3" Burrell Traction Engine build.

Some non Burrell messing a-bout's In an older time, model glow engines use to career around a pond near me, and lots of fun was to be had running model power boats, on the purpose built lake. In this day and age, all has been spoilt by the noise police, and the impact on the Canadian goose, so they are now free to mess the pool up! As a throw back to the good old days, here is one of my cheapest engines purchased at a car boot sale for £1.50; and successfully ran in a small boat mostly on Sundays.  These were taken after some freeing up of the piston, and a quick test run confirms its a animal 20,000 + rpm using old sport 40 fuel.  So why?  Well one of the reasons why I started to make the traction engine was because I had come to the end of messing about with petrol engines, and the fact that IC engines were also banned. An alternative plan was decided upon, making use of the skills and machines I have. It was just a small distraction in (January 2025) to run one or two ...

  3" Burrell motion work (Year 6)! Happy New Year !! - Well its been a while since my last post and with the festivities over attention can be turned to the progress since last time. To say that a break was taken from machining is not strictly correct, as often a small amount is squeezed in to keep it ticking over. This casting, the Way-shaft bracket was actually received just before Christmas, but is intended for my birthday in February, also its currently December, as I'm writing this, ready for next year therefore  ignoring the opening statement. Confused yet? well here we are still building the Burrell and we are into year 6 !     Finally I made a decision with the lifting links they were basically too short, another builder pointed out on the Burrell builder site on Facebook. That he had the same trouble 20 years ago, I stupidly though as my drawings were the latest version from Bridport foundry that known mistakes from 20 years ago would have been correcte...

 End of year Roundup (5 year's In) Well after 5 years, and its nearly Christmas! I decided to assemble all the bits I have made in the last 5 years for a end of year roundup, this is the current situation of where we are at. My mother looking on from behind I have to thank because some of this is normally sat on her dining room table, and has done for at least the last 3 to 4 years.  On my Previous post there was a nice picture of the lifting links that I was most pleased with. However it appears they are not long enough and this is a confirmed mistake in the drawings. It means they need to be extended by about 1/8" or so, the plan is to do a cut and shut with the silver solder rather than committing to making new ones at this time. Time will tell if I'm happy with this arrangement or if new ones are to be started, below is my list of faults so far:- The front locking pin cannot easily be removed past the smoke box door. The flywheel is very close to the winding drum almos...

Rods and lifting link progress.  Following another holiday for a week, progress in the workshop has continued but at the normal winter slow pace. A small Jig was started ready for my return, and in an evening I completed one of the lifting rods. (Narrowly missing I'm a celeb on tv , phew! and avoiding the snow).  The Jig was my own idea and the welding done by my Son, who helped me out here. The scrap metal was in fact the Jig I used for setting the gear mesh, but as it is not longer required, so has been re purposed to this new task.   (It also can be still used for its previous job as well, as the central pin unscrews). The near completed lifting link, first of two required. Just needs an oil hole drilling. The centre portion was milled out leaving sufficient for the turning of the two ends.  The rods have also been started to a point and progress stopped to complete the above before the milling machine is swapped from vertical to horizontal. < Pleased with...

 Midlands Model Engineer Show 2024 - Warwick This year’s Model Engineers Show 2024 was a huge success! All four days of the show were fantastic with exhibitors and visitors alike enjoying plenty of opportunities to purchase items, learn and explore the very latest in machinery tools and model engineering. The 2 exhibition halls were abuzz with vibrancy, excitement and anticipation. I went with a usual shopping list, and a few parts that I had organised from suppliers to take to the show for me for collection and postage saving opportunity. I ordered an expansion Link and had it water jet cut this being the results after only minimal cleaning up required. I reamed the holes out and basically park this until the rods are done. Back to the show report. There were some fantastic models on display and also the gas turbine demonstrations running outside along with the traction engines and a few helicopters in the main carpark. Below the pictures I took on the day and a few videos of the ...

 "JOHN" the Burrell Traction engine "JOHN" being my Dad's name, and the inspiration for the whole Model Engineer hobby. From an early age we often attended the Model Engineers show both in Birmingham (Bingley Hall) and Ally Pally London. Model boating was his passion, and scratch building 4 stroke petrol engines a key activity. This involves a lot of workshop equipment, so when Raleigh the bike people when finished in Birmingham my Dad purchased a good selection of the machines from the old tool room. As a tool maker, and draughtsman by trade he knew when a machines was fit for purpose, and if an improvement or rebuild was necessary. I have continued the tradition and of course use the same machines, and have made a few improvements to them myself.           So its Fitting that the new engine bears his name, my previous engine a 1" Minnie called "NINA" after my wife which he did get to see running all be it on air, not steam.  The plate just requ...