3" Burrell Traction Engine build.

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...

(Day 197) - Machining the grove in the first eccentric strap. Hello! I say day 197, almost feels like it. I've been on this for weeks because, for my piece of mind, a high degree of accuracy is required for this fit. I'm prepared to allow it to wear in (a bit) as I have been machining it by 0.1mm at a time, and have removed and test fitted it many time.  The photo (right) is almost there, but not quite, and some scraping with a HSS tool in the corners has been done to achieve a dead square corner.  Finally!!,  Last night it fitted and revolved smooth, however after the application of some 3-in-1 Oil It did go a little tighter. I can only imagine the oil was sealing the parts together, as they are a really close fit, but after some more scraping in, and using a blue marker pen, to see the wear marks show its finally complete.       It just remains to complete another 2 to the same standard, and hopefully it should be quicker this time. The main problem ...

 Burrell progress and Kidderminster Steam Road Run Report. This year’s Severn Valley Railway & Kidderminster steam on the road day 2024 was a huge success!  Both days of the show were fantastic with exhibitors and visitors alike enjoying plenty of opportunities to see engines up close and talk to the owners. The road run at 3pm on Saturday was abuzz with vibrancy, excitement and anticipation and a few cars taught a lesson about steam, and who is bigger and has the loudest horn / steam siren.   Very enjoyable and the road run was very entertaining for all to watch. Aside on my Burrell Engine some further progress has been made recently, namely the gear guard being completed and the eccentrics have been worked on again.    Also I decided to get a set of 316 stainless steel shackles for the steering chain. This was to get an idea how they would look scale wise on my chain.     Until Next month, stay safe, make swarf and be the best you can be.

  Welland Steam Show 2024 Report..... Welland Steam Show (Upton-upon-Severn July 26th - 28th  2024). Ross-0n-Wye Steam Engine Society 58th Annual Rally. Hotel : Star Inn also responsible for the "Minge" Music festival details below.  The show as usual was well attended. I'm happy to report the numbers looked fantastic and the weather was as good as needed. Maybe we have inspired the next generation of Model Engineers. It certainly looked like there was no shortage of money changing hands for tools.  The show boasted 37 miniatures and 94 full size engines, along with a huge number of commercials, cars, bikes, tanks and military vehicles and displays. This time again, like last year, there was the heavy haulage arena, which was fascinating to watch, as long as you could keep the coal ash out of your eyes :-) I can imagine the rising fuel costs to move large machines, but this has not stopped them from attending this year. Thank you to all the organisers and engine owne...