There were some serious delays before the boiler was delivered. In the meantime I arranged for the belly tank and the cleading (cladding) kits to be shipped, so at least I was able to make some progress.

The boiler arrived on a pallet and I had to have Adam help me bring it in, as it’s very heavy. I could tilt it and rotate it on my own,but not lift it.

I painted the boiler white: this seemed a good idea as white

radiates very little heat. However, as the boiler will be lagged with a

sheet of cork, then metal cleading, it probably won’t make a lot of

difference.

KIT 13 - Boiler

1/3-scale burrell traction engine

Ann & I bolted the smokebox onto the front of the boiler - a perfect fit. Good thing I bought that garage workshop crane!

The horn plates were bolted to the sides of the boiler, then the tender slotted over the back of the horn plates. This was a very difficult task: even a bare-metal tender would have been a tight fit round bare-metal horn plates, but when they are pre-painted it was impossible. I had to grind off all the paint from the mating surfaces. Even then Adam and I struggled for an hour or so just forcing it on.

Anyway, we then fitted the rear wheels and stood back to admire it. I was actually quite shocked it looks so huge. I suppose I’ve only seen 4” engines in large fields, not small workshops!

We fitted various bits and pieces and re-painted the damaged paintwork.