my intermediate project, steamroller

[Snowman]

Well, to keep me going and for some light relief from my main project Peterbilt, I decided to have a go at building a wilesco old smoky. I liked the idea of a live steam model. So, after getting the kit and building it I had something like this:
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab5/Nicolas1980/Steamroller/IMAG0510.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab5/Nicolas1980/Steamroller/IMAG0511.jpg

Well, soon after completing it I decided it didn't really look like a real vintage steamroller so I stripped it down for some modifications and upgraded parts. Here's what it looks like now:

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab5/Nicolas1980/Steamroller/IMAG0532.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab5/Nicolas1980/Steamroller/IMAG0523.jpg

I have some much better photos I will post as soon as I get them off the camera. There's one boiler band missing in these photos that I have since fitted.

[Car5858]

Very nice build, have yoou fired it up yet??

[Snowman]

Oh yes, I've run 2 packs of fuel tablets through it already, so much fun when it's steaming up and hissing. Everything gets hot, have to watch where you put your fingers!

[Car5858]

I guess that you will have alot of fun with it. A lot of fairs around here like live steam demos.:cool:

[Claus]

Very nice. Are you going to haul it on a lowboy behind your Peterbilt?

[Snowman]

Got it in one :) I have a carson low loader, would be just right for the job.

[Espeefan]

Nice model! I've always liked these, though the traction engines are a little more my taste, rather then the steam roller, but never the less, I wouldn't mind trying one of these models sometime. Would be interesting to convert it to RC, if possible. Do they have a throttle, or is more less all or nothing?

[Snowman]

Thanks Nathan. It took me ages to decide which model to go for but in the end I prefered the green roller to the blue traction engine, it just looks a bit too toyish in blue. I ended up repainting the whole thing anyway so colour wasn't really an issue! What helped me decide in the end is that steamrollers were used in roadbuilding right up to the early 60's in the UK. The oldest parts of the motorway near to me were rolled with steamrollers. I thought I'd make a tribute to that.
As for the rc thing, wilesco actually offer that already. But only steering and forward/backward can be controlled. There is a control valve but it is not very progressive, not sure it would work very well for rc. Plus the flywheel often needs a bit of help to get it going. There is a certain simple pleasure in running alongside it tweaking the controls as it goes while trying not to burn your fingers on the hot metal parts! What's great about this model is you can disengage the rear wheels and have it running stationary, you can even run accesories off the pulley.

[kcjeepn]

Nice looking steamer