Model Tractor

This is an unfinished 3" scale model of a Saunderson & Mills tractor (1913). The original was seen in a museum on the South Island of N.Z. (Geraldine). The engine has been designed but has yet to be made. All the work is carried out in a home workshop.

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2014 13:29:39

That looks an interesting project George, whats the power source?

I do have the drawings for an IHC Titan but they are not upto much but could be tempted if you write this one up for ME.

J

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:20:48

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:04

Looking good George,post some photos as it progresses. Jason where did you find the drawings for the IHC Titan, I am looking for plans for a Waterloo Boy, any help much apprecated. Regards Farmer Dave

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:21:15

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:11

Reeves sell them as well as a few basic castings. Having said that they are not the best drawings in the world and you would have to do quite a bit of research yourself to get a fully detailed engine. Though I have not seen the ME article so there may be more in there.

I'm sure I have seen a model of a Waterloo Boy, give me a while and I may find it again.

J

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:21:19

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:17

Here you go, from Georges part of the world so he may know if details are available.

Also worth asking on Smokstak forum.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:21:24

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:45

IIRC the IH tractor was serialised in ME, the Author was Tony Webster.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:21:30

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:49

I have been working on this model for the past two years and now have the main chassis , differential and gearbox completed and am now working on the engine. The engine is a 180 degree twin with fixed head, water cooled and "T" valve placement. Over the last few weeks I have been making the patterns and core boxes for the cylinders - quite complex! The crankcase haves have been cast and machined and have the cam shaft gears fitted. The model is just over 700 mm long.

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2014 13:32:24

That is rather nice.

I don't suppose there will be any drawings available, do you have access to a full size prototype to measure up ?

Phil

Good Day Phil,

I first saw the full size engine in a museum in Geraldine on the South Island of New Zealand and spent a week taking photographs, measuring up and making many sketches. There are examples of this type of tractor in the UK but not many have the "T" head engine. I have made a full set of drawings for all the parts that I have made so far and hope at a later stage to write an article for the UK Model Engineer magazine. They have just finished the series on my Lister Diesel engine and I was asked if I would do one on the tractor only this time there will be more words! It will not be a construction series as such but have sufficient information for a competent modeller to at least make a start.

George.

Hi George,

Lovely work so far, it will be a splendid model when finished! I really admire the skills of those like you who can measure up the full sized item then scale it down and produce patterns and castings to make a faithful reproduction in miniature. I enjoyed your series on your Lister diesel and look forward to your tractor series in due course!

Regards, Martin.

I have been working on the cylinders for this model tractor for the last five weeks- still not there yet but not far away now! Spent today making new core boxes for the inlet and exhaust ports. The manifolds are square in section so there is a transition in the ports from round to square. The sand cores that fit inside the cylinder are very fragile and have to be glued together before being inserted into the mould. The photo shows early flawed attempts that were cut up to check the inside. Back in the workshop tomorrow making more "sand castles". Temperature in Bundaberg a bit cooler thank goodness.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:23:21

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:29:53

I did notice that there was a sub title relating to 3D printing. The core shape shown in the photograph is made from sand and was made in a composite core box. I am not sure that a 3D print would withstand the temperature of molten aluminium.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:23:25

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:30:00

Hi Fred,
The 3D print is not used as a mould. It is used as a pattern to make a mould as in lost wax or lost foam casting. Here is a video showing the full process

Les.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:23:31

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:30:36

Les it is possible to 3D print the corebox and use that to mould the core material in as its often gas set you don't need the printed part to be that strong as the forces when paking the sand are not so high

J

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:23:37

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:30:41

I had a good day today and actually cast a cylinder with out any faults. It has taken many weeks and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever happened. I still have to cast one more and have the box ready packed and hope to cast it tomorrow. The photo shows the flask complete with all cores ready to have the top box fitted and then filled with the molten aluminium. Another busy day coming up!

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:24:05

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:30:48

Today I cast cylinder number 8 . I will eventually cast a perfect pair but this casting for the tractor is the most difficult that I have attempted, mainly due to the thin section of some of the internal parts. I did pour another one today - the outside looks good but tomorrow I will find out what's has happened inside.

George.

Any chance you could put up a photo of the original in the museum?Cheers

Fred, did you get to the vintage machinery auction at Geraldine the other week, a mate of mine bought two (more) open crank, hit and miss engines, and a few other bits and pieces. Ian S C

Thanks Ian and Jason for the information and photo of the Saunderson and Mills tractor. When I went to the museum it was very difficult to get a good view due to the close proximity of other tractors so I will add this one to the collection of information that I have been able to gather. It would have been good to go to the auction but I live in Queensland, Australia and Geraldine is across the pond in NZ. I was asked if I was going to produce any drawings - well so far I have accumulated 249 A 4 sheets and I still have more to come. This model is certainly testing my patience and skill level but that is what this hobby is all about .