There are a few techniques I use. Put a lot of water in so it's fully covered - downside is that you then probably have too much water when you're at the bottom. Instead put a reasonable amount of water in such that it's sloshing about and covering the crown as the engine moves - you can force it to slosh about with the reverser if required. Also damper fully closed and firehole door cracked to bring a protective buffer of cold air between the fire and the crown. Probably in reality you use a blend of all three depending upon the situation, environment, weather etc., there's a lot of 'feel' and intuition in running an engine as I am sure you know :)

@@chriscrockerwhite very interesting! As usual... experience counts! Nice vid!

Nope - sold it to make way for other games

@@chriscrockerwhite_throws tomato_

I wouldn't build it that way - countersunk screwheads should be flush or sunken but never proud IMO.

thanks! this was right after I finished the rebuild, so it was definitely looking its best

No worries Darren glad you are enjoying them and that they're still helpful after so many years!

Probably not, but that's not because there's anything wrong with the kits - they were great - I just see myself wanting a full size engine before I'd want another miniature.

I think so, I've had it out and in steam just last week but haven't made any videos

@@chriscrockerwhite I loved watching the build series of it it's made me think of doing the same thing on my channel but when I get the money as I would do the full instructional video build and steam up to putting it to bed

Hey Mark - it just passed it's steam test again last week so hopefully will be out and about with it this year.

I know, definitely need to do more videos, but it's safely tucked up in the shed waiting for the summer!

@@chriscrockerwhite definitely need to mate as only done 1 steam video haha . Maybe do a video of what to have turned on and off and prep before lighting etc so everyone know how it works from start to finish of steaming sown etc . When got enough saved I'm buying same engine myself .

@@arthurhull8533 sounds like a good idea to me, thanks for the suggestion :)

Thanks Mark! 😊

Thanks Craig, she's good, tucked up in the shed for the winter! Fingers crossed we'll make it to some shows this year.

Nope, I just squared up the bracket and got on with it :)

I'd recommend talking to Steam Traction World about buying all the kits in one go. I guess some weeks I would spend 15 hours, and some weeks absolutely nothing, which is why I never had a problem with the speed at which the kits were arriving. There was always plenty for me to do and I was never waiting.

It's Alfa Red :)

@@chriscrockerwhite thank you for that

I used supplies from Craftmaster; the paints and brushes along with lining tape. The lining tape makes it pretty easy to get consistent width lines even if you're not great with a brush (like me!)

yes I did it myself

Most things in the blue colour were sprayed but not all. All other colours were brushed. Wheels and the blue parts of horn plates were sprayed 👍

Craftmaster ex-mayor blue

Thank you! I have no idea regarding the exhaust, it came to me that way

Absolutely - the kit enabled me to build an engine in the time I had available. People (used to?) talk a lot of shit about STW, but I'd just have a half completed engine now and for the foreseeable future if it wasn't for them. As it stands there are a few jobs to do to keep me busy but in the meantime I can enjoy steaming whenever I get a chance, which isn't very often these days.

@@chriscrockerwhite that's really good to hear, thanks for getting back to me. I've been watching your videos and honestly I'm finding them genuinely inspiring, even my wife is on board with me building an engine. How did you find the fit and ease of build on the STW kit? That's where I've heard there are problems!

@@doobypoppop7850 I thought it was fine. Maybe that's where the ideas that they are bad come from - if you treat it like Lego you're going to be disappointed (or at least would have been back in 2013), but if you treat each part as something to have your input on, and finish and fettle to the standard you want before fitting, you'll be fine. Honestly I wouldn't want to just bolt things together out of the box, the final engine will be so much better if you give each part some time and attention.

@@chriscrockerwhite that makes perfect sense and I completely agree. Thanks again for your advice, would love you to post a video of you steaming the engine again in the near future!