CYLINDERS FOR A 5-INCH SINGLE GETTING THE MEASURE OF A BRITANNIA

THE MAGAZINE FOR MODEL ENGINEERS

AUGUST 2022 ❙ £4.50

Automotive recycling
Beam engine built from
scrap car parts

GROUND-LEVEL MAINLINE FUN

AT GILLING RALLY – FULL REPORT
 COME AND SEE
US AT THE GREAT
DORSET STEAM
FAIR 25 - 29
AUGUST 2022
 CONTENTS AUGUST 2022 Volume 44 Number 02

06 23 28

06 LOCO BUILD: STIRLING

SINGLE CYLINDERS
EDITORIAL
by Bruce Boldner
Midlands show is happening
10 ASCRAP
BEAM ENGINE FROM
CAR PARTS
by Rich Wightman
–so let’s make it a good one
W
elcome to the August EIM and I write these words not long
after returning from the funeral of our founder Chris
13 3-INCH TRACTION
ENGINE – PIPEWORK
by Jan-Eric Nyström
Deith, whose passing was reported in the July issue.
I suppose it’s inevitable that I learnt at the funeral of rumours
circulating suggesting the return in October of the Midlands Model

16 TENDER BENDER –
A BENDING TOOL
by Peter & Matthew Kenington
Engineering Exhibition, also founded by Chris and the jewel among a
number of shows he organised, would not happen due to his passing.
Well I’m pleased, and frankly not in the least surprised, to be able to
dismiss such rumours as completely untrue – the show team, led by Chris’s daughter Avril,

19 AT THE TRACK - A
CAUTIONARY TALE
By Stuart Rothwell
are working very hard to prepare for the event and have even more reason to ensure that this
year’s show, the first since 2019, is a success as a tribute to Chris. A few days before I penned
these words a list of the latest suppliers to sign up for the event was released and it’s looking
just like the Midlands shows we enjoyed pre-pandemic – more details are on our news pages.

20 RESTORING A GAUGE 1
MIDLAND COMPOUND
by Anthony White
It is very important that the Midlands exhibition is a success, and while to honour Chris
is a very valid reason it is by no means the only one. It’s pretty clear that this will be the only
major model engineering show this year, and we haven’t had one since London in January
2020, getting on for three years ago. I don’t know about you, but the opportunity to get out to
23 PROTOTYPE: HOVERCRAFT
& AIR CUSHIONS
by Rodger P. Bradley
a show is very important to me and something I have greatly missed – not only to take
advantage of a host of suppliers being all in one place at the same time, and to see the various
projects underway on the club stands, but crucially to get to meet up with fellow model
engineers, find out what’s going on in the hobby and yes, put the world to rights! We need
28 HARRY’S GAME: MORE
SOLUTIONS & ISSUES
by Harry Billmore
the Midlands show to return in style to ensure the future of London, of Doncaster... a future
without shows would be a poorer one for all of us.
A reader made me very happy recently when he commented that he enjoys EIM because
he learns something from every issue – that means we are doing something right! The
36 GILLING MAINLINE
RALLY 2022
by John Arrowsmith
learning point from this issue’s cover feature could well be – don’t ever consider a part is
scrap! Rich Wightman’s beam engine made almost entirely of car engine components, and
built some time ago when he was in the motor industry, is a lesson in multiple areas – budget

36 BENCH TALK: A
BRITANNIA DILEMMA
by Warwick Allison
model engineering, recycling, innovation... Brilliant stuff, of the type I’m proud to incude in
our pages. And a reminder again that if you have something you think would look
appropriate in EIM, you know where we are... Andrew Charman – Editor
The September issue of Engineering in Miniature publishes on 18th August
38 GENERAL NEWS
Sisters reunited at Rhyl
Editor: Andrew Charman Technical Editor: Harry Billmore

39 LETTERS Email: editor@engineeringinminiature.co.uk Tel: 01938 810592

Editorial address: 12 Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0BD
Web: www.engineeringinminiature.co.uk
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FOR SUBSCRIPTION QUERIES call 01778 392465 – the editor does not handle subscriptions.
40 CLUB & TRACK NEWS Publisher: Steve Cole
Email: stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk
Design & Production: Andrew Charman
Published monthly by Warners Group
Publications Plc,
The Maltings, West Street, Bourne,
of the publishers be lent, resold, hired out, or
otherwise disposed of by way of trade at a
price in excess of the special recommended

44 DIARY Advertising manager: Bev Machin

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Lincolnshire PE10 9PH.

Articles: The Editor is pleased to consider

contributions for publication in Engineering
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in Miniature. Please contact us to discuss of any publication or advertising, literary or
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your work.
© Publishers & Contributors
pictorial whatsoever.
Ad production: Allison Mould Whilst every care is taken to avoid mistakes
Spot the con-rods, piston top, exhaust valves... Tel: 01778 395002
All rights reserved. No part of this publication in the content of this magazine the publishers
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval cannot be held liable for any errors however
The beam engine built by Rich Wightman is a Email: allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk system, or transmitted in any form or by any arising. The reader, in pursuing construction
masterpiece in re-using supposedly scrap parts. Marketing manager: Carly Dadge means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and operation of any product, should exercise
Tel: 01778 391440 recording or otherwise, without the prior
The inset shows the Gilling Mainline Rally, a superb great care at all times and must accept that
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event reported on this month by John Arrowsmith. is sold subject to the following conditions;
Engineering in Miniature – ISSN 0955 7644
that it shall not without the written consent
 LOCOMOTIVE BUILD

A GNR Stirling Single

in 5-inch Gauge
Australian engineer Bruce continues his new favourite locomotive build project,
begun last month, by making the cylinders for his Single.
BY BRUCE BOLDNER Part Two of a short series

E
ach cylinder for the David
Piddington-designed Stirling
Single model locomotive, as
supplied by Reeves, was a single
bronze casting with its port face. I cut
to shape a sheet of MDF to fit into the
as yet unmachined cylinder holes of
the casting at each end, then pencilled
in crosshairs to determine the centre
point of the cylinder bore (Photo 12).
I then machined the port face to PHOTO 12:
be parallel to the cylinder bore. This MDF used to
could only be estimated by eye by help determine
visually lining up with the outside of centre line of
the cylinder casting. cylinders for
The top slide of the lathe was then boring out. casting at an angle, a problem that was through a cast dummy leaf spring.
removed and the casting bolted, port solved by clamping the cylinder Although I constructed this as per the
face down onto the cross slide and PHOTO 13: casting to the rear fixed jaw of the mill plans, I feel that it would have been
shimmed so that the centre point of Boring process vice to conform to this angle. This better to have working leaf springs
the crosshair lines on each end were here underway. procedure is shown in Photo 15 – the (Photo 17). Working out a leaf spring
aligned with centres mounted in the mirror in the foreground was to be formula for a given load, however,
chuck and tailstock. PHOTO 14: able to see the slot drill when it broke appears to be more difficult than
The cylinders were then bored to a Port face into the port, so as to stop it going too finding suitable coil springs.
diameter of 1 inch and 7⁄16ths with a clamped in far and marring the far side of the In any case, the trailing wheels of
boring bar (Photo 13), before I fitted position on port chamber. a single driver locomotive must bear
the pistons with Viton O-rings. frame before The steam chest walls were then only a minimal load. If the springs are
Each port face was then inserted drilling out machined from another gunmetal too strong, they lift the driving wheels
into its mounting cut-out in the mounting holes. casting and screwed to the port face, and drastically reduce traction. In my
mainframes, then clamped whilst sandwiching a gasket in between. experience the weight of a single
mounting holes were drilled through PHOTO 15: Photo 16 shows one, with just the top driver locomotive should ideally be
the frames into the cylinder mounting Setup for drilling cover to be added. centred equally between the bogie
flanges (Photo 14). steam exhaust centre and the driving axle.
A central exhaust port of ¼-inch port at required Highly sprung The trailing wheels are mainly
diameter and front and rear exhaust angle to cylinder. The trailing axle completes the present to stop the locomotive tilting
ports of 5⁄32-inch diameter were then Stirling locomotive wheels. I cannot backward with its nose up (like a
drilled using slot drills. However the Photos by deny that it looks rather ridiculous to speedboat) when it is accelerating
exhaust port was required to enter the the author have a coil spring passing right forward. They also provide guidance

12 13

06 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 LOCOMOTIVE BUILD

14 15

PHOTO 16: Finished cylinder and valve chest just awaiting

16
its top cover.

PHOTO 17: While seemingly counter-intuitive there are

reasons for passing coil spring through dummy leaf.

PHOTO 18: Drilling mounting holes in cylinder front cover.

PHOTO 19: Careful measuring and machining needed for

slide bar mounting tabs on cylinder rear covers.

18

when backing through points. cylinder covers had tabs onto which
These parameters became the piston slide bars were to be
especially apparent to me when I built attached. The mounting surfaces of
a miniature brass Midland Spinner in these tabs of course had to be precisely
P4 scale (4mm to the foot). It was far machined the correct distance apart so
more difficult to obtain the required as to hold the slide bars at the correct
traction with the P4 Spinner than the spacing – careful measuring then
5-inch gauge version. The above machining was required (Photo 19).
weight distribution was especially However, my machining was a bit
critical for the smaller model. inaccurate and when the slide bars
The cylinder covers were next. were bolted to the tabs, they were
Photo 18 shows a front cover being crooked, rather than at precise right s
drilled for mounting bolts. The rear angles to the covers. So I measured the

17
19

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 07

 LOCOMOTIVE BUILD

20 21

The grub screws or pins securing the The above procedure was made
eccentrics to the axle could be drilled necessary by the fact that the Stirling
through the exposed half of the engine’s boiler is mounted so low in
eccentric, meaning the straps did not the frames. I have often wondered
have to be removed to access the how other builders of this model are
screws for adjustment. So I did this able to lubricate their eccentrics and
and it was a great idea! (Photo 23). driving axleboxes. It is impossible to
get an oil can in there, especially since
angle (Photo 20) then machined this Oiling the way the front sandbox blocks entry under
angle in the reverse direction on the Before we leave the eccentrics, my the boiler. Even access from
slide-bar surface where it met the tab PHOTO 20: solution to oiling them was to attach underneath on a raised track is
and when the slide bar was again An error in nipples to the forward section of each difficult. For example, the top fitting
bolted to the cylinder cover tab, it mounting the eccentric strap, then run neoprene oil on the centrally mounted axle-driven
achieved the required right angle slide bars meant lines from each to a junction box water pump sits just 4mm below the
(Photo 21). this angle needed mounted on the inside of the boiler apex!
I made a jig to construct the rectification. mainframe immediately in front of I had thought that the shortest oil
eccentrics. The eccentric blank was the driving axle horn guide. From line might get all the oil, starving the
shimmed beneath to stand it at the PHOTO 21: here a single oil line runs to an oil box longer ones, but I found this not to be
correct height. The strap was secured Problem sorted located in one of the front sandboxes. the case. I’ve fitted a length of fine
around this, from which the eccentric by applying a I had originally intended to run all copper tube to my Reilang oil can and
rod proceeded to its lower resting little ingenuity five lines from each eccentric nipple to I insert this into the neoprene tube,
point at the far end of the jig, creating described in its own nipple on the oil box. extending into the sandbox oil
the necessary offset. the text. However, they ran the risk of being reservoir and prime the tubes. Once
Pins through the eccentric blank cut to pieces by the eccentric rods, they are all full, they continue to duct
and the fork at the end of the rod PHOTO 22: especially when the motion was in oil from the reservoir.
ensured the length between Jig made to reverse. Mike Boddy’s solution was to I had the locomotive’s expansion
attachment points was the same for all construct the take all the piping immediately to the links water-cut at a local firm which
the eccentric rods. Each rod was then eccentrics. side junction box , preventing the proved a real time saver. Mike Boddy
silver soldered to its eccentric strap pipes from being positioned above the produced a CAD drawing with the
whilst held in the correct position on PHOTO 23: rods towards the expansion links, outside profile made slightly oversize
the jig (Photo 22). Completed where the rod movement would be and the slot for the die block slightly
My friend Mike Boddy suggested valve gear with greater (Photo 24). Being just forward undersize. The water cutter made two
that as I had the room to do so, why double-width of the driving axle, they are thus expansion links to these dimensions
not make double-width eccentrics? eccentrics fitted. moved only minimally by the rods. in gauge plate, also pinpointing the

22 23

08 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 LOCOMOTIVE BUILD

24 25

holes that were to be drilled for bolts.

It was then just a simple matter of
hand filing the perimeter, then
26
machining the die block slot to size
using a rotating sector plate jig (Photo
25). An expansion link with its pair of
eccentric rods attached is shown in
Photo 26.
After machining up the valves PHOTO 24:
with their holding buckles and Lubrication
spindles and fitting each one into its setup, oil lines
steam chest, it was a simple matter to running from
adjust the valve throw across the ports tank at left.
by adjusting the valve spindle nuts
forward of the motion plate. PHOTO 25:
Once again, I referred to figures Machining the
20-21 on page 200 of the book expansion link
Building the New Shay by Mr Kozo to size.
Hiraoka to time the ports. Although open. Another quarter turn and that to the ports could be seen in motion.
his locomotive is a geared Shay, its PHOTO 26: port should be fully open and so on. (Photo 27-28). EIM
valve gear is Stephenson Link motion Completed Repeat the procedure for the left side.
mounted vertically. expansion link Mr Hiraoka’s diagrams are excellent n Bruce continues his project in next
In short, in forward gear, when the with its eccentric and make the whole sequence clear month’s issue, tackling the Single’s
right driving-wheel crankpin is at rods fitted. and comprehensible. lubricator and draincocks.
front dead-centre, the front right port The bronze valve-chest covers Part 1 of this series appeared in last
should just be beginning to crack PHOTO 27-28: were of course removed during the month’s July 2022 edition of EIM –
open. Another quarter wheel Perspex timing process. However I then ran digital back issues can be downloaded
revolution and that port should be covers fitted the Stirling on compressed air to test or printed copies ordered from www.
fully open .When the wheel’s crankpin temporarily to for smoothness and found it helpful to world-of-railways.co.uk/store/back-issues/
is at back dead-centre, the rear observe valve temporarily install clear Perspex valve engineering-in-miniature or by calling
right-side port should just be cracking timing process. covers, so that the valve relationship 01778 392484.

27 28

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 09

 STATIONARY ENGINES

Making a Beam Engine

from ‘Scrap’ Castings
Rich provides a compelling argument that no part should ever be considered as scrap
with this attractive beam engine constructed from automotive components
BY RICH WIGHTMAN

PHOTO 1: The
beam engine and
boiler – a lesson
in recycling
scrap parts...

PHOTO 2:
The cylinder –
once activating
the brakes of a
Rover car.

PHOTO 3: The
cylinder with
its piston and
guide fitted.

PHOTO 4: All
the components
for the cylinder.

PHOTO 5: The
displacement
lubricator, the
condenser and
valve linkage
have been fitted.

PHOTO 6:
2 3 The crankshaft
and flywheel – a
camshaft gear.

PHOTO 7: Two
solid fuel trays
provide the heat.

PHOTO 8: The
front panel of the
porcupine boiler.

PHOTO 9: The
boiler mounted
in its housing.

Photos by
the author

10 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 STATIONARY ENGINES

4 5

T
here has been mention recently In my early days in the motor
on a couple of the model trade it was a common job to remove a
engineering forums that I am a
member of that the price of castings
seems to be on the increase. Which is
dynamo or water pump, recondition it
and refit it to the car. It later became
the norm, however, to buy an
6
not surprising given the current state exchange unit, in automotive terms
of world affairs – the rising cost of raw everything from starter motors to
materials, electricity and gas brake shoes. Nowadays they are
inevitably mean a rise in the price of throw-away items, they don’t even
finished goods. want the old units any more.
Anyway thinking about this Is this progress? I’m not sure but
motivated me to write a few lines let’s save that debate for another day
about one of my early engines. I have and get back to the subject of this
always been a bit of a recycler, a keen article, a beam engine made from
skip-dipper, scrounger and forager castings. Well castings of a sort –
and from an early age I have been please take a close look at the main
amazed at the amount of stuff we view of my beam engine (Photo 1). I
throw away. completed it way back in 2008 and at
the time I wasn’t in the habit of taking
many photos.
9 Raiding the bin
You can see that there are a good
number of car engine parts involved
in this build, all rescued from the
scrap bin at work. One lunch hour I
s

dragged a few bits out and laid them

8 7

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 11

 STATIONARY ENGINES

Rover rear brake cylinder. The

10 11 baseboard is supported on eight car
exhaust valves. The mock fly ball
governor balls were sourced from a
front wheel bearing and this is driven
by an oil filter rubber seal (missing in
the photo).
The material for the rest of the
engine came from offcuts and bar
ends – inside every bit of scrap metal
there’s a new piece waiting to get out.
The brake cylinder, which is
aluminium, had two holes that needed
to be plugged, the brake pipe and the
bleed nipple. I threaded some
aluminium rod and screwed it in tight
then cut it off. The cylinder could then
be machined as a normal casting – the
on the bench, closely observed by my an inverted big-end cap which is itself bore is beautifully machined and
colleagues who were somewhat mounted on top of a piston. The honed, probably better than I could
sceptical when I said I was going to crankshaft is supported on two more ever achieve.
build an engine out of them. big-end caps and the flywheel is a Brake cylinders are also available
To list the main parts – the camshaft gear. in cast iron – I have just had a quick
column and beam are car engine The cylinder, which is also sitting PHOTO 10: Car look on eBay and found them on sale
connecting rods. The column sits on on a big-end cap, started life as a exhaust valves for as little as £7.50, brand new and
make excellent complete and with two pistons
FIGURE 1 legs for the already machined!
Not to scale engine’s base. All the other bits of the engine I
just machined as I went along so I
PHOTO 11: The cannot provide any plans or drawings,
fly ball governor sorry. I have included a few photos
– even this has that hopefully show a bit of detail.
an automotive
prevenance... A first boiler
I later added the little ‘porky’ boiler
FIGURE 1: – this was my first attempt at boiler
Simple diagram making and it powers the engine
of a porcupine easily. For those unfamiliar with
boiler design. porcupine boilers I hope my little
sketch will show what they are. When
PHOTO 12: I researched what type of small boiler
Rear view of to make, of all the simple little boilers
the completed the porcupine was the most efficient
engine – anything compared to other types.
is possible! Basically it consists of five rows of
seven copper studs, ⅛-inch x ¾-inch
which are silver soldered into the
12 bottom of the boiler so that half their
length is inside it. Heat from the
burner is transferred through the
studs directly into the water. If you
can obtain a copy of the book Little
Steamers and Their Boilers by Jack
Wheldon (Jack was known for his
expertise in smaller-scale steam and a
pioneer in 16mm scale – Ed) you will
find an excellent article all about
simple little boilers.
The boiler runs on solid fuel
tablets. Three tablets in one tray is
enough to get the boiler up to 30psi
and then I swap it for the other tray to
keep it going for around ten minutes.
I also added displacement
lubricator and a condenser. And it all
works – you can see a video of the
engine running on steam on Youtube
at https://youtu.be/m12bdcT-Yn0
There are many castings out there
in other industries that could be easily
utilised in this hobby of ours. All it
takes is a little imagination... EIM

12 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 ROAD ENGINE BUILD

A freelance traction
engine in 3-inch scale
Pipework occupies Jan-Eric in the latest part of his road engine project.
BY JAN-ERIC NYSTRÖM Part Eleven of a series

114

B
uilding this traction engine, I’ve PHOTO 114:
already come as far as having to The fabricated
find a way for the ‘steam cylinder assembly
plumbing’, even though there was an attached to the
almost two-year hiatus in top of the boiler.
construction – this was partly due to a engine. You may remember that I’m visible, on top of the boiler, going
painful, almost completely snapped PHOTO 115: building it ‘off-the-cuff’, almost from the cylinder assembly to the
tendon in my right shoulder (from The superheater completely without any construction chimney. Would it be sacrilegious to
attempting to start a recalcitrant pipe ‘bend’ is drawings (except for the necessary also have the live steam coming into
mower), which prevented any heavy fabricated from CAD designs for the plasma cutting of the cylinder in the same, visible way?
lifting for more than a year. The a short piece of the cab and coal bunker parts). I’m I thought it could, since my engine
finished traction engine will probably copper tube. ‘ad-libbing’ as I go – even though this is not an exact model of any existing
weigh around 120kg/260lb, so it is sometimes paints me into a corner, to prototype, anyway – I’m just building
definitely not a toy for tiny tots... nor PHOTO 116: coin a phrase... a fun toy!
for broken tendons! In addition, I had The return So, instead of having the steam
to take care of the estate inventories bend assembly Pipe dream or nightmare? coming from a hole in the top of the
after my parents, who both died is sealed with The steam cylinder was finished long boiler shell, straight up into the
within 15 months of each other – a phosphor-copper ago, but now I had to find a way to get cylinder assembly’s steam chest, I
quite exhausting task... solder – silver the steam in and out of it. Looking at copied the design from my ten-wheeler
Now, with the tendon healed, and solder is not photos of original, antique equipment locomotive, using a throttle in the
the other duties brought to suitable here. as well as the many drawings in smokebox instead of in the valve chest.
completion, there was again time to go decades-old issues of model Then, I could simply drill a hole in the
down to the basement workshop and Photos by engineering magazines, I noted that top of the smokebox, and pass the
plan the final design of the traction the exhaust pipe almost always was steam through a pipe to the cylinder
▲
the author

115 116

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 ROAD ENGINE BUILD
PHOTO 117: The interior of the smokebox with the exhaust pipe in front.
117 PHOTO 118: A close-up of the banjo connectors.
PHOTO 119: The exhaust pipe from the cylinder assembly passes through a hole in
the base of the chimney.
PHOTO 120: The interior of the chimney seen from below.
PHOTO 121: Looking into the chimney from the top, exhaust pipe is nicely centred.
PHOTO 122: The steam piping is now completed. The unorthodox live steam supply
pipe is seen under the exhaust pipe.
PHOTO 123: The blow-down valve has a quick-release connector.
PHOTO 124: Two eccentrics with straps. One is for the valve gear, the other for the
feedwater pump.

valve (also non-existent on prototypes, at around 650 degrees C/1,200 degrees

which all used slide valves). F should always be used. Always
Photo 114 shows my solution. The remember: Safety First!
lower pipe brings the steam from the
smokebox throttle to the valve Inside the smokebox
cylinder, while the upper tube, still Photo 117 shows the smokebox
unconnected at left, will pass the spent interior. Note the large steel ring,
steam to the exhaust nozzle in the tack-welded to the inner front edge of
chimney. At least the latter is in the smokebox, and which has many
prototype fashion! drilled and tapped holes for the
118 I also decided to fit a superheater
(these were not used in prototype
smokebox cover bolts. The ring was
plasma-cut from 3mm (a little under
traction engines, as far as I know), so I 1/8-inch) thick steel plate at the same
made a very simple one from 1/4-inch time as I made the parts for the cab
copper pipe with ‘return bends’ and coal bunker. The superheater
fashioned from 3/8-inch pipe. Photo loops enter the two large flues in the
115 shows how I shaped the ends on middle of the boiler.
the 1/4-inch pipes in order to make the In Photo 118, you can clearly see
simplest possible return bend, using the two ‘banjo’ connectors for the
– well, having seen my little self- steam supply – they are necessary for
portrait cartoon before, you must both assembly as well as disassembly
surely know: my trusty angle grinder! of the piping. Without them, it would
Sticking the smaller pipes into be necessary to solder the parts
holes drilled in the short piece of the together but this would make any
larger pipe, I used ordinary plumbing future service operations a lot more
phosphor-copper solder to seal the difficult, needing de-soldering of the
return bend, Photo 116. Silver solder pipes each time.
would not have worked, since it flows The half-hidden banjo joint at the
very easily into even the smallest top is the steam outlet from the
spaces due to capillary action. The throttle valve, into the two 1/4-inch
phosphor-copper solder acts in a quite pipes going to the superheater loops.
different way, being paste-like at lower On either side of that banjo, you see
temperatures, while it still flows well two hollow stays; one is for a steam
at higher heat. (Silver solder is an pipe to the whistle, the other to a
119 ‘eutectic’ alloy, melting all through at
a single temperature, or in any case a
blower, yet to be installed. The vertical
pipe in front is the ‘dry pipe’, going
very narrow range, while phosphor- upwards, through the smokebox and
copper has a much wider range from to the cylinder.
solid to liquid.) Photo 119 shows how the exhaust
Working carefully with a smallish steam from the cylinder is led into the
propane torch, it was rather easy to chimney. The hole in the chimney is
seal the gaps of less than 1/16-inch in drilled to the same diameter as the
the return bend, and still avoiding too exhaust pipe, which is thus a tight fit,
much phosphor-copper solder to flow in order not to spoil the partial
past, into the larger pipe and plug the vacuum that develops when the spent
steam path. steam is blown upwards in the
Note that this type of solder is not chimney, creating an ejector effect.
suitable for constructing a boiler! It This is necessary to keep the fire
will become brittle with age due to going in the firebox.
interaction with combustion gases, Photo 120 shows the inside of the
and could cause the boiler seams to chimney, photographed from below.
crack. In a return bend, a cracked The small brass screws hold the pipe
joint is not a big deal, it is easily sections in place in their respective
repaired, and will pose no danger. But elbows. Removing the screws makes
for copper boiler construction, disassembly for servicing very easy.
ordinary tin-free silver solder, melting These screws need to be of brass; steel

14 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 ROAD ENGINE BUILD

screws would quickly rust away in the

hot steam.
Photo 121 is shot from the very
120 121
top of the chimney. I may yet have to
add a constricting nozzle to the end of
the exhaust pipe – the first steam-ups
will tell if this is necessary or not. An
ordinary concentric blower nozzle will
be installed around the exhaust tube,
in order to keep the propane fire going
when the engine is not running and
no exhaust steam is blown up the
chimney. A blower would be just as
necessary for coal or oil firing.
Starting up the fire will necessitate an
electric blower on top of the smoke The straps contain PTFE-coated gear, which needs two. I’ll describe the
stack to induce some draft. sleeve bearings (cut to length to fit the valve gear and feedwater pump in
thickness of the straps). future articles. EIM
Taking shape The eccentrics will be virtually
Photo 122 shows the engine at this “The exhaust self-lubricating, only infrequently n Unfortunately we won’t be bringing
stage of completion, less the wheels needing a drop or two of oil. One you the next part of this series for a
and many parts of the driving gear pipe almost eccentric is for the feedwater pump, little while as Jan-Eric is being obliged
mechanism – these had to be removed always was which has the same the throw as the to take a break from the construction.
in order to fit all the parts built at a visible, on valve gear, in other words 18mm. He will tell more next month.
later stage. Below the exhaust tube top of the Unlike my railway locomotives, this
going from the cylinder to the traction engine will rely on only one Parts one to eight of this series appeared
chimney, you can see my ‘heretical’
boiler, going water pump, partly because the engine in the September 2021 to April 2022
steam feed to the valve chest – I hope from the can be shifted ‘out of gear’, allowing issues of EIM and part nine and ten in
it doesn’t mar the looks of the engine cylinder the pump to work while the wheels the June and July 2022 issues. To read
too much, once the cylinder cowling assembly to stay stationary. previous parts you can download digital
and boiler cladding have been added... The other eccentric is for the valve back issues or order printed copies from
Looking at the bottom of the
the chimney. gear, which will be of the ‘loose www.world-of-railways.co.uk/store/back-
boiler’s firebox, you will see a Would it be eccentric’ type, needing only a single issues/engineering-in-miniature or
quick-release coupler and a ball valve, sacrilegious eccentric, unlike Stephenson’s valve by calling 01778 392484.
a close-up is shown in Photo 123. The to also
valve is used for blowing down the
boiler after a run (necessary to prevent
build-up of scale), as well as for filling
have the
live steam 122
the boiler with water from a garden coming into
hose or other suitable source. I have a the cylinder
similar arrangement on my ten- in the same,
wheeler locomotive, and it has proved
to be very practical. visible way?”
Two flat ‘hooks’ are also welded to
the bottom of the boiler’s foundation
ring on each side of the valve, these
hooks are for holding the propane
burners in place.
I have started work on the valve
gear. Photo 124 shows two eccentrics
with their straps. The latter are made
from two parts, a ring and a ‘lug’,
silver soldered together. The M6
threads in the lugs will accept the
threads on the eccentric rods, which
thus can be adjusted to exact length.

123 124
www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 15
 WORKSHOP TOOLS

Tender Bender
The latest part of father-and-son team Peter and Matthew’s project to build a ‘universal’
bending tool able to form almost any radius focuses on adding a sharp bending accessory.
BY PETER & MATTHEW KENINGTON Part Three of a short series

O
ne further part was made for
the bending tool that we have FIGURE 7
constructed over the past Approx three times
couple of issues – an ‘anvil’ to enable full-size
sharp bends to be made precisely. This
is an example of a ‘custom-designed’
part for a specific application
(achieving very tight radius bends),
although many other possibilities
exist for other ‘custom’ parts, to fit
into the same place (U-channel base
section) in the bender.
This part was fabricated from a
piece of 30mm x 16mm x 750mm mild
steel bar. Fortunately, such bar is
readily available, with the correct
width and thickness dimensions, so
the only fabrication required was to
cut the bar to length and then to mill
the V-groove along its length. This is
not straightforward to do, particularly
on a mill with an X-travel of less than
the required 750mm and it required both readings should be as near FIGURE 7: Diagram of the anvil V-groove.
careful setup. identical as possible (or zero, if Z = 0
The end-elevation drawing of the was set at the first probe location). PHOTO 36: Overview of the setup for machining a
anvil is shown in Figure 7. Essentially Note that a challenge with this V-groove in the ‘anvil’ bar.
the whole part is a 750mm extrusion method is that the end of the probe,
of this end-face. being spherical, is difficult to place PHOTO 37: Checking that the vice is level…
The basic setup used is shown in centrally on the bar’s edge, if the
Photo 36. Two V-clamps were used, front-rear (Y-direction) placement of PHOTO 38: …and then that the installed bar is level.
the smaller of which was held in a the bar isn’t accurate beforehand. This
machine vice (to the right in the
photo) and the larger of which was
supported on a collection of
can be overcome by edge-finding the
front and rear of the bar, at equivalent
Z-heights for both measurements and
36
123-blocks. Parallels were used to splitting the difference (and doing this
provide some positional adjustment again at the second measurement
– one was used on each V-block, location) – a slightly tedious process,
although only the left-hand one is but the most accurate method. It also
visible in the photo. serves to confirm (or otherwise) the
The workpiece needs to be parallel alignment of the workpiece to
precisely level and precisely parallel to the mill’s Y-axis.
the mill-table. The latter is relatively Finally, it is necessary to find the
easy to achieve, with a little patience centre of the face into which the
and an edge-finder. In the former groove needs to be cut (the wider of
case, we used two methods: the first the two faces on the bar). Whilst this
was to deploy a digital inclinometer, can be done by a little trigonometry (I
with a magnetic base.
With this method, it is first
necessary to ensure that the reference
machine vice is level – or at least to
37 38
note what angle it subtends to
horizontal (Photo 37). As can be seen,
our mill is pretty well set up in this
regard. The workpiece itself can then
be measured (Photo 38) and adjusted,
for example using shims in either the
vice or a V-clamp.
The second method was to use an
electronic edge-finder, essentially as a
depth probe (Photo 39). The DRO
Z-reading is checked at two points
some distance apart along the bar and

16 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 WORKSHOP TOOLS

39A 39B

set Matthew this as an exercise, which order to make it distinctive, and the
he got right in method but wrong due location of this mark again measured.
to misunderstanding how to use the This process can be repeated as many
calculator built into Microsoft times as necessary to find the centre
Windows!), it can also be done by position. As can be seen in the photo,
FIGURE 39A/B: Re-checking that bar is level by a different observation relatively quickly/easily. it took us three iterations to do this.
means; (a) reference position and (b) measurement position. The centreline doesn’t need to be Once the central position has been
perfect, as the blade has a little lateral found, it is probably a good idea to
PHOTO 40: Setting tool-height – the three ‘scratches’ show ‘slack’, in use, and can move small zero the Y and Z axes on your DRO (if
the attempts at doing this; callipers can be used to measure amounts to accommodate errors you have one) as it makes it easier to
the position of the (very light) cut and adjustments to the Y made here. then set the required cut depth for the
and Z axes made accordingly. These scratches will, of course, The iterative method involves final V-groove.
be milled away when cutting the groove. setting the edge of the milling cutter’s The depth of a cut required in
‘corner’ to approximately the correct both of the Y and Z directions, in
PHOTO 41: Completed anvil, after painting (and some use!). position and then taking a short, light, order to form an a mm depth in the
cut (Photo 40). The position of the centre of the ‘V’, is given by:
PHOTO 42: U-section before milling. resulting score line can then be Y & Z cut depth = √2 x a
measured (for example using callipers)
PHOTO 43: U-section after milling and painting. and the tool position re-adjusted. So, for example, to achieve the
A second light cut can then be desired 4mm V-depth in a single pass,
Photos and diagrams by the authors taken, slightly longer than the first in a cut depth of 5.66mm in both Y and
Z axes would be required. With many

40 41 smaller mills, it would, of course, be

advisable to build up to this cut depth,
rather than attempting to do it in a
single pass.
Once complete (and painted), the
anvil should look something like
Photo 41.
It was also necessary to mill out
our piece of U-section, such that its
internal walls were square to the base.
As supplied, these are square
externally, but tapered internally, with
radiused corners (Photo 42). These
need to be made square, to accept the
‘anvil’ bar, not forgetting to make
some allowance for the thickness of
any paint you may wish to apply, to
42 43 protect both parts from rusting
(Photo 43).
It is, of course, perfectly valid to
machine the bar to fit the U-section,
thereby preserving the lateral
strength properties of the U-section
(no sharp corners to encourage
cracking). However this is more
difficult to do, especially without an
angled vice (one of the many desirable
pieces of workshop equipment we
don’t yet have!). Any loss of lateral
strength in the U-section part should
s

not be an issue in practice, however,

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 17

 WORKSHOP TOOLS

44 45 46

as the angle-iron pieces will absorb gravity) in the milled V-groove PHOTO 44: 14mm diameter in position.
the majority of any such loads discussed above. This rod is capable of Bending blade This photo illustrates the use of
present, in use. ‘sharp’ bends when used with the with 6mm square small neodymium magnets in order to
angle-iron base shown in Figure 4 in cross-section hold the rod in place. These can be
Bending options part 2 of this series. rod resting in used whilst the workpiece is being
An example range of options for Photo 45 and 46 show increasing the V-shaped positioned and initial bending
bending-rods, which can be sizes of round cross-section rod (also groove. This pressure is applied. After this point,
accommodated by the tool, are shown held in place simply by gravity) – both can be used for the bending pressure alone will hold
in Photos 44-47. In Photo 44 a 6mm fit and centre easily. Finally, Photo 47 tight (minimum the rod in place and the magnets can
square cross-section rod is shown shows the blade inverted (as it would radius) folds. be removed, if they are likely to
placed (but not held, other than by be in use) with a much larger rod of impinge upon the bend.
PHOTO 45:
Blade with 5mm
47 diameter rod in
the V-shaped
49
groove. This will
result in slightly
greater than (but
close to) a 2.5mm
radius bend.

PHOTO 46:
Blade with 8mm
diameter rod in
the groove – this
still fits securely
and produces a
slightly greater
than 4mm
radius bend.

48 PHOTO 47:
Finally, bending
blade (inverted,
to its correct
orientation) with
a 14mm diameter
rod held in the
groove by small
neodymium
magnets. These
allow blade to
be positioned
on work-piece
but will have no
impact on the
bend itself.

18 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 WORKSHOP TOOLS

Completed Bender PHOTO 48:

The completed bender was painted Completed
using some leftover Hammerite paint bender looking
and is shown assembled in its ‘flaring’ smart in its green
configuration in Photo 48. The Hammerite livery.
V-groove in the top of the blade, used
to accommodate narrower bending PHOTO 49:
rods/formers, is just about visible, if With the blade
you look carefully. In its ‘flaring’ inverted and a
configuration, as shown in the photo, square-cross-
the angle-iron pieces are inserted in section rod
the U-channel of the base section and added to put
the blade inserted rod-side downwards. the bender
Photo 49 shows the bender in its into ‘sharp’
‘sharp’ bending configuration. The bending mode.
angle-iron pieces have been replaced
by the anvil, discussed in relation to PHOTO 50:
Figure 7 and its subsequent photos, Key components
and the blade has been inverted, with a
square-cross-section rod inserted into
of the bender
when used in its 50
the groove in the blade. Our rod was ‘sharp’ bending
made of stainless steel and so cannot configuration. A more detailed view of this ■ Peter and Matthew conclude their
be held in place using magnets, configuration is shown in Photo 50, project in next month’s issue by
however a small piece of masking tape, with the main components labelled. describing examples of the bending tool
or some Blu Tack, can be used instead; The thrust-bearing is also clearly in use.
holding the rod in place whilst setting visible in this picture and certainly Parts one and two of this series were
up the workpiece does make life a little makes achieving a final ‘nip’ much published in the June and July 2022
easier during this stage of the process, easier, especially when using thicker/ issues of EIM – to obtain printed or digital
although it is not essential. stronger materials. EIM copies of these editions, see page 9.

AT THE TRACK

A word of warning...
Stuart tells a sorry tale to alert clubs to the dangers at tracks that seem safe...
BY STUART ROTHWELL

E
ncouraged by the articles I wrote
in recent times for EIM I
became involved in the
restoration of a 5-inch gauge half-a-
mile long track formally known as the
Moss Bank Model Engineering
Society. It was run for the public in the
1980s but the then society eventually
closed down and the track was used by
a local fairground as part of the
attractions in the park – eventually it
stopped altogether about six years ago.
The population of Bolton that a huge success and the line has “It proved
frequent this park have fond memories received massive amounts of easy for
of having rides on the line with their encouragement from the residents
parents and were very disappointed at who were able to take their children these
the closure. Some 2½ years ago and on a nostalgia trip. crooks
with encouragement from our council Around 1am on Saturday 5th who with
a very small group decided to attempt June, however, a group of thieves stole the right
a rescue – I joined the group and since all the aluminium rail on the line
most of the physical engineering work including the new stock we had for equipment
had been done to the track, passenger repairs and in doing so destroyed all did not undertaking with very few people and
trucks and locos I concentrated on the of the track. have any no finance, but we will see. EIM
legal, health & safety and insurance I write this in order to warn other problems
side of things. societies that though they believe The Editor adds: A cautionary tale
Eight weeks ago we opened to the their property is secure, which ours getting indeed. Sadly such thefts are
public, running only diesel-outline was, it proved easy for these crooks what they becoming more common due to rising
locos for now and in a quiet way who with the right equipment did not wanted...” prices of metal. If any person or
whilst we allowed the track to settle have any problems getting what they organisation feels able to help Stuart
and our volunteers got used to the wanted. We do not know what we will Photos by and his fellow members we will gladly
procedures. I have to say that it proved do now, restoration again is a major the author pass on your contact details.

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 19

 SMALLER SCALE

Restoring a Gauge 1
Midland Compound
Anthony’ G1 restoration project this month begins to tackle the locomotive itself.
BY ANTHONY WHITE Part Five of a short series
Hitting rock bottom
I
now turn to the perhaps more
exciting and engineering part of Once I had the two frames separated it
the project; the restoration of the was time to remove paint, glue and
locomotive – firstly the chassis and general thick grime from them so I
then the superstructure. The chassis I used a paint stripper followed by
had to begin with is shown in Photo really hot soapy water. This I felt was
28, and as I previously found with the the low spot of the rebuild, it becomes
bogie and tender, the back-to-back a horrible thick gunky mess and I did
wheel measurement was incorrect for worry that I would discover that part pieces soldered to the inside of the
the standards so I needed first to of the chassis was plastic – I already frames in the appropriate places,
dismantle the chassis and remove the knew it had been a loco with insulted drilling holes through to take the 8BA
cross-pieces by a mix of unsoldering wheels for two-rail track pickup – and screws of the existing cross-pieces.
and localised heating, to break down my restoration would become a major This can just be seen in Photo 30
the glue and dismantle it into its rebuild. But once the job was done where the front spacer has been
component parts. and I was starting to clean up the widened with a 1mm extra nickel-
I described in Part 1 the challenges metal things begin to look better. silver layer soldered in place on the
of getting wheels off their axles on the With the wheel back-to-back PHOTO 28: The inner aspect of the frames.
side where the spokes had been sawn having to be increased by 2mm on the chassis before The spacer further back for the
through and re-glued, as I dare not get tender and bogie the same was restoration. bogie fixing has not yet been replaced
too much heat into those spokes. After required of the width of the main loco but the 1mm thick packing piece is
dealing with the remaining driver on frames, so I replaced the two round PHOTO 29: just visible soldered in position and
its ‘solid’ side I used a small blowlamp cross-pieces with new turned ones The main frames drilled with matching holes, although
close to the axle into the wheel on the 37mm rather than 35mm long. separated, but as it has been filed and shaped to the
‘fragile’ side, with the wheel itself The rectangular cross-pieces were still with cylinders frame it is quite difficult to see.
placed in a packing of ice before of a hard non-metallic material and I and the slide Increasing the frame width by
heating the axle. This seemed to wanted to avoid completely remaking bars attached. 2mm means moving the cylinders and
quickly do the trick without damaging them, as it would have meant buying their associated parts in by 2mm. As
the glued spokes and I finally had the in some suitable material. So I added Photos by the cylinders sit in a shaped brass
frames apart as shown in Photo 29. 1mm thick matching rectangular the author block (Photo 31), this was an easy task
as all I had to do was mill away 1mm

28 from the base of the seating block.

Then of course the slide bars had
to be altered at their rear fixing to
remain in line parallel with the
frames. I could probably have soldered
the slide bars to their holding bracket
further in by a mm, but I took them
both off and milled 1mm off the base
before re-soldering them in position. I
used the opportunity to refit them not
at right angles to the top of the frames
as originally but lightly angled to line
up with the cylinders as in prototype.
While I had the frames apart I ran

29 some checks on the fittings for the

brake gear and discovered that only
one hole was in the correct position
and was rather oversize. So I tapped
and filled all the holes with scraps of
6BA brass stud, soldered in position,
filed the faces smooth and drilled and
tapped new holes all in the correct
position to take 12BA bolts. The result
can be seen on one side in Photo 32.
The critical task here again is to
ensure that all the holes are at the
correct height and in line, otherwise
you will get into terrible problems
later when the cross-pieces at the

20 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 SMALLER SCALE

30 31

lower end of the hangers are put in brake hangers from being fitted in paint the chassis was an unnecessary
place. One or more will be skewed and their correct position. It needed chore that could easily be avoided.
worse when the pull rods are added redesigning and remaking and that I have previously detailed how I
these will not be parallel to the ground became the next job after I had worked on the tender and bogie
or each pair in line. quickly checked that my replacement wheels, but doing the drivers was a job
I did move each brake fitting point motor and gearbox would also fit the I had been putting off. Restoring them
1mm further out from the axle centre chassis without modifications. first required the chipped paint to be
of each driver than on the prototype, The new rear spacer was fabricated PHOTO 30: removed, again without damaging the
to accommodate the slightly larger with some scraps of brass angle and a Front frame glued spokes on one side and fitting
flanges on the model. Once happy that piece of ⅛-inch thick brass 15mm x spacer increased the new longer and now telescopic
the side shown in the photo was going 37.5mm to fit between the rear of the in width by metal axles. I had been thinking about the
to be satisfactory I repeated the frames. Its shape is not important, spacers added to two major issues, getting the back-to-
changes for the other frame. except that the hole for the rear fitting inside of frames. back correct at 42mm and quartering.
screw needed to be measured up Getting the paint off required a
Adding some spring carefully so that it lined up with the PHOTO 31: combination of isopropyl alcohol and
Reviewing the new chassis, I realised existing screwed hole in the cab floor. A cylinder and its elbow grease with wire brushes, files,
that though it didn’t have real sprung I decided to paint the now holding block. grit blocks and emery paper. It was
suspension it even lacked any obvious complete chassis before replacing the very definitely a tedious job but
cosmetic spring detail, leaf springs for drivers, although the brake gear still PHOTO 32: important as the wheels are quite
the rear and twin coils at the front. So had to be redesigned, remade and The chassis prominent on the finished model.
I faked it and manufactured these added. All the 12BA steel bolts for reassembled I also had to repair part of one
from a couple of spring castings in my holding the brake gear were in place 2mm wider and driver as it had some missing spokes
scrap box and some old coil springs – I put a short length of plastic tube now with 12BA where a magnet had been glued. It was
and scraps of brass and nickel silver. over each to keep paint off the threads. brake hangers a dirty, laborious and boring job – the
The result before and after can be seen I then thoroughly degreased and in position. alternative would have been turning
by comparing Photo 32 with Photo 33. cleaned everything and with a length new castings, which I would have
For the coil springs the dimensions of wooden dowel in the main bearings PHOTO 33: enjoyed a little better and which
are approximations of works drawing I sprayed it all with primer and a Cosmetic spring probably would have been quicker.
dimensions – the top is an 11mm couple of coats of black enamel. arrangement I decided to paint the spokes and
length of brass angle drilled and Experience had taught me that getting fitted under faces of the drivers before starting on

s
tapped for 10BA bolts, over which fits the brake gear and wheels off again to the frames. fitting the axles. I felt I needed to have
some 3.5mm brass rod. This is drilled
1.7mm to fit into some Mark Wood
coil springs that are 4mm outside
diameter. This brass tube helps fill the
32
interior of the spring coil and keep
everything symmetrical –the springs
having an internal diameter of about
3mm didn’t sit comfortably and
straight over the 10BA bolts with an
external diameter of 1.7mm.
At the bottom is a scrap of brass of
4mm x 10mm with holes to go over
the lower end of the spring, tube and
10BA bolts. The whole lot is tightened
up to slightly compress the springs for
a better appearance.
The frames were then reassembled
33
and it was then necessary to see how
this widened chassis would fit under
the body. Apart from a little filing at
the lower end of the reversing lever on
the bodywork it seemed to settle in,
but the rear chassis spacer was no
longer usable as it prevented the rear

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 21

 SMALLER SCALE

34 35 themselves needed major attention.

The original crankpins needed to
be remade because the front pair had
A the coupling rod inside and the
connecting rod on the outside. This is
of course wrong as on this class of
Midland loco the connecting rod is on
the inner aspect of the front pins with
in Gauge 1 a 5mm bearing. The
coupling rods, with 4mm bearings,
are set outside and parallel to the
frames so that at the rear there is a
significant gap between coupling rod
B and wheel boss face. The difference in
crankpins is shown in Photo 36 with
the new replacements in the lower
group. These were a simple turning
and threading job, but length
dimensions need to be carefully made.
Now that I knew for sure that the
chassis would comfortably negotiate a
to hand a sturdy back-to-back gauge PHOTO 34: the axle and with four symmetrical small curve I felt confident to
and as I had given away all my Gauge Simple back-to- holes to take some 4BA studding. assemble the working motion parts. It
1 gauges I made one from a scrap of back gauge. For driver quartering a hole is was then that I came up against one of
angle iron as shown in Photo 34. I do drilled in the two inner plates to take the problems of making a scale model
wonder whether I wasted my time as PHOTO 35: a 6BA screw through the rear of the to 10mm scale rather than 1/32 scale
so far, all the wheels have had the The driver crankpin holes at A so you need to – the gauge is too narrow for the scale
back-to-back set by the design of the assembly and ensure the jig is assembled with the and I had problems aligning the slide
axles so I hardly used the gauge. quartering jig. drivers correctly quartered. bars and connecting rods.
A quartering jig (that doubled as a For drilling the taper pin hole, you With a bit of tweaking using some
back-to-back check) was made next PHOTO 36: need to have the square jig B in extra washers I disguised the
and was a more useful gadget that Original crank position on the axle to act as a guide discrepancy and ended up with a fully
would also double as a jig for drilling pins (above) and for the drill. I only use this to make a set-up motion work that turned over
the hole in the telescopic axle for the replacements. pilot hole and once done I remove the with a smoothness that gave me quiet
taper pin when assembling the drivers. jig before using the taper reamer to satisfaction and considerable relief.
It is shown in Photo 35 and was made PHOTO 37: create the hole for the taper pin. I
from four sheets of 75mm square Chassis complete usually shorten the taper pin once set Visual spur
aluminium, centre drilled ¼-inch for ready for body. up to avoid having a long pin rotating As can be seen in Photo 37 showing
round the axle that might catch on progress to this point, I did finish

36 something when running.

When I came to use it, I found
that I didn’t need the outer plates to
painting the chassis at this stage to
save having to remove the drivers
again. As has been said before once
hold the drivers flat against the inner you get to this stage and can see your
plates because the 6BA bolt or screw model working it is encouraging
from inside the inner plates that was knowing that there is really only
holding the wheel by its threaded cosmetic detail work from now on.
crankpin hole (arrow A), once Two further chassis aspects that
tightened did that job. I thus ended up needed considerable work done were
using only the two inner plates. making, or in my case re-making and
Once I had both pairs of driving refining the brake gear and improving
wheels quartered and the taper pins the bogie fixing. While the loco did sit
fitted I assembled both pairs in the on a 9-foot curve, it was a tight fit and
chassis, added the bogie and carried a little controlled sideways movement
out a test to ensure everything sat of the bogie would be an improvement.
easily on a nine-foot curve before The solution to the latter was covered
starting to add the motor, crankpins in part 1 of this series and the brake
and rods. But first the crankpins gear I will return to shortly. EIM

37

22 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 PROTOTYPE

Hovercraft & air cushions

Rodger describes the short history of a prime example of British engineering innovation,
the potential of which was never properly exploited.
BY RODGER P. BRADLEY

A
s a child, like many of us I was
drawn to building models, and
of course, at school we had
these arts and crafts lessons – a
welcome relief from learning ‘times
tables’ and ‘weights & measures’,
although those skills did come in
handy too.
One of my earliest attempts at
building a model was inspired by news
of the latest transport technology –
the SRN1 hovercraft. But, surprisingly
the idea for the real thing had a very
long history and was almost 250 years
old, although like many of us my first
thoughts were directed to Christopher
Cockerell, creator of the SRN1.
The original concept came from a
Swedish theologian, a philosopher
with a passion for science. Emanuel
Swedenborg had studied physics at
Uppsala in Sweden, and travelled
across Europe, through the the 20th Century as either theories or ABOVE: Popular image of the hovercraft, here on the Isle
Netherlands, Germany and England. small-scale models. One of the most of Wight service in summer 1980. Photo: Andrew Charman
He returned to Sweden in 1715, and in ingenious perhaps came during the
his own publication Daedelus in 1716 First World War, when a fast torpedo BELOW: The author’s interest in model hovercraft was
described his own design for a “Flying boat was built in Austria, based on a stoked by plans published by MAP, still available in the 1970s.
Machine”, which was described as design by Dagobert Müller von
resembling an upside-down boat. At Thomamühl. This was powered by a BOTTOM LEFT: Emanuel Swedenborg’s design for a ‘Flying
the heart of this – literally – was a six-cylinder engine driving two Machine’ from 1715, operated by manpower!
control position, with a paddle used to propellers, but the key component was Image: Swedenborg/Wikipedia Commons
compress the air beneath the boat, to a four-cylinder engine driving a fan to
provide lift. blow hot air down the hull to create an
Clearly manpower alone would air cushion, the vessel described as a
never provide enough force to provide ‘Hydrofoil with Thomamühl system’.
the necessary lift – so it remained Later, the eminent Russian rocket
simply a sketch on paper. There was scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who
then around a 150-year gap until in had been working on aerodynamics
Britain, Sir John Thornycroft began and rocketry since the late Victorian
experimenting with the idea of using a era, turned his attention to jet aircraft
‘film’ of air to reduce the drag and gas turbines, and in the 1920s
between the hull of a ship and water. published his design for a train riding
There was no intention to try and use on an air-cushion.
air to ‘lift’ the ship, but simply to In fact, Tsiolkovsky had been
provide less friction. developing the idea of the hovercraft
Various other ideas appeared in since 1921, publishing a fundamentally
▲

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 23

 PROTOTYPE

fan of the motor launch was driven

from the propeller shaft, and delivered
air over the bows to determine the
pressure pattern.
Success came in the summer of
1954, on a dinghy Cockerell had
adapted and fitted with a pump to
blow air beneath the hull. The air was
retained using a rubber curtain
allowing that ‘lift’ to be generated.
More interestingly perhaps is the
idea that the creation of the ‘plenum
chamber’ from a cat food tin and a
Lyons Coffee tin produced that
‘eureka’ moment.
The two tins were of similar
diameter, but the cat food tin slightly
smaller. So it was placed inside the
larger Lyons tin and secured near the
top, and a hole was then made in the
top of the slightly larger coffee tin,
and air from an industrial hose
important paper on it in 1927, entitled Developing the Principle attached. The air forced through the
Air Resistance and the Express Train. ABOVE: The Most of the early ideas were targeted hole dissipated around the space – the
In this paper the first key theories on design of Sir at pumping air underneath the boat’s plenum chamber – between the two
aerodynamic methods for air-cushion Christopher hull, and just providing enough air tins, and exhausted at the bottom, at a
vehicles was published. Cockerell’s and film to reducing the drag, and perhaps greater pressure as a ring or curtain of
The work done by British engineer the world’s first raising the hull slightly above the air, creating lift. This is the simple but
Thornycroft was not lost, but the idea true hovercraft. surface. This was all well and good, essential heart of the hovercraft
for an air-cushion vessel never got off Image: James but deriving forward motion would be principle – the ‘momentum curtain’.
the ground – literally – in Britain Rowson/Wikipedia a challenge. From these initial experiments a
until after the Second World War. The Commons Cockerell took the next step in the working model was built, which
name that will forever be synonymous evolution of this theory, which was to according to some reports was a cross
with ‘air cushion’ vehicles or BELOW: channel the air through narrow jets between a spaceship and a Dan Dare
‘hovercraft’ – Sir Christopher Alvis ‘Leonides’ around the perimeter of the vessel, (from the Eagle comic) flying helmet.
Cockerell – began his working life aero engine used and the moving air would provide a Balsa wood was the chosen material
employed by the Marconi Company. to drive the fan ‘momentum curtain’. for the structure – as I’m sure most of
Cockerell left Marconi in 1950 and on SRN.1, at MOSI This wall of air would then restrict us know this was very popular for
bought a small boat and caravan hire Manchester. the amount of said air that could modelling in the 1950s and ’60s. The
company, Ripplecraft Ltd, in which he Photo: ChrisO/ ‘leak’ out, and this meant that a model was powered by a small
developed “revolutionary” ideas for Wikipedia Commons cushion of high-pressure air could be glow-plug engine, also very popular at
the traditional ‘Broads’ pleasure boats maintained with a smaller engine, and the time amongst aeromodellers.
– including placing the steering BELOW RIGHT: in turn, the craft could be lifted away The original Ripplecraft boatyard
position towards the bow. The success Original SRN.1 from the surface of the water. was joined by a new neighbour –
of the boat building and hiring on test with The boatyard was based near the Ripplecraft Hovercraft Ltd, based in
activities led him to think how a boat the Royal Navy. village of Somerleyton in Suffolk, and an old shed previously used as a tool
could be made to go faster, which in Photo: National together with other innovative ideas, store – a very inauspicious start to a
turn led him back to Thornycroft’s Archives/Wikipedia Ripplecraft Ltd began developing and perhaps spectacular invention of the
thinking over 30 years earlier. Commons testing a modified rowing boat and a 20th century that as a go-anywhere
small motor launch, which was fitted form of transport is unrivalled.
with a centrifugal fan. The initial The next steps in the journey
work with the rowing boat used a bring in Lord Somerleyton – on whose
vacuum cleaner to force air under the land some of Cockerell’s early model
boat from a slot in the rear, whilst the trials were held – and Lord Louis

24 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 PROTOTYPE

Mountbatten. It was Mountbatten as

First Sea Lord who passed Cockerell’s
documentation on the theory and
operation of the hovercraft to the
Admiralty’s Director of Research.
Cockerell was keen to convince
officials, from the Ministry of Supply
to the various military agencies, that
the ‘Hovercraft’ was a key vehicle in
the future of transport.

Cold storage
They were not keen, and oddly, and
sadly, the design disappeared into the
bowels of Whitehall for some time RIGHT: The
around 1955 and was placed on the first passenger
‘Secret’ list – this was the time of the hovercraft SRN.2
early battles of the ‘Cold War’. Not captured at
until 1958 was the design and its Weston-super- Saunders-Roe coming under the mounted fan – the outer casing of the
supporting technology declassified, Mare beach in Westland umbrella and from the cylinder was reinforced to protect the
and whilst the ‘authorities’ delayed, August 1963. company’s involvement with both crew in the event of a catastrophic
reports had been received by This craft carries sides of the aero industry, it was engine failure.
developments of the technology the ‘Westland’ perhaps why the NRDC awarded the A simple cab was placed at the
overseas – much to the annoyance of logo, in contrast project to build the world’s first forward end, where the captain, or
its creator and his supporters. to the NRDC hovercraft to Saunders-Roe. pilot would be positioned – this was
It was as a result of these reports lettering on its initially built without doors for its
that a Whitehall official and Cockerell predecessor. Nautical 1 maiden outing and not very watertight
persuaded the Ministry of the need to Its unique hull The go-ahead to complete this for its occupants.
act quickly, and approval was given to shape, complete revolutionary project, from its The air drawn in by the fan and
the National Research & Development with bow, was a previously ‘secret’ classification, was used for lift could also be directed
Corporation (NRDC) to build and test success. Image: swift. It began with the prototype through twin ducts at the outer edges
a full-size working hovercraft. And Rocknrollmancer/ model, which had a large, inverted fan of the structure to provide propulsion
this led to the involvement of aircraft Wikipedia Commons in the centre to provide lift and a and manoeuvrability. At the end of
manufacturer Saunders-Roe. ‘driving cabin’ at the front. Air was each duct were simple aerofoils used
A year earlier there had been a BELOW: The diverted through ducts from the for changing the direction of airflow.
massive re-thinking of air defence SRN.3 was central fan to provide propulsion. The The power unit to drive the lift fan
philosophy in Britain, outlined in the the last of the ‘model’ was tested over land as well as was an Alvis Leonides nine-cylinder
1957 Defence White Paper, which prototypes, and water, to confirm that it was able to radial piston engine, which developed
called for manned combat aircraft to the first to be clear obstacles safely. 450hp – later examples of this engine
be replaced by missiles. fitted with Rolls The world’s first full-sized were developed for use in light
This clearly had an immediate Royce ‘Gnome’ hovercraft was initially known as the transport aircraft and trainers, as well
effect on manufacturing in Britain, power units. Model A and consisted essentially of a as Sikorsky and Westland helicopters.
especially in design and planning Here it is on riveted aircraft-grade aluminium Including the design and testing
phases. The previous programme had Interservice trials, alloy sheet buoyancy tank, coated with phases, the 7-ton, 20 feet long, almost
included a new interceptor aircraft IHU lettering a thin layer of pure aluminium to circular craft by then known as SRN.1
type, designated SR.177, which was to prominently protect against corrosion. Set in a (Saunders-Roe Nautical 1) was built
be built by Saunders-Roe at its factory displayed. large cylinder in the middle of the and launched in less than eight
on the Isle of Wight. The company Image: Jasta013/ upper surface of this ‘deck’ was the months. This rapid development of
had been in the aircraft and Wikipedia Commons such a new and unusual craft as a
craft’s engine and horizontally ▲
shipbuilding industries for many
years, and was well known for its
flying boats – the first and last
jet-powered flying boats built in 1947.
The age of the flying boat was over
by 1950, and in the fixed-wing arena,
Saunders-Roe developed an
innovative ‘mixed propulsion’ fighter
aircraft as an interceptor. The SR53
combined the use of a rocket engine to
achieve maximum rate of climb and
attack hostile aircraft together with a
jet engine to allow the plane to return
to its home airfield.
Saunders Rowe was also heavily
involved in the early days of autogiros
and helicopter development, with a
controlling interest in one of the
pioneer businesses. The restructuring
of Britain’s aerospace industries in the
1950s under the British Aircraft
Corporation (fixed wing) and
Westland Aircraft (helicopters) led to

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 25

 PROTOTYPE

novel form of transport certainly

captured the imagination of many,
and SRN.1 appeared in front of the
world’s press on the 11th June 1959. It
was reported too that the press
refused to leave the scene around the
Saunders-Roe yard until SRN.1 had
been shown to operate on water –
obviously successfully.
Only a few weeks later, SRN.1
made its first Channel crossing from
Calais to Dover, with its inventor on
board. Appropriately, this was the 50th
anniversary of Bleriot’s first flight over
the channel in 1909. The shape of its
structure led to the hovercraft
naturally for a time acquiring the
nickname of ‘flying saucer’ – but they
are a very different animal!
This first true hovercraft also
opened up a whole new area of
controversy – was it a boat, or an
aeroplane? The answer at least for
ABOVE: Seen at Ryde Pier Head on commercial craft was of course not
the Isle of Wight in 1965, an SRN.6, then helpful, since the large passenger-
branded ‘Hovertravel’, and used for the carrying variety had captains, as well
short sea crossings to Southsea. No fewer as crew, and military applications for
than 71 examples of this design were the smaller craft followed
constructed by Westland and the British conventional authority structures.
Hovercraft Corporation, alongside 15 of
the SRN.5. Hovertravel still operates two Next Steps
hovercraft today. Next out of the Saunders-Roe/
Photo: Ben Brooksbank/Wikipedia Commons Cockerell design and innovation
school was the SRN.2, but that was not
LEFT: The power plant adopted for the until after a number of modifications
SRN.3, SRN.5 and SRN.6 was this Rolls and detail changes had been made –
Royce Gnome gas turbine/turboshaft especially apparent after the Channel
engine. This example is on display at the crossing, where spray was generated in
Fleet Air Arm Museum. huge volumes. SRN.1 was updated to
Photo: Nimbus 227/Wikipedia Commons the Mark 2 then Mark 3 version, and
by then the need for an additional
curtain around the perimeter of the
craft had seen trials of crude strips of
rubber attached to try and reduce the
impact of spray. A patent on the
general arrangement of skirts had
been lodged by an aircraft designer by
the name of Cecil Latimer-Needham,
and the patent was sold to Westland in
1961. Cockerell had of course come up
with the idea before Needham, back in
1957 – but the lack of a patent could be
seen as a mistake not uncommon in
many pioneering areas of technology.
One of the obvious differences in
SRN.2 was the provision of a bow, to
allow easier passage through rough
water, and this feature was tested on a
further modification to SRN.1. The
new design was still basically ovoid,
but it was intended with this version
to venture into the civil/commercial
arena, as well as for military purposes,
and it was not intended just to be a
research project.
That said, carrying freight or
other heavy objects was not
uppermost in the minds of the
designers, but people were, and the
design provided what could be
regarded as typical of an approach to
carrying passengers on short trips.

26 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 PROTOTYPE

By 1963, the military had some orders globally for hovercraft was such as P&O, Swedish American Line
interest in hovercraft and formed an overshadowing Britain’s pioneering and Swedish Lloyd were keen to join,
Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit, at efforts. One MP, during a debate in but the port facilities at either end of
the Royal Navy’s base HMS Daedalus Parliament shortly after the huge the route were not open to them for
at Lee-on-the-Solent close to ABOVE: SRN.4 SRN.4 was launched, commented “I conventional ferry services.
Portsmouth. Unsurprisingly a new design at Dover will turn for a few minutes to In 1966 the two Swedish
military hovercraft designated SRN.3 in 1973, seen here hovercraft. The British Hovercraft companies formed ‘Hoverlloyd’ to
appeared – this like SRN.2 was with the cargo Corporation has 90 per cent of the operate a Calais to Ramsgate service
produced under the Westland brand, ramp down, and market and it made the very big and using the SRN.6 craft whilst awaiting
but by 1964, all the hovercraft in ‘Hoverlloyd’ bold jump from the 7 to 10 tons SRN.5 the larger SRN.4 vessels. From 1969
businesses were merged into the markings. Photo: and 6 to the huge SRN.4, just the company took on four of the larger
British Hovercraft Corporation (BHC). GeorgeLouis/ launched. But technically the new vessels and operated between the
Between 1966 and 1974, SRN Wikipedia Commons hovercraft is not very different in newly built hoverports on both sides
types were operated by the design and layout from the small of the Channel well into the 1970s.
Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit, ABOVE RIGHT: vessels. Will this new craft be Competition with British Rail’s
with various programmes intended to SRN.4 at Dover commercially viable at a capital cost of Seaspeed was fierce, and by the late
test the structure and its operations to Hoverport in £1½ million? It was designed at a time 1970s sales were falling and losses
the limit. With the success of the 1980, from where of shortage in cross-Channel mounting. In the early 1980s,
technology established BHC went on it operated shipping, but now that there are 16 to Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd were merged
to design and build more and bigger services to Calais 18 ships a day crossing the Channel, to form ‘Hoverspeed’. But the
craft – the SRN.5 and SRN.6 were the and Boiulogne competition will be severe.” economics were against these large
most numerous of these, launched in under the British craft and despite restructuring, the
1964 and 1965 respectively. In 1967 Rail Seaspeed Cross-Channel operation frequent services were dwindling, as
the biggest craft of all was launched – banner. Photo: In the 1960s, British Rail was the the competition from large hydrofoils
the SRN.4 or ‘Mountbatten Class’ was Murgatroyd49/ owner and operator of a number of and of course the opening of the
perhaps the most famous of all Wikipedia Commons coastal and ferry services, including Channel Tunnel spelled the end.
hovercraft and provided the basis for its ‘Sealink’ traffic between Dover and Today, the military usefulness of
commercial cross-channel services for BELOW: Calais, and it was a logical step to the hovercraft and its ability for search
several years – yet only six were built. Twilight of the exploit the new technology in the and rescue duties is exploited in many
A ’crossover’ between air and land technology – cross-Channel ‘British Rail places, but in Britain, sadly, that
transport saw the arrival of the Hoverspeed’s Hovercraft’ services. In 1965, BR had a potential was never fully realised.
‘cushion craft’, such as those Mark III SRN.4 50/50 partnership with SNCF (French A museum near Gosport in
developed by plane maker Britten- arriving in National Railways), to operate these Hampshire is dedicated to the
Norman, and which appeared only Dover on its last new services from ‘hoverports’ at memory of this remarkable craft – the
two years after SRN.1. As the commercial flight Dover and Calais, under the brand Hovercraft Museum has more than 50
company was developing STOL (Short on 1st October name ‘Seaspeed’. craft on display. Here it is still possible
Take Off & Landing) it seemed an 2000. Photo: These two were not, however, to experience a trip on one of these
opportunity. Britten-Norman was also Andrew Berridge/ alone in the competition for cross fascinating vehicles more than 60
based on the Isle of Wight, and Wikipedia Commons Channel traffic, as ferry operators years after their birth. EIM
though its first product – the CC1 –
hovered successfully, it was not until
the CC2 arrived a year later that the
air from the lift engine (a 240hp
Rolls-Royce V8) was deflected to
provide effective propulsion. The
company went on to improve and
develop these cushion craft, although
it too was later absorbed into the
British Hovercraft Corporation.
For making lake and short sea
crossings, the hydrofoil was a serious
contender, and whilst most did not
have car-carrying capability, they
were certainly competition to the
hovercraft for many services.
As early as 1967, the lack of major

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 HARRY’S GAME

Finding solutions and

more interesting issues...
Our master of matters 6-inch scale on the Welsh coast this month gets the smoke out of
his eyes, only to discover a material he really didn’t want to see...
BY HARRY BILLMORE

T 1
hankfully after all the hard
work that had been put in on
‘Sherpa’, the Fairbourne
Miniature Railway’s 6-inch scale
Darjeeling B-class (and described in
recent editions of this column – Ed),
the locomotive went into traffic on the
day before the May bank-holiday Gala
and then performed well throughout
the three-day event.
The Gala also gave me the kick up
the behind to finish re-commissioning
my 7¼-inch Scamp petrol loco that I
had inherited just before lockdown. It
had languished in a somewhat leaky
shed for two and a bit years before I
managed to bring it to my house and
start work on it, although it turned
out to not need too much
mechanically – a new belt for the
generator drive, a new clutch cable, a
few adjustments, drain the fuel and
then off it went! Unfortunately, it only
went in one direction... investigation it turned out that the badly between the layers and the rust
After a little investigation this was two c-channel steel sections, that had jacking had applied enough force to
traced to the forward/reverse switch been welded on top of each other to break two 3-inch long welds.
contacts being dirty, however the issue form the chassis, had started to rust Unfortunately to sort this issue
was only discovered on the Saturday
afternoon of the Gala, the loco having
run on the short multi-gauge section
of track at the Fairbourne’s Barmouth
PHOTO 1:
Two of Harry’s
projects running
2
Ferry terminus station (see last well, Darjeeling
month’s Club News pages) using a 0-4-0ST ‘Sherpa’
friend of mine’s 5-inch gauge battery with new axles,
electric Ruston as a reverse gear. cranks and crank
pins and his
Friendly fuel 7¹₄-inch gauge
After a load of mechanical operation, Scamp which has
the switch contacts were clean enough required a bit of
to operate and the Scamp was back to recommisioning.
working as it should. On a slight side The 5-inch gauge
note, I am now running the loco wagons are very
entirely on a synthetic four-stroke fuel interesting in
called Aspen 4 – this has two
advantages over petrol from the
pumps: it does not degrade in the tank
how they were
built – a story for
another time!
3
over time so it can be left for a long
period without having to drain the PHOTO 2: One
tank between runs and it will not of the welds split
attack the various engine components on a carriage.
over time like E5 petrol can. I get my
supply from my local lawnmower PHOTO 3: The
supply shop. rust jacking that
With the Gala successfully out of caused the weld
the way I was about to start work on to split.
various other projects when I noticed
one of our semi-open carriages had a Photos by
weld that had split. Upon the author

28 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 HARRY’S GAME

4 5 out properly will require the carriage

to effectively be taken back to its
component parts and rebuilt which I
currently don’t have time to do, so it is
now sat at the back of the carriage
shed out of use until I do have the
time. It is worth checking over
components like this to ensure rust
jacking isn’t causing issues.

Coal from oil

We have also recently had a ton-sized
fresh batch of ‘green coal’ delivered – I
reported on the last batch we had,
made from the waste produced by
rapeseed oil production, in the
December 2021 issue of EIM. This
latest batch is both a different shape
and size, the intention being to help
reduce the smoke by allowing the
volatiles to burn off properly.
Unfortunately with our engines
and line, it has not worked as well as
intended – it definitely reduced the
smoke, but not to a level that we could
work with. The 2ft 3-inch gauge
Talyllyn Railway has also tried it with

6 7 significantly more success, so I believe

the effectiveness is mostly down to the
draft through the fire and the smaller
size of the fireboxes on our locos not
allowing the volatiles to burn off and
therefore creating smoke. The other
slight downside is that it dissolves
slightly in the rain, making firing a
little more interesting in the liquid
sunshine of the Welsh coast...
On the subject of smoke, I have
been trying to reduce the amount of
smoke that builds up in the running
shed in the morning when locos are
being lit up. The most effective
solution so far has been to fit long
chimney extensions into the existing
hoods that drop down onto the
chimney tops and take the smoke a
long way up the hood chimney.
A top-hat flange on the bottom of
as wide a tube as would fit up the
hood, combined with a simple catch
mechanism to hold it up out of the
way, has worked wonders. This has all
PHOTO 4: Trials underway with
another batch of green (in aim and
colour!) coal.
8 but eliminated the smoky haze that
would occasionally fill the running
shed in the mornings!

PHOTO 5: The fire with the green Asbestos alert

coal – it looks good but there are still I mentioned in an earlier article that
challenges to overcome. we had begun to strip down our
6-inch scale Welsh Highland Railway
PHOTO 6: The new chimney loco ‘Beddgelert’ ahead of an overhaul
extension in place with its catch and a return to service after several
holding it up out of the way. years out of use. Unfortunately this
had to be halted when the cylinder
PHOTO 7: The chimney extension cover was removed and an gasket
in use – this has massively reduced containing asbestos was discovered.
the smoke that hangs in the shed While this is a relatively ‘safe’
during light ups. form of asbestos, as it is encapsulated
in the gasket material and very
PHOTO 8: A specialist removing unlikely to release fibres, I took the
asbestos containing gasket material decision to bring in specialists in
s

from the chassis of ‘Beddgelert’. asbestos removal and disposal to chip

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 29

 HARRY’S GAME

9 10

the gasket face clean. As the firm charged by Ports to ponder behind on the spacer casting that the steam
the day, I continued to strip the loco down Once the loco had been stripped down I had passages didn’t line up and created a step.
until more asbestos gasket material was my first opportunity to really look at the This is really not good for steam flow,
found at which point they would step in, deal cylinder porting and how it passes through especially with a design that has long steam
with it and dispose of it in a safe manner. the frames – unfortunately this is going to passages. How I proceed will require a lot of
I found there were asbestos gaskets on create some challenges. As you can see in the thought – I am currently leaning towards
the front and rear cylinder covers and photos, the steam passages from the cylinder putting a piston valve conversion onto it,
between the cylinder casting and the valve bore to the inside edge of the cylinder casting both to improve the porting but also to
chest spacer. It is worth noting that the loco are extremely close to the clamping studs – reduce the load on the valve gear which has
was only built in 1979 so anyone working on this necessitated the builder putting been excessive over the years – as I will show
slightly older locos needs to be aware that significantly smaller studs in this position to you next month!
they could contain asbestos gasket material allow for any sort of land for a gasket. The other interesting feature that
that will require appropriate action. You can also see from the impression left removing the cylinder has revealed, is the

PHOTO 9: an old tool stash... broken drill bits stashed on

11 top of the Beddgelert’s left-hand cylinder.

PHOTO 10: The steam chest spacer casting, note the

mismatch between the port and where the imprint of the
gasket is from the cylinder casting.

PHOTO 11: The cylinder casting as it comes through the

frames – the port is so close to the clamp studs that the
builder has had to use smaller diameter studs in this area.

PHOTO 12: Removing one cylinder reveals how little frame

material is left to take all of the force from the cylinders, even
with a doubler plate in place.

PHOTO 13: Just visible in this photo is where someone

in the past has removed a bracing gusset from the frame
stretcher to each frame plate, further weakening the frames
at what is their weakest point.

PHOTO 14: A reference photo taken to import into Harry’s

CAD software to reproduce the shape of the smokebox – this
old smokebox is paper thin in places.

PHOTO 15: The Fairbourne’s new diesel up in the air with

its wheelsets out for regauging.

PHOTO 16: Beddgelert’s return will be welcome – here it is

awaiting attention in April 2021 behind the chassis and boiler
of Sherpa. Photo: Andrew Charman

30 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 HARRY’S GAME

12 13

small amount of frame material left the frames is extremely limited.

where the cylinder casting passes The other bit of work that I have
through the frames – even with the been doing on Beddgelert in the
doubling plate on the frames there is background is drawing up a new
not a whole lot of material to take the smokebox for the loco – the old one is
force of the cylinders working hard. so rotten that you can put your finger
To compound this, someone in the through it quite easily. I have done
past has cut out the strengthening this by taking a photo of it as square
gussets from between the frame plates on the front face as possible, then
and the front frame stretcher, which inserting this photo to scale into my
has further weakened the frames in CAD software to use as a reference to
this critical area. get the shape correct before drawing
in all the holes that are needed.
Unwanted movement Just to add to the fun of all of the
To make matters even more above, I have been doing a few driving
concerning, the cylinders have not turns to cover the normal train
been attached to the frames with fitted service, while our new diesel has
bolts, thus allowing a small amount of arrived. This is a 2ft gauge Simplex
movement between cylinder and which will be regauged to 12¼-inch
frames and not making use of the – a full description of that process will
cylinder casting to strengthen the also be in next month’s issue! EIM
frames. I need to have a good long
think about what to do in this area too
as the access into the space between
n Details of Fairbourne Railway services
are at www.fairbournerailway.com 14
“This is really not good for steam flow,
especially with a design that has long 15
steam passages – how I proceed will
require a lot of thought...

16

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 EVENT REPORT

2022 Mainline Rally

John went along to the Ryedale SME’s Gilling track for the latest running of this highly
popular annual gathering with an emphasis on scale running.
BY JOHN ARROWSMITH

T
his annual and always enjoyable
1 HEADING:
event at the Ryedale SME took
place over the weekend of the
A line-up really 14th-15th May and as usual the
epitomising the preparations for the rally started on
appeal of the Friday, with many of the locomotives
Mainline Rally arriving along with the rolling stock
with a B1 and an and being unloaded and put into
O4 waiting to storage for the next day’s operations.
leave the up yard There is a very good hydraulic
as a B1 passes locomotive lift adjacent to the Gilling
with a coal train. track’s shed so that engines and large
stock can be unloaded directly onto
PHOTO 1: The the system without any problems
useful hydraulic (Photo 01). It is also a good time to
locomotive lift at catch up with lots of people who have
the Ryedale track travelled to be present – one visitor
leads directly to had travelled all the way from
the shed roads. Australia to be there and enjoy the
atmosphere which is ‘Gilling’.
2 PHOTO 2:
An impressive Scale action
fleet awaiting The railway is located in the village of
their turns as Gilling East which is about 20 miles
Geoff Moore north of York and the rally is
backs his little organised by the Ryedale Society in
GWR 0-6-0 conjunction with the Ground Level
Saddle tank 5-inch Gauge Mainline Association
onto the main (GL5). For readers who are not
turntable to familiar with this event, it is a rally
collect his first where apart from the loco drivers, no
train of the day. passengers of any kind are carried on
trains. All the operations are based on
Photos by British Railways practice from the
the author steam age and all locos and stock are

32 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 EVENT REPORT

standard gauge – no narrow gauge is

permitted during this weekend.
There are two large shunting yards
“It is always a
good test to
4
where trains of all descriptions are know what
made up by the yardmaster and his
team. Locomotive drivers are given
your loco is
their allotted time on the track with capable of
the type of train they are to haul and it doing and
is then the shedmaster’s task to ensure running at
the engines are sent out in time to pick
up their trains, be it on the up or
this event
down lines. This can lead to some will soon sort
interesting movements as locomotives you out if
are shunted across the two busy main you are not
lines to the respective shunting yards experienced...”
or station and then in reverse when
they have finished their duty turn.
The two main running lines are
about a quarter of a mile in length and
feature some testing gradients for
trains especially with the longer
express passenger workings.
Operations start at about 8.30am
in the morning and continue until For example, the main carriage front of the signal box, no mean feat
around 5pm in the afternoon so it is a store is underneath the Erimus yard for such a small locomotive.
long day and a driver may get two adjacent to the down line and stock Once all these movements have
different time slots in that time – all PHOTO 3: The has to be assembled here into whatever taken place the serious business of
engines have to be carefully managed yard turntable the roster needs, so it is quite a job to running trains begins. One of the
and maintained during the day. routinely boasted move all these carriages at one time. first on the up line this year was
an impressive Photo 04 shows the little radio- Balan Baker with his LNER K1 2-6-0
Challenging day array of engines controlled Class 08 shunter pushing a and a short stopping passenger train
Each main line has its own water ranged around long rake of coaches into the yard. (Photo 05).
s
columns strategically placed so that it, here including The loco controller is standing in Obviously with all these train and
drivers can get water at any time, but a Great Central
the coal has to be loaded before the 4-4-0 B11/2.
engine leaves the shed. It is always a
good test to know what your loco is PHOTO 4:
5
capable of doing and running at this Small but very
event will soon sort you out if you are powerful – the
not experienced! radio-controlled
Strict speed limits are in operation Class 8 shunter
so for example a small pick-up goods moves the
train just plods round the mainline at carriage stock
a suitable speed whereas the 15 or into Erimus yard.
16-carriage express does what it says
on the tin, runs at express speeds. PHOTO 5:
This can be quite a sight at times. The LNER K1 of
The early morning start sees the Balan Baker was
steaming bays and turntable area at among the early
their busiest with locos being lit up starters, here
and prepared for the first turns (Photo drifting through
02-03). The yards also start to fill with the station
stock ready for sorting into the with a stopping
various trains needed at any one time. passenger train.

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 33

 EVENT REPORT

6 7

engine movements the signalmen have Another very pleasing aspect of busy, one as the station pilot driver
to concentrate very hard to ensure these weekends is the number of and another learning the signal box
there are no near-misses or accidents younger people actively involved with operations. There is always
and with two boxes to man they are all the many operations needed. A encouragement for these young people
always busy (Photo 06). couple of 8 year-olds were both kept and another young man from the
PHOTO 6: Tyneside club was quite happy and
Erimus signal content driving an A3 loco without
8 box provides a
good view for
any problems at all (Photo 07) – 16
year-old Sam Yields came through the
operators of the Young Engineers section at his club
yard and main and is now fully capable of handling a
line at Gilling. large engine at these sort of rallies.

PHOTO 7: Well-travelled
Among many The visitor from Australia was Neil
young people Howley, a member at the Boxhill club
involved was in Melbourne and he was thoroughly
16-year-old Sam enjoying himself as he absorbed the
Yields from the sights, sounds and smells of this busy
Tyneside club rally. When I caught up with him he
– here heading was with Mike Aherne who was
back to the shed steaming his King Arthur class loco
after his shift. ‘Queen Guinivere’ with some eco-coal
he was trying out and this was making
PHOTO 8: plenty of smog to add to the
Visitor from atmosphere (Photo 08).
Australia Neil Since my last visit to Gilling the
9 Howley certainly
enjoyed himself,
steaming bays have been fitted out
with a new roof (Photo 09) which
here chatting certainly helps with the weather that
matters model sometimes affects the running at the
engineering rally. This year though the event was
in the steaming blessed with fine dry and warm
bay with conditions which always helps.
Mike Aherne. I always like to see rare locomotive
prototypes and Gilling is one of those
PHOTO 9: events where they often appear – this
Part of what year was no exception. The model of a
Gilling is all about War Department 2-10-0 named
– discussions ‘Dame Vera Lynn’ (Photo 10) really
about everything stood out – finished in olive green it
railway-related was an excellent example.
10 go on under
the new roof
There were some good double-
header combinations as well – the
covering the Doug Hewson-designed BR Standard
steaming bays. Class 4 2-6-4 tank loco combined with
his tender version of the loco (Photo
PHOTO 10: 11) made for a good display. The
A rare example double-chimney engine was driven by
of a 2-10-0 War Paul Uttfield while Doug’s own engine
Department was driven by Joe Gibbons and a fine
locomotive sight they made as they handled their
awaits its turn. heavy passenger train with ease.

34 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 EVENT REPORT

11 12

PHOTO 11: A pair of Standards back onto their passenger

train waiting in the platform. 13
PHOTO 12: Father-and-son crew Steve and Matt Andrews
ease the mail train away from the station bay platform.

PHOTO 13: Always plenty to see in the steaming bays – here

Kenneth Willingham from the Scunthorpe Society prepares
his Don Young-designed Y4 0-4-0 for its shift.

PHOTO 14: John Gaye waits for the signal on the up line
with a train of steel hauled by his LMS ‘Crab’ 2-6-0.

PHOTO 15: Happy driver – almost a bird’s eye view as a coal

train with a B1 4-6-0 in charge heads towards the up yard.

“More than 30 locos were booked in for both

days with many types of wagons and carriages
all very well built and maintained...”

Family affair
The father-and-son combination of
Steve and Matt Andrews, who are
14
regulars at these events, displayed
their driving skills on the extended
Royal Mail train which was coupled
up to an LNER V2 and an LMS Jubilee
class loco (Photo 12), demonstrating
the sights of yesteryear very well.
The weekend continued with
constant loco changes and movements
in and out of the shed combined with
lots of shunting in the yards. If railway
operations are your interest then you
can do no better than visit one of
these events where you will be well
entertained. More than 30 locos were
15
booked in for both days with many
types of wagons and carriages all very
well built and maintained.
The organisation was excellent and
the inner man was amply catered for
by the host club’s catering ladies, who
did a splendid job. My thanks go to
everyone concerned for a great
weekend filled with lots of interest and
banter and some excellent running – it
was a pleasure to be there. EIM

n More details of the GL5 Association

can be found at www.gl5.org, and the
Ryedale club at http://rsme.org.uk

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 35

 BENCH TALK

A Britannia Dilemma
Warwick sorts an issue of appearance with an acquired part-built locomotive.
BY WARWICK ALLISON

S
ome time ago I acquired a very
well built 3½-inch gauge
Britannia chassis. The boiler was
part-built, and all in all it was a very
desirable project to finish.
Now a Britannia is a difficult
construction. Apart from lots of bits,
the shape must be correct or else it
will look terrible. And the shape is not
simple! Very little is straight and
right-angled, the cab is low on the
boiler and the sloping-back firebox in
three planes means there is very little
room above the boiler and below the
cab roof for the manifold and other
piping. My loco is to the LBSC design.
The chassis came with some which included a very clear elevation was too high. LBSC did not lag his
drawings, but alas no general line drawing. I have since seen similar boilers and I wanted to lag this one, so
arrangement. I obtained the Model (if not the same) drawing in other I needed said boiler to be a smidgeon
Engineer articles from the club library publications. I scanned this to a PDF lower than what it should have been.
but these were not overly and then imported the drawing into I found that filing the corner of
dimensionally informative. To speed my CAD program. (I use a free one the angled lower throatplate edge
the construction I obtained the tender available online). parallel with the frame did not remove
kit from Model Engineers Laser and I knew what the prototype wheel much material but made a substantial
some loco parts, mainly the smoke ABOVE: The size should be, so measured the wheel difference to the boiler height. I also
deflectors and cab parts. Britannia after size on my CAD drawing. I then removed a small amount of the cross
acquisition – scaled the drawing in the ratio of the chassis member, and soon the boiler
That’s not right some issues wheel sizes to create my 3½-inch level was correct.
I finished the boiler but when placed to address... gauge version. I could then dimension Further troubles were experienced
on the chassis it was clear that things any item I desired! The critical with the cab sides and roof but with
were not right. It was far too high at BELOW: The dimensions were the height from the my CAD program I could find any
the cab end, while the cab sides looked completed loco, rail to the top of the frame, and the dimension I wanted and it was now a
too deep, the cab roof too long. suitably splendid. rail to top of the boiler and cab. straightforward task to manipulate
It was clear I had a problem, but I I found the rear truck rollers were the cab plate sizes to the correct scale.
did not know where the actual FIGURE 1: lifting the rear too high so I removed It was still a squeeze to fit everything
problems were. The missing general The Britannia them. I then set the loco springs to under the cab roof, but with some
arrangement and the dimension- drawing in CAD, give me the correct height, and a space now determined at least I had a
sparse remaining drawings did little dimensioned for frame parallel to the ground. fighting chance!
to help. I needed a dimensioned 3¹₂-inch gauge. The benefit of a CAD drawing of
drawing for 3½-inch gauge. Lagging behind what you are making is that you can
The problem was resolved by Photos and Now that the chassis was sitting easily obtain any dimension you want,
creating my own. I had an elderly but drawing by correctly, I could place the boiler on it many more than are usually shown on
very useful Locomotive Profile book the author and see how it fitted. Of course this drawings. Bliss! EIM

36 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 IN TRIBUTE

FIGURE 1 Stan Bray, 1925 – 2022

I
t is our sad duty just a month after
informing readers of the death of
EIM’s founder Chris Deith, to
bring you news of the passing of the
magazine’s first editor – Stan Bray
passed away peacefully at home on
18th June, aged 97.
Admittedly Stan was not the editor
of this magazine for long as after
overseeing just four issues in 1980 he
was poached to become associate
editor of Model Engineer – no surprise
as his reputation as a leading model
engineer was already well established.
He remained with the ME for very was also an enthusiastic cricket player
many years and had his own regular and supporter of the game. At his
column, and also funded and edited funeral, which was held on 12th July
sister magazine Model Engineer’s at the Peterborough Crematorium,
Workshop – reputedly he believed it donations in Stan’s memory were
would only last “for a few specials” made to The Primary Club, a
when launched in 1990 but the cricketers’ charity that raises money to
magazine is still going strong today. provide sports and recreational
He also contributed regularly to facilities for the visually impaired.
Model Boats magazine.
Stan made the most of his career n EIM is grateful to Howard Lewis of
which started as a machinist being the Peterborough SME for his
paid the princely sum of 14 shillings a assistance with this tribute and the
week. He wrote a number of books on provision of photos taken by himself
model engineering subjects, covering and other members of Stan and some
areas ranging from clockmaking to of his many models. Stan was an
making simple model steam engines, honorary vice president and
marine steam to machine shop enthusiastic supporter of the
techniques particularly lathe and Peterborough club, and is seen below
milling work. discussing matters model engineering
Outside of model engineering Stan with Howard at an exhibition.

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 37

 GENERAL NEWS

Sisters reunited at
Rhyl Miniature line
F ive of the six ‘Barnes Atlantic’ 4-4-2 steam
locomotives built in the 1920s for
miniature seaside lines are now together at
following engineering work to its boiler,
while the fifth, ‘Billy’ is owned by Rhyl Town
Council and on display in the line’s museum
the Rhyl Miniature Railway, following the at Central Station.
arrival of ‘Billie’ on the north Wales 15-inch Billie was built for the Dreamland
gauge line on 28th June. Miniature Railway in Margate – the loco is
The Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust, thought to have been completed in 1922, and “I would like to thank everyone who has
which runs the Rhyl line, purchased the loco so celebrates its centenary this year. It has supported us during the last few years and
from Austin Moss of the Windmill Farm not hauled public trains since 1983. have made this possible, in particular the
Railway in Lancashire. Austin had already RSPT chairman Les Hughes has wanted passengers who ride on the trains and our
carried out much of the restoration of the to bring all the locos built by Albert Barnes team who operate the railway.”
engine – this will now be completed at Rhyl back together since 1980, when he first The sixth Barnes Atlantic, ‘John’ is in
allowing Billie to enter service alongside started supporting the line. Les described the private ownership – it spent some years
sisters ‘Joan’ and Railway Queen’. arrival of Billie as a real achievement. “It is based at the Evesham Vale Light Railway but
A fourth Barnes Atlantic, ‘Michael’ is another chapter in a dream I have been is now understood to be in storage.
currently being reassembled at Rhyl following for the last 40 years,” he said. Photos: RSPT

Full steam ahead for return of Midlands show

P reparations for the first Midlands Model
Engineering Exhibition since 2019 are
proceeding as planned – organiser
and societies have confirmed their
attendance with more signing up each week
– the current full list and more details
Meridienne Exhibitions has dismissed including advance ticket booking are online
rumours that the show would not take place at www.midlandsmodelengineering.co.uk
following the death of founder Chris Deith, Organisers are also hoping for a bumper
and has released details of more suppliers and long presented as the show for model entry in the competition and display classes
who have signed up for the event between engineers, the Midlands event is expected to – 32 classes are available covering the wide
Thursday 13th and Sunday 16th October at be the only major model engineering spectrum of model engineering, with cash
the Warwickshire Event Centre, close to exhibition in 2022 and the first to be held in prizes and trophies for the best in each class.
Leamington Spa. close to three years. We will be publish our usual pull-out
Sponsored by Engineering in Miniature Currently around 40 traders and 30 clubs guide ahead of the event in the October issue.

n Several model engineering societies joined in the

celebrations at the start of June for Her Majesty
the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. York Model Engineers
members ran their portable track at Poppleton’s
Jubilee Children’s Sports Day – the sports day is an
annual event but this year enjoyed an extra boost from
the Platinum Jubilee, plus according to York’s Roger
Backhouse, who took the picture of member Jason
Edwards driving the Kerr Stuart Wren that he built,
“some lovely weather!”
Roger told us that a good team turned out from York
ME to help with what was probably the most successful
Children’s Sports Day for many years, more than 30
people waiting for rides at one point.
The York ME usually runs around six portable track
events during the year in and around the city. “It’s an
opportunity to promote the society and attract visitors
to the Open Days at the club track,” Roger added.

38 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 LETTERS

Chris Deith – EIM

was ‘a brave venture’
I was sorry to hear of the passing of EIM
founder Chris Deith. In the early days of
EIM, I visited the Hinckley office many
times and was a regular provider of front
cover images for the magazine.
At one time I lived a short way down
the Fosse Road from the Fosse Exhibition
Centre and on many occasions took Dick
Blenkinsop’s full-size Aveling Barford roller
to exhibitions at the Fosse.
EIM was a brave venture in taking on
the established Model Engineer publication,
but was a breath of fresh air and produced
in a very readable format.
My model engineering days are long
over, but I still keep my enthusiasm with
steam as the owner of a Lykamobile replica
steam car. Paul Stratford Steam shows – too expensive?
The Editor replies: Thanks to the several
readers who have taken the time to write
M y good mate and fellow model engineer
Julian and I like to visit as many steam
fairs as we can. Covid saw many cancellations
amount of money at present what with gas
and electricity prices rocketing plus petrol.
I do understand the shows have lost some
following the untimely passing of Chris. so it’s very welcome to see them back again. income recently but to try and get it back by
So far this year we have visited increasing the entry fee by 50 per cent in my
Stapleford, which with entry at £5.00 per car opinion is not on.
Are you a supplier with a new release was great value, Whissendine for which They should be trying to encourage
in the model engineering market? entry was free, even better value, and Ashby people back to the show not putting them off.
If so then send in details to Magna which at £6.00 per person for a big I’m not the only one who won’t be going this
editor@engineeringinminiature.co.uk show was also good value. year so how many more tickets have they got
or to the editorial office at Next on the agenda is Rempstone which to sell to get back what they will lose by just
12 Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Caereinion, is a big steam rally local to us – I usually me not going? Rich Wightman
treat my family to a day out, which is myself
Powys SY21 0BD and wife, three daughters and a son-in-law The Editor replies: I can see Rich’s point,
and we will feature it on these pages. and three grandchildren. This year they have but I can see the other side too. Show
whacked the price up to £15.00 per adult! organisers really face an unprecedented
Also if you have a point to raise, a That would cost me £90.00 just to get us in. balancing act this year, coping with greatly
question to ask – or one to answer – Plus nine burgers at around a fiver, nine increased costs, a lack of income from the
then send it in for potential use on drinks in the beer tent and the grandchildren past two years and still a threat that Covid
our letters page. haven’t had a coke or ice cream yet or a visit could rear its head again. I think the show
to the fun fair. scene is going to remain pretty unsettled
My gripe is I simply can’t justify that for some time yet...

REVIEWS
Transport Curiosities, 1850 – 1950
By John Wade

E very so often a book comes along that is

different from the norm and might not be
picked up by the average reader of this
than many might believe, while the book
continues with a litany of unusual and in
places frankly insane creations – especially
contemporary engraving-type images
which are very finely detailed and a
pleasure to look at. This is an unusual title
magazine, but which merits a look – in the air section where one feels much but we feel many will enjoy reading it. AC
Transport Curiosities is just such an example. bravery, or foolhardiness, would have been
The premise is simple, the author has needed to travel in such machines. ISBN 9781 39900 397 1 Price £20.00
taken the four major methods of propelled What really makes the book, however, Published by Pen & Sword Transport
travel – by track, land, over and under water are the illustrations – they are plentiful, Email: enquiries@pen-and-sword.co.uk
and by air, and looked for the more unusual and almost entirely consist of Web: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
examples of machinery produced to meet the
needs of travellers. He’s certainly found
plenty to write about.
The rail section starts the book and is
the largest category, beginning with
propeller-driven trains, several of these on
overhead lines and of course including the
famed Zeppelin machines tried between the
world wars. Pneumatic and atmospheric
railways are of course included, before
moving onto such oddities as the first
‘Daddy Long Legs’ Volk’s Electric Railway.
The section on road transport includes
plenty on electric cars, which are a lot older

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 39

 CLUB & TRACK NEWS

Summer fun, but stay safe...

Events enjoyed and to look forward to, but some sobering advice to hear too...
COMPILED BY ANDREW CHARMAN

F
our packed pages rounding up
the club action this month,
reflecting just how busy the
scene has been over the past few
weeks, evident in the many magazines
and newsletters sent into EIM Towers
and the pictures arriving from our
various correspondents (Yes – we are
getting some pictures sent in at last!).
We start with the 7¼” Gauge
Society and it is no surprise at all that
the summer edition of 7¼ Inch Gauge
News features on its cover a picture of
chairman Frank Cooper, presenting
awards at the Society’s Nottingham
Mini Gathering on what proved to be
his final duty before his untimely
passing on 3rd May.
In the magazine Society president
Brian Reading pays full tribute to
Frank, commenting that he “was a
great asset not only for our Society but
to model engineering interests in a
variety of fields – he worked extremely
hard on behalf of our Society and his ABOVE: Phil reducing the space between vehicles What is clear from all this is that
contribution was so wide it is difficult Barnes visited on one side. clearly our operations will be watched
to start in trying to record all that he the 7¹₄-inch The HSE has insisted that closely in future by the authorities –
has achieved.” gauge line at manufacturers and designers of you have been warned...
Brian adds that it must not be Hollycombe passenger-carrying miniature railway
forgotten that Frank was also Steam Museum stock (on raised or ground-level track) Fire risk
chairman of the Northern Association on 19th June should ensure there is no potential for Continuing the safety theme and a
of Model Engineers, and “on and pictured the entrapment points. Operators of very serious incident that shows that
occasions, such as at model line’s Tinkerbell railways should appoint a competent smaller-scale locomotives should not
engineering exhibitions, was able to 0-4-2T ‘Bob’ person to assess their stock and if they be treated any less carefully than
juggle the two (or more) hats with running for feel it is capable of trapping passengers larger passenger-carrying examples.
conspicuous ease.... Frank will be the first time should take the vehicles out of service The Gauge 1 Model Railway
greatly missed not only by our Society in some years until they can be rectified. The HSE Association has issued urgent advice
but also the whole world of model following the also advocates continuous instruction, following a fire at a UK model
engineering and heritage railways.” completion of inspection and maintenance regimes engineering club track.
an overhaul. for anyone operating such stock. Fuel leaking from a locomotive at
Carriage safety
Elsewhere the 7¼ Inch Gauge News
publishes the latest advice issued by
the Health & Safety Executive
concerning open vehicles used on
passenger-carrying miniature
railways, and it is advice that every
club operating trains for the public
needs to read and act upon.
The advice follows an incident on
a line in 2021 when a member of the
public got their leg trapped between
the carriage they were travelling on
and the raised track the train was
travelling on. The HSE investigation
concluded that there were no suitable
guards installed to ensure the limbs of
passengers could not extend into the
dangerous entrapment area between
the moving carriage and track. And a
further potential entrapment point
was identified between carriages when
trains round curves in the track,

40 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 CLUB & TRACK NEWS

Farm MR in Lincolnshire, bolstered

by a whole lot of activity at this
7¼-inch gauge line. Notable
achievements include the completion
of the second section of the decorative
wall that we pictured in the May issue,
made entirely of wine bottles –
apparently finishing this section
required 140 bottles, which must have
been fun to source...
Other recent major achievements
at Stockholes include the creation of a
carriage store – the majority of the
stock previously stored in the tunnel
on the main running line has been
moved into the new store and duly
filled it..
The cover of the latest COSME
Link from the City of Oxford SME
boasts a patriotic picture of a large
union jack flag flying over the track,
the club being one of many to join in
the celebrations for Her Majesty The
a steaming bay ignited and was featuring the use of the 10¼-inch FACING PAGE, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at the start
doused using water from a nearby gauge Ingfield Manor Railway. BELOW: The of June.
container for boiler water. When the “Having very few public running days appeal of the
leak continued to burn a similar these days, the railway was well Wythall Miniature Appearance bonus
container was picked up to douse it, patronised,” Phil says, adding that the Railway is clear In his column Oxford chairman Denis
but this container was full of not water day featured a few firsts. “It was the from this picture Mulford comments that it is good to
but alcohol – the resultant fireball first time that the new extension had from this season see the track busy with running days
resulted in the air ambulance being been used by the public at a fete, it was by Ken Jones well attended by both members and
called and three victims being taken the first time that two ‘Royal Scot’ public. “I really do not think that we
ABOVE: The
to hospital with serious burns. 4-6-0s had double-headed public realise how well we are thought of,” he
Ingfield Manor
We can no doubt expect further trains, and most importantly, the first says on chatting to visitors over the
Railway debuted
action from the HSE following this time that the newly refurbished fence and adds that one regular park
its new accessible
incident, but meantime we implore Disabled Access Vehicle was in traffic, user commented how nice the area
carriage on 18th
all operators of gas or alcohol-fuelled which saw much use by the residents looked after club members had cut the
June. Photo:
locos to take a look at the advice – it’s of Ingfield School.” grass, a tribute to Oxford’s gardeners
Phil Barnes
on the Federation of Model The railway fielded 12 steam locos and the track and building
Engineering Societies website at plus a diesel and a battery electric loco BELOW: maintenance teams. A reminder for us
https://fmes.org.uk/wp-content/ and some 53 volunteers were rostered Matthew Pye all – a tidy and attractive site does
uploads/2022/05/G1MRA-Safety- to support the operation – impressive pictured the much for our standing in what are
Advice-May-2022.pdf in these times of much pressure on open day of often public areas used by a wide
Turning to brighter things – volunteer resources. All the monies the attractive variety of visitors.
correspondent Phil Barnes has been in raised from ticket sales and donations 71/4-inch gauge Denis does sound a word of
touch to tell us about the first fete in were passed to The Friends of Ingfield Littledale Light warning, however, concerning
three years at the Ingfield Special School after the event. Railway in dwindling membership numbers;
Needs School near Billingshurst in Good to receive a bumper edition Lancashire on “True we are at about 100 members
Sussex, held on 18th June and of the newsletter from the Stockholes 26th June. but we could do with some more
younger members coming along who
want to get involved in the various
projects we have planned.” Very true
words – I know this column sounds
like an old record at times but
attracting new members, particularly
the next-generation model engineers,
is crucial to ensure the future growth,
in fact survival of our vocation – they
are out there if you make an effort to
find them...
By the way the Platinum Jubilee
proved a disappointment for some,
notably the Lincoln & District ME,
the club’s latest newsletter reporting
that a very wet weather forecast for
Sunday 1st June led to a Jubilee event
being transferred from the North
Scarle playing fields, where the club
has its track, to the village hall; “This
ended our plans to participate with
train rides...”
s

Better news from Lincoln sees

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 41

 CLUB & TRACK NEWS

John Shelton that boasted Formula-1

style front and rear aerofoils!
Each competitor was allowed three
laps of the track with each timed. John
Coppin entered the only axle-driven
loco and suffered wheelspin on
getaway, whereas his two rivals, Mr
Shelton and Derek Round, both
entered locos powered by ducted fans.
In the end all three were declared
winners – John Coppin for the fastest
axle-driven lap, Derek Round for the
fastest overall and John Shelton for the
fastest in 5-inch gauge, the others
being of 3½-inch. Seems a very fair
way of doing things...
Looking significantly ahead right
now is the Bournemouth & District
SME. This club will celebrate its
centenary in 2024 and members are
reminded in the latest newsletter that
“This is not so far away so now is the
time to start making plans, assuming
plans to trial public running on the ABOVE: Excellent effort we are going to mark the occasion in
second Saturday in the month, Well-travelled Writing in the latest Welling magazine some way.” Surely there’s no question
starting on 13th August – let’s hope it miniature railway editor Tony Riley comments, however, that you will? A centenary doesn’t
goes well. Meanwhile the club’s new correspondent that the club should be pretty proud of come along very often...
station has recently been officially Jonathan James itself; “Thanks to the efforts of many
named – Jacqueline Sutherland of the called into the club members – several of whom have Efficiency expected
Lincolnshire Co-op was given the Derby ME on joined us since the move – just one Also planning well ahead is the
honour of unveiling North Scarle 28th May and year and one day after leaving Bristol SMEE. The club has been
Halt, the Co-op’s Community found members Falconwood we were able to resume chosen to host the annual IMLEC
Champions fund having paid for the simply enjoying regular club running on Tuesday competition for efficiency in model
new station with its overall roof. their track afternoons at our new track. I think steam locomotives next year,
Regular readers will know that the that is pretty impressive”. celebrating 50 years since the Bristol
Welling & District ME has found a BELOW: Meanwhile work is continuing club opened its Ashton Court Railway.
new home at Hall Place & Gardens in Jonathan then apace and the front cover of the So a small group of members decided
Dartford, after being forced to vacate moved on to magazine shows the new station to practice for the big event by holding
its Falconwood site owned by National the Nottingham canopy being erected over the raised their own internal version, BRIMLEC,
Grid in May 2021. Model Engineers, track, while members were recently actually reviving a competition that
Society members have been busy based at the able to enjoy their first AGM meeting was started at the club’s previous
building a new permanent track, Great Central in their new home. Canford Park site in 1971 and was an
infrastructure and clubroom but Railway standard We have featured the annual integral part of the calendar until the
unfortunately delays in connecting gauge preserved radio-controlled locomotive turn of the century.
water and electricity to the site has railway, and competition staged by the Bradford Six runs were made with coal and
forced repeated postponements of the found diesel ME before in these pages. This year’s water use closely monitored and a
commencement of public running, traction in use. contest was held as the June monthly dynamometer car also involved. Geoff
with there now being concerns that on the 71/4-inch meeting and attracted a trio of entries, Smith was declared the winner with
there won’t be any public days in 2022. ground-level line including a six-wheeler from member his recently acquired ‘Speedy’ Simplex
0-6-0 with his son Steve taking the
same loco to second place.
The Bristol club recently opened
its 16mm scale track with a special
event which included a display of
models judged by Alan Regan,
chairman of the Association of 16mm
Narrow Gauge Modellers. Best model
on show was won by Bristol member
Iain Holland for his Fowler
locomotive. It’s good to see more clubs
responding to the ever-growing appeal
of the smaller scales.
Meanwhile the aftermath of the
pandemic has seen many clubs
catching up on delayed significant
birthdays and the latest is the
Tonbridge ME. The club has issued an
invitation to join in the delayed 70th
anniversary of the establishment of its
track at Brightfriars Meadow in the
Kent town – the track which sits
alongside a swimming pool and the

42 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

 CLUB & TRACK NEWS

River Medway was laid in 1951. however, by the home-build project of

The event will be held on Saturday Rugby member Rolf Thomas.
27th August and will include a Rolf’s ‘work-in-progress’ is
lunchtime barbecue. Visiting effectively a ‘Scamp on steroids’,
locomotives with valid boiler taking the popular 7¼-inch petrol
certificate and club third-party loco as a basis but powering it by a
insurance will be very welcome and single-cylinder Petter diesel engine
anyone interested in joining the party sourced from a cement mixer and
should advise club secretary Colin driving through a dynamo, control
Harwood by 13th August – he can be box and motor. No doubt once
reached on 07950 508222/020 8777 complete this will be a very powerful
8586 or on tonbridgemes@gmail.com loco indeed...
Another likely to be highly Finally I still find it odd getting
enjoyable special event making a newsletters from elsewhere in the
glorious return this month will be the world that are marked ‘winter edition’,
Standard Gauge Rally at the Rugby as we are watching the temperature
ME. Taking place over the weekend of climb into the high 20s, even in mid
13th-14th August, the rally will Wales where our sunshine is said to be
feature running facilities for 2½, 3½, often liquid...
5 and 7¼-inch gauge models. Entry is
free but there will be a small fee if you Playing to the public
want a ploughman’s lunch – more Typical of this is the latest Smokebox
details are at stdGRally@outlook.com from the Rand SME in South Africa,
Looking a little further ahead, the editor Luker adding that recent
South Cheshire ME will be joining months have been so depressing
forces with the London & North (South Africa another to suffer in the
Western Railway Society on 17th Covid pandemic) that a funny story is
September, for a special steam-up in order – he then proceeds to describe
celebrating the centenary of the an example of pulling a train full of
merger between the L&NWR and the children around the track with the
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to club’s unsuperheated Lawley loco,
create a much larger L&NWR. which has to be driven carefully to
The event will be at the South avoid priming, when arriving at the ABOVE: Making a return visit to the Ascot Locomotive
Cheshire track in Willaston, tunnel “that naughty side of me had a Society on 3rd July, having previously visited in 2001,
Nantwich with elevated 2½, 3½ and lightbulb moment...” Jonathan James found Class 20 bo-bo locomotive ‘Percy
5-inch gauges available and potential Luker asked the child sitting Hathaway’ in action on the ground level line – the Society,
visitors with suitable locos are asked directly behind him whether they based close to the famed horse racing venue, has 3½, 5 and
to contact the organisers via should fill the tunnel with steam, and 7¼ inch gauge tracks.
kennethwood2014@hotmail.com. when she nodded enthusiastically, he
Locos do not have to be of L&NWR crept into the tunnel and then cracked BELOW LEFT:
origin, and a separate display area will open the regulator with the reverser Yes, this is a railway loco! John Shelton’s entry for the annual
be set up for those who wish to display on full forward. “Sir William did not radio-control loco contest at Bradford ME was certainly an
model locos in smaller or larger scales. disappoint... there were screams of joy innovative design... Photo: Graham Astbury/Bradford ME
from all the passengers!” he writes,
Super Scamp adding that on arrival back at the BELOW: Super power! The Scamp-based loco being built
Regular readers of these pages will station everyone was smiling “from by Rugby ME member Rolf Thomas is certainly going to be
know that the monthly newsletters ear to ear”. quite a loco once complete... Photo: Rugby ME
from Rugby are always full of the Luker concludes; “Those
latest happenings at what is a most insurmountable world problems we all
busy and active club and the latest tend to focus on seemed a little
editions are no different. My eye was smaller, and I was reminded how a few
most taken in the most recent edition, smiles can change the world...” EIM

www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk ENGINEERING in MINIATURE | AUGUST 2022 43

 DIARY
EVERY SATURDAY 10 High Wycombe ME track evening, 21 Tiverton & Dist MES running, 11 Bristol ME public running, Ashton
(Weather
Sat permitting) Holmer Green, HP15 6UF Rackenford, EX16 8EF Court Railway, BS8 3PX, noon-5pm
Sussex MLS public running, Beech
Hurst Gardens, Haywards Heath 11 Worthing ME Club Meeting, Field 25 Guildford ME public running, Stoke 11 Havering MRC public running, Lodge
RH16 4BB, 2-5pm Place, Worthing BN13 1NP 7.30pm Pk, Guildford GU1 1TU, 10am-1pm Farm Park, Romford. RM2 5AD,
11am-4pm
EVERY SUNDAY 12 Tiverton & Dist ME a’noon/eve 25 Worthing ME Club Meeting, 30 years
(Weather
Sunday permitting) running, Rackenford, EX16 8EF a model engineer by Chris Devenish, 11 Hereford SME public running, Broomy
North Wilts ME public running, Coate Field Place, Worthing BN13 1NP Hill, Hereford HR4 0LJ, https://hsme.
Water Country Pk, East Swindon, 13 Lincoln & District ME public running 7.30pm co.uk/ noon-4.30pm
SN3 6FG, 11am-5pm trial event, North Scarle playing field,
LN6 9ER 27 Tonbridge ME 70th Anniversary, 13 Lincoln & District ME public running
Ryedale ME public running, Gilling Lower Castle Fields, Tonbridge, Kent trial event (TBC), North Scarle
East, North Yorks YO02 4JJ 13 Old Locomotive Committee TN9 1HR, details from Colin playing field, LN6 9ER
Lionsmeet 2022, Worcester ME, Harwood, tonbridgemes@gmail.com
Southampton SME public running, Waverley Str, Worcester, WR5 3DH 14 High Wycombe ME meeting, subject
Nursery Rd, Southampton SO18 1PQ 27 Ryedale ME Main Line Rally, Gilling TBA, Rosetti Hall, Holmer Green
10.30am-4pm 13 Rugby ME Standard Gauge Weekend, 29 East, North Yorks YO02 4JJ HP15 6SU, 7.30pm
14 Onley Ln, Rugby CV22 5QD
AUGUST
AUGUST 28 Bristol ME public running, Ashton 15 Cardiff ME Forum, Heath Park,
3 Bradford ME evening running, crepes 13 West Riding SLS Gala Weekend, 29 Court Railway, Bristol BS8 3PX, Cardiff CF14 4AW
& social, Northcliff, BD18 3DD 14 behind Freedom House Annex, noon-5pm
Members 11.30am, public 1.30-4pm Bradford Rd, Tingley, Wakefield 16 7¼” Gauge Society Mini-Gathering
28 Cardiff ME open day, Heath Pk, and AGM, Echills Wood Railway,
3 Bristol ME meeting, club auction, 14 Guildford ME public running, Stoke 29 Cardiff CF14 4AW Sutton Coldfield B76 0DY
Begrook social club, BS16 1HY Pk, Guildford GU1 1TU, 2-5pm
28 Hereford SME public running, Broomy 17 South Cheshire ME Steam-up with
3 Lincoln & District ME club running 14 Hereford SME public running, Broomy 29 Hill, Hereford HR4 0LJ, https://hsme. London & North Western Railway
evening, North Scarle playing field, Hill, Hereford HR4 0LJ, https://hsme. co.uk/ noon-4.30pm Society celebrating centenary of
LN6 9ER co.uk/ noon-4.30pm LNWR merger, Cre Rd, Willaston,
28 Worthing ME public running, Field Nantwich CW5 6NE, from 10am
4 Cardiff ME Members Projects, Heath 14 Worthing ME public running, Field 29 Place, The Boulevard BN13 1NP, 2-5pm
Pk, Cardiff CF14 4AW Place, The Boulevard, Worthing BN13 18 Bristol ME public running, Ashton
1NP, 2-5pm 28 High Wycombe ME public running, Court Railway, BS8 3PX, noon-5pm
4 Guildford ME public running, Stoke Holmer Green, HP15 6UF
Pk, Guildford GU1 1TU, 10am-1pm 17 Bristol ME zoom meeting, BRIMLEC/ 18 Cardiff ME open day, Heath Pk,
IMLEC review – contact secretary@ 29 North Wilts ME public running, Coate Cardiff CF14 4AW
6 Tiverton & Dist MES running, bristolmodelengineers.co.uk Water Country Pk,
Rackenford, EX16 8EF East Swindon, SN3 6FG, 18 Guildford ME Charity Day, Stoke Pk,
18 Lincoln & District ME running, North 11am-5pm Guildford GU1 1TU, 2-5pm
7 Cardiff ME open day, Heath Pk, Scarle playing field, LN6 9ER
Cardiff CF14 4AW 31 Rugby ME midweek public running, 18 Lincoln & District ME running at car
20 Cardiff ME Steam-up & family day, Onley Ln, Rugby CV22 5QD boot sale, North Scarle playing field,
7 Guildford ME Small Engine Group Heath Pk, Cardiff CF14 4AW LN6 9ER
Open Meeting, Stoke Pk, Guildford SEPTEMBER
SEPT
GU1 1TU, 2-5pm 21 Bradford ME Open Day & public 4 Lincoln & District ME running at car 21 Bristol ME zoom meeting, the world’s
running, Northcliff, BD18 3DD boot sale, North Scarle playing field, crane makers, Stothert and Pitt –
7 Havering MRC public running, Lodge Members 11.30am, public 1.30-4pm LN6 9ER contact secretary@
Farm Park, Romford. RM2 5AD, bristolmodelengineers.co.uk
11am-4pm 21 Bristol ME public running, Ashton 7 Bristol ME meeting, Wilton windmill
Court Railway, BS8 3PX, noon-5pm restoration, Begrook social club, 24 East Somerset SMEE Model
7 Lincoln & District ME running at car BS16 1HY 25 Engineers Open Weekend, Bath &
boot sale, North Scarle playing field, 21 Havering MRC public running, Lodge West Showground – booked visitors
LN6 9ER Farm Park, Romford. RM2 5AD, 7 Bradford ME meeting, subject tba, only, no public running. Contact
11am-4pm Northcliff, BD18 3DD 7.30pm Michael Malleson, 01747 860719,
7 Rugby ME members running, Onley openweekend@esmee.org.uk
Ln, Rugby CV22 5QD 21 Lincoln & District ME running at car 8 Cardiff ME meeting, Medieval Cardiff
boot sale, North Scarle playing field, by Richard Britton, Heath Pk, Cardiff 25 Havering MRC public running, Lodge
7 Southampton SME Sailability Charity LN6 9ER CF14 4AW Farm Park, Romford. RM2 5AD,
Day, Nursery Rd, Southampton 11am-4pm
SO18 1PQ 21 Rugby ME public running, Onley Ln, 10 Cardiff ME Steam-up & family day,
Rugby CV22 5QD, 11am-1pm, 2-4pm Heath Pk, Cardiff CF14 4AW 25 Hereford SME public running, Broomy
Hill, Hereford HR4 0LJ, https://hsme.
Details for inclusion in this diary must be received at the editorial office (see page 11 Bradford ME Public running, co.uk/ noon-4.30pm
3)at least EIGHT weeks prior to publication. Please ensure that full information is Northcliff, BD18 3DD Members
given,including the full address of every event being held. Whilst every possible care 11.30am, public 1.30-4pm
is taken in compiling this diary, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors or
omissions in these listings.

44 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk

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50 AUGUST 2022 | ENGINEERING in MINIATURE www.model-engineering-forum.co.uk