Kit build suppliers

This topic has 26 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 17 September 2014 at 17:09 by Boiler Bri.

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29 July 2014 at 09:34 #2805
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
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29 July 2014 at 09:34 #158974
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Hello everyone,

This is a question on behalf of a friend of mine in Germany who is keen to build something but hesitant about setting up workshop facilities in a house not really suitable for such activities.

Are there makers of kit build traction engines that can be bought in parcels to leave the owner with the task of putting it together and finishing it off? I've seen many for locomotives but I don't recall any in this field

Regards

Brian
29 July 2014 at 09:47 #158975
Nick_G
Participant
@nick_g
.

Nick
29 July 2014 at 10:11 #158981
Dan Jones
Participant
@danjones77555
Hi Brian,

Check out the Steam Traction World website. They do all manner of road steam engines in a load of different sizes. They send their kits via post as parcels so will be fine I should think for over seas.

Dan.
29 July 2014 at 12:04 #158991
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
In the smaller sizes Maxitrak also do kits. As Dan says STW are the ones to go for if its a larger engine you are after.

If you do go for STW then get hold of a copy of Julia Old's build diary of her Burrell even if its something else in teh range that you want. It gives a very good insight into whats involved in making one of these kits, I think Alan at MJ Engineering may still have some printed copies, its also available on the net for a donation to the hosting forum.

J

Edited By JasonB on 29/07/2014 12:35:37
29 July 2014 at 12:27 #158993
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Markie is another one.

I have an idea there are some eg Stuart Turner stationary engine designs that are really ready to assemble and it might be a less costly starting point.

Make sure your friend gets in contact with an actual builder of whatever kit he decides on to find out how 'finished' the parts are. The loco kits around from a couple of supplers a few years ago that gave the impression all you needed was a screwdriver were anything but that. Our club members who built them still needed a full workshop to fettle and make the parts fit.

Another point to bear in mind is that the cheaper more toylike ones would be very difficult to sell at anything like the purchase price and especially not at the factory built price. This is more evident in the model boat world where almost all models now are kits but the value of a finished model is half that of a kit as the whole point of the thing is to build it.
29 July 2014 at 12:59 #158997
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
There is the company that advertises in ME, model tanks, and I think they have done locomotives. Ian S C
29 July 2014 at 16:01 #159012
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Hello Dan, Jason, Bazyle and Ian SC

Thank you all for your collective wisdom; I will forward it on to my friend along with the caveats you mention on construction

Regards Brian.

P.S Nick

My friend is a little beyond Lego choo choos now, it was a serious question.
29 July 2014 at 16:09 #159013
Nick_G
Participant
@nick_g
Posted by Brian Wood on 29/07/2014 16:01:56:

P.S Nick

My friend is a little beyond Lego choo choos now, it was a serious question.

I realised that. Hence the string of

Nick
29 July 2014 at 16:50 #159015
Harry Wilkes
Participant
@harrywilkes58467
Another kit engine is the D.R.Mercer nice little engine comes in kit form.
29 July 2014 at 17:47 #159021
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Hello Harry,

Thank you for the addition to the list. Do you know if they have a website or something I can pass on to my friend for contact?

Regards Brian
29 July 2014 at 18:16 #159028
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Not sure if they have a web site but Forrest Classics sell them. What sort of size traction engine is your friend after as these are quite small.

J
29 July 2014 at 19:01 #159036
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Thank you again Jason,

Size—-I really don't know, at the moment I'm trawling for information that he can pursue from Germany

Regards Brian
29 July 2014 at 19:23 #159040
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
Hi Brian,

Here's a couple of links to German model kit web sites.

**LINK**

**LINK**

Ed.
29 July 2014 at 21:35 #159056
Harry Wilkes
Participant
@harrywilkes58467
Hi Brian

Only currently know of these two "link" and "link" got mine from the later some years back at a slightly better price than the completion hope this helps

H
30 July 2014 at 10:55 #159103
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Hello Ed and Harry,

Thank you both for the links, very helpful.

I'll pass them on for him to pursue

Regards Brian
2 August 2014 at 18:31 #159508
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Stuart models also do kits from castings to ready to assemble upto ready to show…
4 August 2014 at 17:48 #159745
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Thank you Jason,

I'll pass that on too, but from memory aren't they more into stationary engine kits? I don't suppose it will matter a lot, Ulrich will sort out his preferences.

I'm indebted to all of you for the useful links and contacts—thank you for the help.

Kind regards Brian
4 August 2014 at 20:45 #159754
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Stuart bought the Plastow traction engine range some years ago. they have their own website but the Stuart brand is there at top right.

**LINK**

Neil
4 August 2014 at 20:54 #159756
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Stuarts sold the plastow range about 5 or 6 years ago to Bridport and then a few years later Bridport also bought Stuart.

None of their traction engines have ever been done as kits

J
4 August 2014 at 21:39 #159759
Boiler Bri
Participant
@boilerbri
Just watched the video from Jason's link to stw. The guys assembling the wheels with threaded rivets, are these commercially available?

Bri
4 August 2014 at 21:44 #159760
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
There are two types of threaded rivit, some are a round head just like a rivit and often sold as slotless screws. These are easily availble from EKP etc

The type STW use are more like domed hexagon nuts and bolts where most of the hex has been machined away from the nut leaving just enough to turn it by, the threaded part of the bolt is a reduced thread and you really only notice them up close. I think STW may sell them but I've not seen anyone else doing them.

J

Edited By JasonB on 04/08/2014 21:48:15

Edited By JasonB on 04/08/2014 21:49:24
5 August 2014 at 20:27 #159837
Boiler Bri
Participant
@boilerbri
Thanks for that I will have a look.

Bri
14 September 2014 at 09:06 #163559
Boiler Bri
Participant
@boilerbri
Hi Jason I found EKW but I can not find STW?

Do you have a link please.

Bri
14 September 2014 at 15:35 #163582
Weary
Participant
@weary
Pending Jason getting back to you here is the link to Steam Traction World:

**LINK**

Regards,

Phil.
Author

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