I fear I have bought something crappy!

[Big Jim]

A spur of the moment purchase from the great bay of E.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291024270793? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Its a ropey looking Steamcraft Chassis.
I don't know why I bought it. Although a frenzied xmas shopping trip with the missus yesterday may have got me in the buying mood.

If it is any good I will use the cylinders and motion on a new project.
Lets have a few suggestions, sensible or otherwise.[/url]

[WVLR]

I think it has potential, if you can't steam it then maybe use it as the basis for
a steam outline electric engine, or a centre piece for a workshop / engine shed diorama.

[funandtrains]

Jim, that is my chassis you have just bought. The wheel sets and cylinders should be of use and I think most of the valve gear is OK but the brass con rods and chassis are very flimsy and would need to be remade from steel.
This is a review of a similar whole loco:
http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/locos/loco106.html

[Big Jim]

Sorry no offence meant. And thanks for the info, this is a company I had never heard of. Did you ever have the complete loco? They look charming. I am looking forwards to getting it and the other item. Something else for me to hide from the wife.

[funandtrains]

Steamcraft were one of the rivals of Merlin and Roundhouse in the 80s but didn't last. Not having seen one up close I bought this with a few other parts on ebay myself, to see what it was like but found it beyond my current time and equipment to repair and decided to reduce my loss by selling the chassis. I believe that they specialised in etched brass with the locos looking very good but the use of this metal for the chassis made them too fragile for garden use.
If you have the ability to make new frames and con rods it should run fine with a new boiler.
Now I have seen how these were made I won't pay big money for another Steamcraft loco and I guess this is why they went out of business.

[Big Jim]

Thanks for the info. I have no idea what I am going to do with it yet although I do fancy a slightly anglisised version of the dhr class b, a sort of "might have been". So the valve gear and cylinders may end up under that.