Burrell 4inch new batch

due to the great success we have had at the shows this year the 4inch burrell is going into full production again.

the batch run is 25 (at the moment) and some of this will come from stock but a good deal will need to be made.

front hubs...





front hub caps...



inner front hubs...



cylinder blocks...



horn plates...

Yahooooooooooo,

Great news , when can we expect delivery of Kit No 1 ??

The pics look great, please keep up the production info if you have he time.

I am delighted to hear of the success with new orders, mind you people must be mad not to take advantage of the special offer..

Well done to all you guys at STW

Frostie

not actually sure on the dispatch schedule for this one, don't think it starts just yet. we are just getting on with stuff that we know we are gonna need, keeping the machines running etc

Hey - some of those parts there might be mine! Got my letter at the end of last week and from what I concluded delivery would be at the end of October.

Craig - do the kits come in numeric order? Looking around the forum it looks like they don't necessarily.

Oh and this is my first post so hello everyone!

the kits "should" come in numeric order but then if we get a delay on one kit or kits we often jump to others. however there are some kits that are pointless us sending you until you have had other bits if you know what i mean

Dan wrote:
Hey - some of those parts there might be mine! Got my letter at the end of last week and from what I concluded delivery would be at the end of October.

Craig - do the kits come in numeric order? Looking around the forum it looks like they don't necessarily.

Oh and this is my first post so hello everyone!

Welcome.

Craig

I notice that on the production pictures that the front hub caps appear to be steel ???
I thought that the hub caps on the other 4" machines were made from brass.

Frostie

yeah, hub caps on the new (STW) batch are steel. a decision made by management.

Thanks for the confirmation, I am not happy , the advert pics showed brass hubs, what else has been changed on the "cheaper specials"
in order to justify the "special" price ??

Frostie

yes we are unhappy about this and hope managment change there mind

[quote="Frostie"]Craig

I notice that on the production pictures that the front hub caps appear to be steel ???
I thought that the hub caps on the other 4" machines were made from brass.

Id be more than happy to do a exchange with my never fitted brass caps for your steel ones save me having to make some as i dont like the brass one's,

Stu

On the full size agricultural engines the hub caps were steel, the brass is a bit unusual but tends to be done on miniatures as it's easier to machine. Tim nickel plated his brass hub caps and they do look better for it, the steel should nickel plate ok & they won't need polishing. I don't think the cost is a factor more to do with realism & creating an accurate miniature. If you don't fancy getting them plated then black paint was usual.

Hi Steve,

I have got a nickel plating kit, and will plate the hubs to set them off from the wheels, personally like to see them shiny.

Frostie

HI WHAT nickel plating kit TO GET

Hi Richard,

If you go to Gateros_plating online you will see several options for plating kits, you can then decide what kit is best for you.
They are not too expensive, I went for the top end kit, but didn't need it, lots of bits that I got with the kit I already had at home !!! I could have saved myself about £40

Frostie

Hi

I use there plating kits. I have also invested in a aquarium air pump and bubble block. What a difference to the finish!

I bought the kit with all of that included, I should have looked, and checked before i ordered as I already had a load of old aquaruim kit sitting in the shed !!
I could have saved myself some readies !!!
I am looking forward to using the kit, but am concerned at how and where to get rid of the depleted chemicals.

Frostie

On the parts and quantities supplied. You should not need to think of that for 3 to 4 years.
The solution can be rejuvenated and of course you can get more anodes. As long as it is kept clean. If you have a aquarium filter that will help remove debris and keep the solution good.

In the dim and distant memory files. I think calcium carbonate will "kill" the nasties.

Well it just goes to show that you can’t please all the people all the time. As a matter of policy, we review the parts made for a kit with each new batch. This enables us to make improvements learnt from customer’s experiences, adopt new manufacturing techniques and, one hopes, improve the overall package. If this also reduces production costs then that’s a bonus from our perspective but it’s not the motivation.

On this batch we did decide to make the front and rear hub caps in steel rather than brass. We did this for a number of reasons. Yes, part of the decision was cost but with a saving of around £50 per engine over both the front and rear wheel kits this is still a very long way from the £2500 discount offered. The other reason is that previously a number of customers had complained saying that the full size Agricultural engines did not have brass caps, and had either nickel plated their caps or had painted them. So we were providing an expensive material which, for some at least, was not appropriate and was therefore wasted.

We have a few other changes being considered for the remaining kits and to put peoples mind at rest and to show that we are not intending to offer an inferior ‘discounted’ product I’ve listed them below. You will see that the vast majority add value to each kit.

Kit 3 Smokebox. Use small name ring developed for Showmans Engine.
Kit 4/5 Rear Wheel. Steel hub caps.
Kit 7 Tender. New water level indicator.
Kit 8 Tender. Lost wax cast steel steps rather than machined brass.
Kit 9 Hornplates. Considering removing pipe clamps.
Kit 10 Bearings. Improved lubrication of LH 2nd shaft.
Kit 11B Cylinder. Aluminum piston.
Kit 15 Steering. New chain adjusters and maybe cast steering wheel.
Kit 16 Crank. All journals to be ground, new water pump drive.
Kit 20 Fittings. Maybe cast brake wheel.
Kit 22 Fittings. Improved whistle with slightly deeper tone.

We are prepared to machine another batch of front and rear hub caps in brass for any customer who wants them. We will do this at cost. If you can return your undamaged front caps we will replace them with brass ones and automatically provide you with brass rears for £57.96 including shipping and vat.

Regards

Steve

Steve,

Many thanks for your comprehensive reply to my question with regard to the new batch changes.
Your reply has reassured me and and I look forward as always to the next kit, Its also good to note that you are taking advantage of the earlier batch improvements (ie aluminium pistons etc) and possibly including them in the build.

Personally I prefer the brass wheel hubs and am happy to pay the extra to have them. :-)

As you say , you cant keep all the people happy all of the time, but you guys certainly do your best, I have said many times, to many people that I consider STW machine kits to be first class, with first class customer service.

Thanks

Frostie

Steam Traction World wrote:
Kit 7 Tender. New water level indicator.

That would be a very welcome addition!

Dan

hi thank for reply about kit and brass caps i will stay with the one surplyed as im going to plat them
thanks richard
ps keep up the good work

Now thats an interesting thing. Wonder if it could be retrofited to the Showman.