.

Please forgive my innocence, but : Have I mis-interpreted that description ?

MichaelG.

.

Ref. **LINK**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Titfield_Thunderbolt#/media/File:The_Lion.jpg

Thanks, Duncan

… probably best if I stick to microscopes & stuff

MichaelG.

Br,

If you go back in model locomotive history, castings were available for all sorts of parts – far more than seems to be available now. I have seen very old pictures of boiler outer firebox sections, almost complete bogie sides plus pony trucks etc. Despite their age, the castings really did look quite good in terms of their surface finish and detail.

One description suggested that boilers could be built up using castings, tube and plenty of rivets followed by the higher temperature soft solder to seal all the joints.

I suspect that the brass top type cover for Lions boiler was just a relatively simple, cheap casting back when the engine was designed. As the hobby has declined in popularity, the cost for these types of castings has gone up to a point where it would be better to redesign the Lion boiler. Specially when you are getting a result that is closer to the real thing.

Phil H