Long-time lurker, first-time poster—finally taking the plunge!

Like many, I was inspired as a kid by some truly legendary tinkerers—blokes who could turn a lump of metal into a steam-belching masterpiece with little more than a shed, a file, and an ambition to get out of the house. Naturally, I’ve been obsessed ever since.

I’ve been around the forum for a few years, lurking in the shadows, admiring everyone else’s builds, and dabbling in the occasional stationary model. I also make my annual pilgrimage to the Midlands Model Engineering Show (a sort of engineering Glastonbury, but with fewer guitars and more boiler inspectors).

For a while now, I’ve been sitting on the fence—Loco or Traction? Big wheels or rails? Decisions, decisions. To be honest, I’m not big on riding around on tiny trains, and I don’t live near a club where I could pretend I was. So traction engines had been quietly pulling ahead in the fantasy league…

Then fate intervened—in the form of a suspiciously cheap, slightly dusty, half-started project I found abandoned at a local autojumble. It whispered, “Buy me, you know you want to,” and who am I to argue with the universe?

So here it is—my intro and the start of what I hope will be a mildly entertaining (and mostly successful) build log. I’ve exchanged a few emails with Reeves2000 (very helpful folks), who confirmed the mystery machine is a Derby 4F. Plans are on the way, and once they arrive, I’ll share more. (obviously, not the plans)

Looking forward to picking your brains and hopefully contributing something useful—or at least amusing—along the way.

Matt / Stoney Stanton / Leicestershire