Sold February 2015 Back to Archive

A 4 1/2 inch scale Foden steam tractor to the John Rex design, completed in 1999 by an experienced engineer with several other large scale steam models to his credit.

Steel boiler with expanded copper tubes - the boiler was retubed in 2011. Working pressure 180psi, feed by injector and mechanical pump. Two cylinder, compound working with simpling valve. Displacement and mechanical lubricators. Cab-mounted whistle with steam siren on the cylinder block. Three speed transmission with chain drive to rear axle, differential.

The engine has had an active rallying life and has featured on the front cover of "Engineering in Miniature" magazine in the past. Paintwork is getting tired, mechanically it's in good order with some valve to the valvegear - it runs well, Sam had a fine time blitzing up and down the estate earlier in the week, there's a clip of it here.

First Foden with the short tractor chassis we've had - to my eyes a well proportioned thing, certainly a lot easier to transport than the more common flatbed type we see which come in at around nine feet long.

Length 78 inches
Weight approx 1/2 ton