Search found 18 matches

by strettonsteamer
Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:52 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Locomotive works history
Replies: 7
Views: 2989

Re: Merlin Locomotive works history

I think the problem with getting spare castings for Accucraft models is like Aster they only produce so much % over the production needs. Bing always told me that he supports the smaller traders such as Trackside details. Likewise over here I would be happy to recommend people who do enhancements fo...
by strettonsteamer
Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:39 pm
Forum: General Garden Railways
Topic: Book of 16mm Accucraft Rolling Stock drawings
Replies: 7
Views: 3951

Re: Book of 16mm Accucraft Rolling Stock drawings

Nobody's missing anything. It is pure economics. When Sandy and I started the Accucraft UK plastic range of rolling stock there was no real RTR stuff around. We had been asked many times about producing some UK style stock as people had seen what Accucraft US were doing for that market. To produce t...
by strettonsteamer
Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:28 pm
Forum: General Garden Railways
Topic: Book of 16mm Accucraft Rolling Stock drawings
Replies: 7
Views: 3951

Book of 16mm Accucraft Rolling Stock drawings

Now Accucraft UK have decided that they will not be producing any more RTR rolling stock I am exploring the possibility of producing a book of the drawings that my late father, Donald Pearse, did for our Accucraft UK carriages and wagons. I have been asked many times about the possibility of supplyi...
by strettonsteamer
Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:08 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Locomotive works history
Replies: 7
Views: 2989

Re: Merlin Locomotive works history

All my molds are only for the Pearse Locos versions. I have recently had all my molds back and they will take some sorting through. The main problem is recognising everything in reverse! Unfortunately I don't think my stuff will fit the Merlin Hunslet. However, give me a bit of time and I'll see wha...
by strettonsteamer
Thu Oct 14, 2021 6:38 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Locomotive works history
Replies: 7
Views: 2989

Re: Merlin Locomotive works history

Looks in great condition. Probably one of the ones I built as it has the Beck cylinders and the dome insulated for the RC aerial. Its also good that it has the silicone rubber heat seals to protect the servos. A pity we never got round to fitting the cow catchers at Merlin as I think they really fin...
by strettonsteamer
Mon Oct 11, 2021 5:04 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Locomotive works history
Replies: 7
Views: 2989

Re: Merlin Locomotive works history

Part 1 of this article was published in the latest issue SMT by Derek Wiggins. Part 2 is in the next issue. Hopefully with collaboration from Derek I will also do an article on Pearse Locomotives. Perhaps then followed by the Marches Models/Accucraft UK story.
by strettonsteamer
Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:25 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Pearse Switcher run on the railway
Replies: 6
Views: 4723

Re: Pearse Switcher run on the railway

Hi Mike. Looking at the video you have either blow-by on the cylinder 'O' rings, or on one of the piston valves. Over a long period the piston head 'O' rings can get flats on them. I would change those first. They are 15mm OD x 1.5mm section. I always used red silicone, the same as Roundhouse. Hope ...
by strettonsteamer
Thu Dec 19, 2019 11:28 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Pearse USA style locomotives
Replies: 5
Views: 4224

Re: Pearse USA style locomotives

Hi Mike I don't have the records anymore but if my memory serves me right I think we did about 40 of each of Colorado and the Switcher. The 2-6-0 Sierra Nevada never took off.We only did a couple. It was trying to do a decent bar framed 2-6-0 using the valve gear from the Switcher and other parts fr...
by strettonsteamer
Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:24 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Leek and Manifold
Replies: 39
Views: 20300

Re: Merlin Leek and Manifold

I think the loco was still there in 1986 when Wendy Davies made three of us redundant as 'cost cutting' measures. She probably sold the model on to raise cash to keep the company afloat. She never liked the L&M model and only liked a model if it was black! She completely ran the company into the...
by strettonsteamer
Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:19 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Leek and Manifold
Replies: 39
Views: 20300

Re: Merlin Leek and Manifold

The photos were taken by my father Don Pearse. They are not copyright or anything. He just used to photograph anything new so we had some images. As this is the raised bunker loco I think the crimson lake livery would suit it with the single straw coloured lining. Just out of interest do you know wh...
by strettonsteamer
Mon Jan 28, 2019 11:41 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Leek and Manifold
Replies: 39
Views: 20300

Re: Merlin Leek and Manifold

Just for info here a couple of images of the Merlin prototype.

Ian
by strettonsteamer
Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:58 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Leek and Manifold
Replies: 39
Views: 20300

Re: Merlin Leek and Manifold

This sounds like the original prototype as it has the one-piece frames. The Merlin model was made to 16mm scale and turned out very big, too big for most people! When I did the Pearse Locos model for GRS we did it to 15mm scale , as I think Roundhouse may have also done. By the time we did this mode...
by strettonsteamer
Sun Jan 27, 2019 11:42 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Leek and Manifold
Replies: 39
Views: 20300

Re: Merlin Leek and Manifold

This looks very much like the original Merlin L&M prototype. I would need to see an image of the underneath, especially the rear bogie as I put it together. The upper works were all done by Tony Sant, including the boiler, smokebox and body, that is if this is the Merlin prototype and not the Ma...
by strettonsteamer
Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:39 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Merlin Spares
Replies: 8
Views: 6251

Re: Merlin Spares

Hi Gareth
The Merlin banjo thread size is M5 x 0.8mm. They also used PTFE washers to seal the joint.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Ian
by strettonsteamer
Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:21 pm
Forum: Garden Railway Technical Help & Advice
Topic: Pearce Lew
Replies: 1
Views: 1920

Re: Pearce Lew

The main driving wheels slide on the axles when you have slackened off the grub screws in the boss on the rear of the wheel. The axles are dimpled so no worries about getting the correct back to back measurement. As new the locos were supplied with pony truck wheel sets for both 32mm and 45mm track....
by strettonsteamer
Mon Apr 10, 2017 3:07 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Dating a Merlin Major
Replies: 5
Views: 4409

Re: Dating a Merlin Major

Hi Mike. As far as I can remember set the crank pins to either 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock which will give you mid throw and the stainless steel bit of the piston valve should be sticking out from the valve block by 3.5 mm. You may have to remove the dummy etched brass cover from the valve chest to get a...
by strettonsteamer
Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:56 pm
Forum: Photographs
Topic: Lets start a Merlin locomotive picture thread
Replies: 46
Views: 30131

Re: Lets start a Merlin locomotive picture thread

Now here is a blast from the past! I made this model for myself as a 'one off' as an extended W&L Hunslet No 14. The inspiration came from some of the Indian Narrow Gauge 2 foot gauge locos built by Kerr Stuart. The longer boiler, body, and some of the valve gear was built by Tony Sant of Finesc...
by strettonsteamer
Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:42 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Dating a Merlin Major
Replies: 5
Views: 4409

Re: Dating a Merlin Major

Your Major was made post 1986 after myself and Peter and his wife Margaret were made redundant by Wendy Davies. The twin channel valve gear was probably developed by either Mark Wigley or John Lancaster. I know production had really stopped by 1991. This is a really nice model with quite a few upgra...