I have been offline for over a month - but that has not prevented some progress on the engine. In January we initiated the process of changing our broadband provider and set everything in motion. Following several displays of incompetence by both companies and the Post Office which culminated in us having no internet from the middle of July only today has it been completed.
Herewith some views illustrating some of the progress to date:-
Fireman's side tank.
Driver's side tank.
The two compared - the only difference, apart from them being mirror images of one another is that the bracket for supporting the reversing rack on the splasher of the driver's tank.
General view of the tanks sitting on the platform. The outer sides have not been fixed yet and they won't be for a while yet. They are just sitting in position.
Another general view this time looking forwards. Bunker stay still loose in the coal space!
The cab side sheets have now been added to the tank sides via a butt-strap joint as per the prototype. Also the capping and angle iron has been fitted around the tank tops and the cab cut-out, however they need a bit more attention before they can be considered finished.
Another general view this time with the cab sheets.
The frame to support the portion of boilerbetwen the yanks has been made as has the 'clothing plate' albeit I omitted to photograph them. A start has been made on the cab front and the moulding aroubd the boiler front and the remaining portion of the boiler between the tanks and the smokebox.
Crimson Rambler