stevenm

hello all, is there anyone out there that as an idea how much it would cost to build a 4 inch scale traction engine? i have seen completed models that are several years old, selling for £15,000.
i am new to this model engineering, and if it is going to cost thousands to build i will find myself a another hobby?
thanks
steve.

Bluewavestudios

I would say that does depend on your skills and what tools you have available to you to use for producing these sort of models. The basic materials are not that expensive ..if you have a decent workshop and perhaps a lathe at your disposal then you can make these models much cheaper. I think the final prices reflect on the particular model and the demand for it, popular subjects will always command higher prices, especially for a well built model. Working steam models are still a bit of a rarity so they can command the higher prices for a well built model...They usually last for years so they are a definite investment for the buyers.

Regards......Mark

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dipstick

i don't want to put you off the idea of building traction engine, but they just don't come cheap, and when you think off the amount of hours that go into a 4" model then it's easy to see why it costs that much.
so far my 3" engine has taken so far nearly two years to build and it has cost over £1000 most of that was buying the copper for the boiler.

if you are really interested in biulding a traction engine i would suggest a smaller model, for example MJ engineering do a 2" burrell gold medal tractor. most the parts are quite cheap and if you don't think you can machine a certain part they will, but at a cost.
hope this helps

chris

mike71

It will cost a fair bit of money to build the large traction that you have in mind.

Do you have the tools and machines to take on the project, if you haven't then tooling up will be more costly than building the engine.
mike71