerned but no issues, glad the injector worked as it needed a fast input once or twice.

Have you any idea how many miles you did?

Kev

Nice one Rick, looking good and what a way to clear the Christmas cobwebs. Nick (Sonic) and I were on the Stotfold road run on the 29th for our fix. Can't wait to get Blackbeard running, nearly there now.

A Happy New Year to you and everyone else on the forum from a damp Glenridding.

Brian

What a cracking job you've done of building 'The President' in 4" scale, I hope my version for Steve is as good! Regarding the roof, on mine, I think I will leave out the cross braces and if it's wobbly then thicken up the back supports. I also want to put a sliding section in the middle that slides forward.

Happy New Year to everyone building away in sheds & garages out there

Hi Steve, I would expect yours to look even better, your lining looks tidier for a start, but hopefully we will see it in the summer.

As for the roof certainly the upright and cross rods will get in the way but also the width and depth of it will come into play too. I was looking at my driving positiion to see how far across it would get and having reveiwed my video and having had many miles driving experience I noticed things that I do without realising. Anyone who has driven an engine on the road in particular will notice that you can NEVER leave the steering wheel, because of the chains you are constantly correcting and adjusting to keep it straight, without hitting flaws in the surface, secondly you are either on the regulator making sure there is enough and not too much steam, or in the case of the weekends run using the flywheel brake which is very effective at keeping under control downhill. For me at this stage even with a gap to see the water, pressure and fire, its still accessability and comfort, its no good being contorted for any length of time, bits of me ache before I start to play with this beast, twisted up trying to get to the controls will do me no favours for going back to work after a weekend. More importantly though is safety, I don't want to crash and damage this lovely toy or worse still hit something or someone else.

The pictures at the farm with the roof on were taken on either side and I had to turn it round, I couldnt even get to the controls kneeling down at the side, let alone sat on the back!!

Steve and Dean just to put this in, this is NOT a critiscism just an observation and not one I am suprised or disappointed with, I didnt expect to drive with the roof on. Once others have got to this stage they will start to understand where I am coming from, it all very easy to look at it in the workshop/garage cold and think "oh yes that a possibility" but once you get out and about and have poor roads, cars, speed etc all thrown in it's quite a different story. I'm sure Rick can back me up at how challenging it can be but also rewarding.

I am sure it will not taken as a criticism. I have said before that I would be modifying mine to allow me to remove the roof sections and just leave the fascia boards and ribs in place. It may well be this will no be practical when the time comes and the cross bracing is in the way, but we will have to see.

Looks great and I look forwards to seeing it on the field over the summer, all the engines look really good and are a credit to everyone involved in the respective builds.

Hi Kev,

I completely agree with you on the roof. I know my driving position is slightly higher up than yours and restricts your arm length further but i would say it would not be practical to drive without some serious modifications.

Maybe it would be ok to run round a show ring but as you say, when driving these engines you are always on one control or the other on top of the steering wheel.
If anyone is considering putting their seat in line with the tender top, it is impossible to reach the controls with the roof on unless you have at least 3 feet long fore arms.

If I may be so bold, as Steve has suggested with the governor, concentrate on getting used to the engine first before considering modifications to the roof so you've had a fair crack at the whip of what you think would work or it maybe a case of modifying more than once or just leave the roof off when driving.

Kev, if you're around and we get some good weathe, it would be good to meet up and do a road run. I'll pm you my post code.

cheers

Rick

Just picked up the rods for the roof, all done in black nickel. This is the roof as supplied but I do have a couple of different lengths of extensions to lift it up by either 4 or 6 inches. Of course we only have two sets of supports unlike the Showmans which can offer support with the front set to allow a clear area for reaching the controls, the roof looks very cool though especially being able to lift it up.

So I am finally finished with even the start button working and the govenor belts on. Getting some of the entry forms through so looking forward to a good dry warm year!!













Took inspiration from "The President" but chose to modify the front and rear boards to accomodate my name plate and I am not going to take commisions for Steam Ploughing!!! I also need to just do a tiny bit of tidy up on the black due to the lining tape lifting a few little bits off.

Excellent and congratulations.

Wow that looks superb.
Ian

Looks brilliant!

Congratulations Kev, a superb job and looks splendid on your drive way. Look forward to seeing it somwhere this year if I get the chance - hopefully Blackbeard will be with me too for comparson, maybe we can double head a load.



Cheers (jealous) Brian

well done mate, hopefully some of us will be joining you very soon. Looking at the SM roof, I reckon 1.5 kits may be issued soon but I am in no rush rather have the kit right than rushed. The build has been hard at times but she now does you a proud, congratulations Kev.

Kev

I just noticed something, your water lifter is not concceted to the cyclinder block -is it magic

Also, do you have a close up of how you adapted the chime whistle to fit to the block?

Cheers

Brian

Also valve covers are not bolted down on HP side and the seat frame still needs painting.

And if you are bolt counting. There is one missing from the LP side motion cover.

Missed a bit.

Flywheel brake hand wheel not installed.

Brake wheel off for polishing, HP cover just had new gasket to cure leak, seat frame will be powder coated in the next few weeks when I get around to taking it there, globe valve for the lifter and union has been removed to make a brass union to take a new globe valve for the kettle, cant put my hands on the bolts for the cover plate ( There is actually two missing ) Deliberately didnt put all bits on just to see how many people pick up Coal has been removed from bunker to clean it and make a new box to hold the coal to try and keep footplate clean, duckboard is going to be remade and varnished this time. And you couldnt have been looking that hard as the tap rod for the injector is also off as the top restraining blob has been plated as it got missed and went rusty

Whistle by the way came from Polly (?) at Guildford show and is the same thread as the base supplied, just screwed on but did need a slight slot filed in the base to ensure max steam input, sounds good but needs 120 - 150 to blow well and needs to be warm. Probably could do with a better valve to give more steam quicker.

I intend to go to as many rallies as I can find and will have in attendance both the small busker type organ and the full spec showmans organ ( orders gladly taken for either plenty of time to build one ready for the season ) I would like to meet as many builders as I can over the summer season so if anyone is at a do where I hope to be come and look me out and say Hi.

Kev,
Wonderful acheivement, an inspiration to others following on & a great advert for the first batch of STW's DCC engines.
You just better be careful before anouncing it's finished, else Lynn'll have you up with her "eagle observational powers)
Congratulatios on a first class build
Regards,
Tony

Kev it looks fantastic and the lettering on the canopy sets it off a treat, you have done a cracking job.

Roll on the start of the season.