5 inch gauge GWR 4-6-0 "King Charles I"

A 5 inch gauge GWR 4-6-0 "King Charles I".

New and unsteamed, this has come to us from the estate of the late builder. A prolific project-starter, the "King" was the only engine in his collection to reach completion.

Allegedly run on air when it was first built, it's immensely stiff to turn over. Finish of the machined parts is okay, the cladding and detailing have scope for improvement - the reach rod fouls on the firebox cladding, the reverser fouls on the cab side, and the safety valve cover has been screwed to the boiler cladding with stainless steel woodscrews rather than bolts.

The amateur-built boiler looked like a good effort on a visual inspection, but at mains pressure showed a steady leak from one stay on the right hand side of the firebox as well as a structural leak on the left hand backhead-firebox joint.

Probably repairable and, given the boiler's unsteamed condition, now would be the time to do so.