Saunderson and Mills Tractor

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22 September 2016 at 00:00 #67803
Peter Fitness
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@peterfitness34857
I know this has nothing to do with model boats, but it is a great example of scratch building. My brother-in-law, George Punter from Bundaberg, Queensland, and formerly from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, scratch built this model of a very early Saunderson and Mills tractor.

There are very few of them left on this side of the world, including one in Victoria, and one in a museum in Geraldine, in the South Island of New Zealand. Some years ago, while visiting NZ, George became aware of the example in Geraldine and, with the permission of the museum manager, took hundreds of photos, and was also given drawings. After further extensive research he proceeded to build a working model of the tractor. He also wrote a series of articles on its construction, which were published in the English Model Engineer magazine earlier this year.

He decided to enter the model in this year's MEX, which meant he had to package it in such a way as to withstand the rigors of international travel. He built a box out of 3 mm aluminium sheet and bolted the tractor, as well as a scale model of a Lister stationary diesel engine, to the base of the box. The total weight of the models and their box was 66 kg. While visiting Bundaberg in August I helped him to load it on to transport for the start of the journey to Brook;lands, Surrey, the venue for the MEX. It arrived safely, about a week before my sister and brother-in-law, who went over for the exhibition, plus a holiday back in the UK. The driver figure is also hand made.

I'm delighted to say that the tractor was awarded a Gold Medal, plus another trophy for the best road vehicle. The Lister won a bronze. Both models are now on their way back to Australia, while their owners enjoy a month or so in the UK.

George has made many models over many years, including a 5" gauge model of Holy War, the little Welsh slate quarry Hunslett steam loco. He also built a 6' long model of the trawler Frederick Spashett , powered by a home designed and built 25cc petrol engine.

Peter.

Edited By Peter Fitness on 22/09/2016 00:02:13
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22 September 2016 at 00:00 #7079
Peter Fitness
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@peterfitness34857
22 September 2016 at 07:10 #67804
Bob Abell 2
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@bobabell2
Hello Peter

That's a nice story!……And a nice model too………Congratulations to your Brother in Law are in order!

You mentioned his Holy War loco a few years ago

We've seen the real thing at Llanuchlyn, near Bala

It's about time you followed in your Brother in Laws footsteps and make another masterpiece?

All the best to you all, from the UK

Bob
22 September 2016 at 10:29 #67805
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Peter

Good for him a very special model and the effort involved to display it in the UK, the metal bashing is greatly rewarding I'm hoping to finish off a 5" gauge Boxhill tank engine, when I've completed the ongoing 5 model boat projects, but I keep adding to the list The price of castings and Professionally made loco copper boilers make the outlay hard to justified .

Best Regards Ray
22 September 2016 at 13:38 #67806
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Unfortunately I missed this superb model. My two days at Brooklands were taken up with the Marine judging and reporting so I never got a really good chance to view the engineering exhibits.

Colin
23 September 2016 at 23:07 #67835
Peter Fitness
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@peterfitness34857
Bob, some years ago we visited the Bala Lake Railway and rode the train from Llanuwchllyn to Bala and back behind Holy War's sister engine, Maid Marion. Holy War itself was in the workshop for maintenance.

Ray, my brother-in-law does all his own castings, using his own home made patterns. He also makes his own boilers which are pressure tested by an approved boiler inspector. Very labour intensive, but much cheaper than professionally made items.

Colin, what with judging and reporting on the MEX it's no wonder you had no spare time.

Peter.
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