ModelWorks Foden 
Builder's Diary

Please read disclaimer
 

About Foden Builder

This web site contains an account of my experiences building steam locomotive kits supplied by ModelWorks.  While I have some model engineering experience I am definitely not an expert.  Please treat my accounts as how I did it, warts and all, and not as a definitive how to guide.   The material contained here represents my personal view and I am both the author of this web site and the constructor of the featured POP,  Burrell and Foden models.  - Julia Old

Until recently I was a desk bound chartered engineer engaged in the design of fly-by-wire control systems for civil aircraft.  As the product of my work was largely paper I was drawn towards hobbies that allowed me to physically make something.  Over the years I have alternated between cooking, dressmaking, photography and Model Engineering.  Until a house move in 2000 Model Engineering was out of favor.  It nearly went completely but the new house had a spare room that would make an ideal workshop.   I had no intention of taking up Model Engineering again but having gone to the trouble of setting up the workshop I wanted to christen it.  In the "cupboard" I had a set of castings to make a rotary table.  It was previously abandoned because the base was too big to be machined in my 918 lathe.   I just wanted to turn some metal so I machined the components that would fit.  This went well and as I had nothing to lose I took the hacksaw to the base and cut it down until it would fit in the lathe.  Over a period of three months I successfully made the rotary table.

For some reason I brought a copy of Model Engineer and an advert for a kit of parts to build a Bodmer Sliding Cylinder Engine  caught my eye.  I brought the kit unseen in the expectation of a comprehensive kit similar to the Stuart Turner models I had built previously.  On delivery I was dismayed to discover that it only included the basic castings and that I would have to source the metal to fabricate the majority of parts.  Undaunted over a period of time the engine took shape and I got into Model Engineering again.

I have always wanted to make a traction engine but was put off by perceived problems with the boiler.  For some reason I was particularly baffled by the cladding the surrounds the boiler.   Another advert caught my eye in Model Engineer this time for a fully machined kit for a steam lorry.  I started building my POP  at the beginning of 2002 and early the next year I had it in steam.

Having demystified the boiler subject I was ready to embark on the construction of a 3" engine from casting.  I plumped for a 3" Foster but having been caught out before I decided to carefully plan the project.  I discovered that many of the parts were either beyond the capacity of my workshop or called for skills that I did not process (welding, heavy sheet metal work).  I got quotes for these and it soon became apparent that it would be a costly project.  For some tasks I was receiving silly quotes presumably because the work was not wanted.  With hind sight I should of considered a 3" in need of restoration as this would have been a much cheaper route.

At about this time ModelWorks launched the 4" Burrell and while more expensive than my pile of quotes it offered me guaranteed success and a larger engine.  

On a whim I started a website.  My original plans were modest namely to include a few pictures with captions as each kit was completed.  To my surprise I was finding that I was getting enjoyment out of writing text to accompany the pictures and over time the Burrell site developed into what it is today.   I found that having a kit a month over a two year period to be a comfortable pace and as it enabled steady progress  kept my enthusiasm up.    Form the experience I have gained I would not contemplate machining an engine larger that 2" in my workshop.  I suspect I would have never finished the 3" Foster.

Contact

I like to hear from surfers to this site whether or not you are a builder of the ModelWorks Burrell.  You can use the e-mail link to send an e-mail directly to me or add an entry to the guest book, which will then be accessible for all to read.  I would also welcome material from other constructors for publication.

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All the best and good luck with your project
Julia Old

Introduction