Best laid plans.... And all that

Well so. I know this is late, I did this for the simple reason that I had been told something exciting was arriving! And rather than push out another blog about how not much has happened because blah blah blah.... I would wait and get a decent blog done,

Well the big day arrived, and I went off to collect the fun and well.... Some what disappointing.... The new bits that arrived wasn't what I was expecting... I was expecting a new big lump of copper that's all boilerish! But this is what arrived instead 

A crank shaft with some bearings... And some eccentrics. .... Not really what I call exciting! 

Anyone who knows me, will say that I've said always that I was fairly pleased by the quality of work turned out was at a good standard. But after the bitter disappointment of no boiler I'm somewhat disappointed. In general I've been focused on the bunker assembly, but now I'm looking at the horn plates again. And well this was something I was avoiding... Because there is some errors. And not small ones. First is an error in the second shaft. The end cap does not long up with the shaft tube.... At all.. 

Not even close!!! And as they are countersunk bolts. Not easy to move them. I did e-mail them with pictures and a description of the problem... And nothing .... At all, not really happy about that one, also,,, the crank shaft bearing doesn't fit into the bearing housing.... And it's gotta be a good inline fit, so now I need to work out what part is wrong to re-machine the bits to suit the poorly turned crank, so I need to try and get the crank into the grinder at work as well.... So yea .... Don't really like this turn of events. 

Ill see what I can get done. And with luck.... It may work out ok.... Maybe!!! 

Better late than never???

Well ... It may be a little later than usual but there was a thought here.... 

Mostly my life has revolved round some crappy job at work that well and truly "blows horse trumpet!" So not a lot has been done. Mostly I feel like I've been just tinkering rather than anything useful, but hay! Everyone's allowed to procrastinate from time to time! 

So this is late due to the lack of something to write about....I guess that's what all this was about at any rate!

But fear not! Out of procrastination I achieved  something!! (Shocking I know!) and it's in the order of this little block of brass now bolted to the cab,

This was before I have it some pipe work but .... Any ideas? .... Ill let you ponder on that and I may come back to it later.... If your lucky! (And for those with keen eyes. No it's not there on the full size ones), it just was a good place to put it, it's only a rough draft at the moment so we shall see what comes of it and I may make a prettier one later

So moving on other things..... Ermmm..... Now you see my problem! But no fear the old mans come to the rescue and has done me some more wood work!

 

I now have a trailer with decking, ... Or at least the start of it! It's got 6mm ply on top that will be stained/ varnished and had around 5 bearers in the frame under it to support it so that should have some strength to it! Also the front end of the trailer now has a seating place! 

 

Also me roof now has some rib detail, which is nice, it breaks up the large expanse of flat roof so a bit if a paint up and clean up and that's all done!

Other things.... Ermmm ... The Burrell is still on the bench.  But no new pictures, I've almost finished the tender. Needs some tinkering and son fettling to make it pretty and then it's off to the paint shop, same with the horn plates and smokebox , so that will be soon! Apparently I'm to expect the boiler in the new year, so I wanna get it all painted and ready for assembly when that arrives! 

So that's about it! Nothing exciting but things none the less!!! 

Till next time

Laters! 

P.s. that brass block is..........??