Member postings for Bill Starling

As all subscribers to ME will have noticed, Diane kindly made mention of Model Engineers' Day in 'Smoke Rings' in the current issue. Unfortunately I gave her the wrong post code for sat-nav users.

The museum is at NR16 1JJ.

Please don't descend on an unsuspecting house in a village 6 miles away!

(It is not a plot to get another mention of the event - but only because I didn't think of it.)

We have got an excellent number and range of entries, but there is still room for a few more if you'd like to join us.

Best wishes,

Bill.

Dear Jason,

Excellent! Thank you very much. The Christmas issue for 2001 has a photo of 'my' engine plus quite a bit of text.

I'm delighted.

The engine has had a pretty extensive rebuild and a repaint, but the photo shows it as it was when I bought it.

If anyone knows anything more about the model or the prototype I'd be very pleased to hear.

Best wishes,

Bill.

I've just found a reference to two 6 ins models of this engine in ME vol. 192 no. 4212 for January 2004.

The prototype, with a vertical boiler, was Burrell's initial response to the repeal of the 'Red Flag Act', allowing vehicles under 3 tons to be operated by one man and travel up to 12 mph. After a few years of development they abandoned it in favour of small 'conventional' engines.

The article says the models were built by Eddie Lancaster (illustrated) and Don Grey. "Both have been illustrated before in Road Steam Out and About Christmas Specials."

Can anyone help me track down Road Steam Out and About please? Mr Google hasn't heard of it. Was it an ME publication?

I now own Don Grey's model and would love to know more about its early history.

Thanks in anticipation,

Bill.

It's that time of year again. Model Engineers' Day at the Forncett Steam Museum (our 25th) is only 5 weeks away - Sunday 1st October.

As ever, everyone within reach of south Norfolk is invited to join us, whether as just a visitor or - preferably - as an exhibitor. We love to see work in progress as well as finished projects. Although some of our regular exhibitors definitely produce 'exhibition standard' work, it's good to see first attempts too - it encourages the rest of us to keep going.

There are some photos of last year's jollifications here:-

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=119538

and details of the remarkable museum here:

http://www.forncettsteammuseum.co.uk/

If you send me a message with your e-mail address I'll be pleased to send you an invitation and entry form. (There may even be some regular exhibitors on here who haven't send their entries in yet. 'We know where you live.'

Hope to see you there,

Bill.

Same question but a different slant. What's the best way to seal a fitting at a particular angle, such as a water gauge fitting, rather than just doing it up tight?

Thanks, Bill.

Never mind those living in London, the SMEE training courses are worth travelling for. I went up from Norfolk for them. Thoroughly enjoyed them, learnt a lot and met some nice people. The only problem is - I keep getting drawn back for their meetings.

Bill.

Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2017 to all of you who provide me with interest and entertainment throughout the year.

Sorry I've not got much more to contribute than my annual plug for Model Engineers' Day at the Forncett Steam Museum. (Whoops! That's another plug isn't it?)

Bill.

Thanks Rod and thanks to everyone who exhibited. It was a great day for the museum. Lots of lovely models and parts thereof to see and lots of people to talk to. The procession of miniature engines on the road was quite a sight, with a couple of full sized engines plus a quartet of beautiful Stanley steam cars also in attendance.

Hope to see you next year.

Bill.

Less than two weeks to Model Engineers' Day at Forncett on 2nd October. If you didn't make it to MEX - or even if you did - and live in the east, come and get a 'dose' of model engineering.

We've got a great line up of exhibits - and exhibitors - both indoors in the smaller scales and outside in the larger ones. At the last count, 17 'miniatures' should be taking part in the road run.

More details in the first post on this thread.

Hope to see you there.

Bill.

Andrew,

What do you mean 'might be allowed to exhibit some work in progress'? You will be expected to exhibit some WIP! One of the highlights of Model Engineers' Day is seeing what you are up to and how you are doing it.

Martin,

Looking forward to seeing you. Free cup of tea for the furthest travelled.

Bill.

Once again everyone within reach of South Norfolk is invited to Model Engineers' Day (our 24th) at the Forncett Steam Museum.

This year's event will be on Sunday 2nd October and we are anticipating as good a display as usual - both work in progress and finished models - including exhibits from a number of contributors to this forum.

We plan to repeat last year's very successful road run, when 15 assorted miniature engines steamed to the nearby tank museum.

New exhibitors are always welcome. I'll be pleased to send you details and an entry form if you let me have your e-mail address.

More details of the museum are on our (new) website: http://www.forncettsteammuseum.co.uk/

Hope to see you there.

Bill.

Also don't forget the Forncett Steam Museum in South Norfolk: http://www.forncettsteammuseum.co.uk/ (The website says a new site is coming soon.)

It's actually owned by the same family as the Wells & Walsingham - they must have steam in the blood!

The annual Model Engineers' Day at Forncett comes up on 2nd October. It got some good reviews on here last year.

(OK, I admit it, I organise Model Engineers' Day. Full details and invitations coming soon. Please note the date.)

All the best,

Bill.

Russ, I've only just seen your post. As Brian Wood asked, where is the lathe?

It sounds as if it might make an excellent exhibit at the Forncett Steam Museum in south Norfolk, see: http://www.forncettsteammuseum.co.uk/

We already have some larger lathes driven from overhead shafting powered by a Marshall steam engine, as well as the collection of stationary steam engines.

Do get in touch if you're interested.

Bill.

If you are running any sort of small boiler, don't forget to collect all the condensate for use as feed water. No lime or other unwanted ingredients.

Bill.

Andrew,

The idea of a transparent injector is excellent. I'm sure there are a lot of people, in addition to me, who would love to see 'the works' in action. We'll form an orderly queue at Forncett. (Next Model Engineers' Day will be on 2nd October - never miss an opportunity for a plug!)

Bill.

Dear Julian,

Thanks very much for prompt, comprehensive and understandable reply. Surely this forum at its best.

Bill.

Julian - please will you elaborate on/explain your comment ' for steel boilers an additional check valve on the overflow is recommended.'

I'm about to fit an injector (Blackgates No. 6, 4 pts/min) to a steel boiler and should have thought a check valve on the overflow would stop it working. Also what difference will the material of the boiler make?

Thanks very much.

Andrew - delighted at the prospect of further demonstration of your erudition.

Bill.

Nearly there. Only a few days to go till Model Engineers' Day at Forncett, next Sunday 4th October. See posts above for more details and

http://www.forncettsteammuseum.co.uk/Site/How_to_find_us.html

for how to find us. We're now up to 15 miniature road steam entries outside, plus pretty much a full house inside the museum. Even the forecast looks good.

Bill.

Thanks very much to David Suffolk, Roderick Jenkins and Andrew Johnston for mentioning Model Engineers' Day at Forncett on 4th October. (See under 'Model Engineer Exhibition 2015'.)

We've already had some excellent entries - as well as David's and Andrew's - ranging from a working atmospheric engine via 'trains and boats and planes' to Ramon Wilson's beautiful I.C. engines. This is in addition to nine miniature road steam vehicles, at the last count - with more promised in all categories. We can still fit in a few more if you'd like to join us, details on request.

Hope to see you there, Bill.

Everyone within reach of south Norfolk on 4^th October is invited to the 23^rd annual Model Engineers' Day at the Forncett Steam Museum. We always have an excellent range of models, many of them in operation. A number of them have been described in the press, including David Owen's Tidman organ engine, currently featuring in ME.

By request, we're planning a run for miniature road steam this year. (Sorry, no suitable pub nearby. We're going to the Norfolk Tank Museum instead.)

If you'd like to exhibit finished models or work in progress, we'd be delighted to see you. For full details and an entry form, just send me a PM with your e-mail address.

Bill.