Happy New Year 2023!! Burrell Build Year 4..

Happy New Year 2023!! Burrell Build Year 4...

Well, here we are again.

Preface: If you have been following the build so far, we are building a 3" to the foot Burrell Traction Engine, to the latest Bridport foundry drawings.

The scope of this blog is to build up a documented construction guide for other would-be builders to follow.

With the aims of providing interesting discussion points, helpful and useful ideas, with tips and tricks to aid construction.

It must be emphasised that this is not a kit, and as such each and every part needs careful attention and machining. Castings are provided by Bridport Foundry, and making use of the latest technology in the form of laser cutting thus aids accuracy and speed of build.

However, we are talking about a build that will take at least 10 to 12 years if we are lucky, although the goal is not to rush it, the enjoyment is in the manufacture of the parts and learning new techniques, whilst acquiring tools and new skills.

So, the plan for this year essentially is to continue with the parts we have. A number of castings were purchased to get us started, but I feel until these have been completed to a satisfactorily conclusion no new casting need to be purchased , unless the situation changes with energy pricing, or the availability from the foundry etc...

The smaller jobs like the differential pinion gear shafts, the pinion gears, and the bearings will be the first few months work alone. Then the differential gear, assuming it can fit on the miller, and the new rotary table with dividing attachment.

This was the last part I made before Christmas ready for the new year.

Mandrel for machining the differential teeth hopefully.

(Photo right) the test teeth Jig tool, I made one similar before, for the 1st to 2nd shaft gears. This one is for the 2nd shaft to the drive axle diff gear, hence the large diameter aluminium spacer on one end.

Photo below - the test set up for cutting the differential teeth, and the new dividing attachment on the rotary table I had for Christmas. (Thank you to my wife Nina Meredith).

Until next month stay safe; make swarf; have fun!

Stephen.

Comments

My Burrell progress and Welland steam Show 2023 Report

Welland steam Show 2023 Report..... Welland Steam Show (Upton-upon-Severn July 28th-30th 2023). The show as usual was well attended. I'm happy to report the numbers looked better than perhaps some of the traders were expecting. Maybe the cancelled years, due to Covid, 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 99 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 owners, both big and small another fab year!! I actually spent quite some time there wandering about, having arrived

1" Minnie Traction Engine By Stephen Meredith Background Working Progress (Gears) Front End Parts Following the completion of a small marine steam engine "Trojan Engine", I decided to tackle a larger project. Having visited various shows and the model engineers Exhibition, I decided to buy the Construction book for building the popular 1" scale 'Minnie' traction engine. The initial workshop experience was limited but keen to learn, and research has enabled me to get it this far. A s can be seen, this is basically finished well almost, it steams, and runs well a few tweaks are needed but tweaks don’t make piles of swarf. The intention was to show the engine and run it, at rallies but what I really wanted was a capable engine that could pull an adult or (me) on a field. This engine was, therefore, a stepping stone to be able to tackle the engine I wanted. After research, I bought a set of drawings for the Plastow 3” Bur

Midlands Model Engineers Exhibition 2023.

Midlands Model Engineers Exhibition 2023. This year’s Model Engineers Show 2023 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. Centre piece if the show for me, a huge amount of work in this engine and the builder, sadly no longer with us, only finished it last year. A fantastic selection of Loco's on display and also a good number of Traction engines both engines in steam on the parade field, but also a number of static models in side. It appears this year whilst there were still a few suppliers missing, there were a good number of static displays to improve the show in

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3" Burrell Traction Engine build.

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