{"product_id":"6-inch-scale-ruston-proctor-tractor-with-trailer-stock-code-5188","title":"6 inch scale Ruston Proctor tractor with trailer","description":"\u003cp\u003eI thought I'd seen some pretty clean engines and well-sorted trailers until  this Ruston arrived last month - to say it's moved the goalposts is something of  an understatement.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an exhibition quality Ruston Proctor in 6 inch scale, the work of a  prolific, highly-regarded engineer with several other good engines to his  credit. Normally with engines of this kind of quality (the 7 1\/4 inch gauge 9F  that was in recently comes to mind) I simply take a lot of pictures and write a  few words - it's easy to judge the quality from the photographs.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, in this case, whilst you can still see exactly what the thing looks  like - and you'll have to take my word for it that the motionwork turns over as  smooth as silk and the engine runs beautifully - it really does need a bit of  descriptive stuff to show the standard that some people can achieve and maintain  with what is, in this case, a regularly rallied outfit.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe engine itself is built to a high standard - fit and finish is excellent  throughout, everything that isn't painted is polished. It runs near-silently,  the exhaust beats spot on. The steel boiler is by Valentine Engineering, it's  had hydraulic and steam tests in the past month, construction is welded steel  with expanded tubes. Working pressure 120psi, feed by injector and pump - there  is an auxiliary hand pump under a removeable plate in the tender, which also  gives access to a drain tap, avoiding the need to grovel about underneath the  engine to empty the tender.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCylinder is in cast iron, slide valve actuated by Stephenson's gear with pole  reverser on the footplate. Mechanical lubricator, steam siren mounted on the  block.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo speed transmission with differential, winch behind nearside rear wheel  with fairleads mounted on tender. Wheels are on rubber tyres, the engine is  road-registered with V5 document.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is a high level of detailing, much of it both ingenious and functional,  such as the brass funnel beneath the water pump, piped to direct any leakage  past the gland down the side of the hornplate and to the floor rather than  splashing about on top of the firebox. There's a felt pad mounted in a tray at  the end of the trunk guide so that oil wiped out doesn't drip onto the boiler  cladding. Main bearing caps are double-nutted, there are well-proportioned  oilers just about everywhere. The oil can has a carrier turned from a lump of  polished brass mounted in the tender, beside a holder for the poker. The  fountain has a steam take-off allowing connection, by flexible pipe, of the  Windermere kettle (or \"steam tea urn\"), an elegantly converted antique  copper kettle which will boil a pot full of water in seconds.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the tender-mounted driving seat, there are a pair of passenger  trailers, taking two people apiece.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe trailer is as well thought out as the engine - it's designed to make  rallying the entire outfit single-handed a straightforward, comfortable affair.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStarting off with a four wheel Ifor Williams box trailer, it has been fitted  with a mammoth-size lorry battery, from which an inverter provides mains sockets  and fluorescent lighting around the van, along with 12 volt sockets for  ancilliary equipment. There is a built-in charger, operated from a timer - when  at home, the trailer is plugged into the mains which charges the battery. In  case of emergency (the owner confessed never to having had one) there is a  smaller, spare battery installed.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 12 volt winch with remote cable control allows the engine to be loaded and  unloaded - marks painted on the loading ramp ensure correct alignment in the  trailer. Once inside, permanently installed ratchet straps lock down the rear  wheels - when the engine is unloaded, the spare straps are fed through slots in  the floor into lockers beneath, so that you don't trip up on the loose ends.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is a radio-controlled electric clock at the rear of the van, above the  fire extinguisher, with a stereo radio-cassette mounted on the front wall. At  the rear is mounted a thermometer and hygrometer - too much humidity and the  built-in extractor fan will vent the damp air, keeping the engine dry.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are water storage tanks sufficient for a weekend's steaming - a pipe  and tap led through the side of the van allows drawing off water for  handwashing. Down the side of the trailer is mounted a rail onto which the  gazebo, included, fastens, allowing the engine to be placed under cover (and, if  required, the trailer itself to be used for sleeping quarter). Twin-barrel tyre  pump is hung on the wall, along with lockers for spares, variable speed  steam-raising blower, stainless waste bin, paper towel dispenser, mirror with  light alongside for emergency smut-removal from eyes... If there is something,  anything, which might make life a little easier or more comfortable on the rally  field, it's been included.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe engine and one trolley pack into the trailer, the other is mounted on a  carrier on the rear - it's cleverly designed to allow single-handed loading,  once installed on its bracket there is a fitted waterproof cover to keep the  road muck off it.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI don't think there's a better kept engine with such well-thought out  transport being rallied at the moment - I'm sorely tempted to book in for some  rallies next season myself! My only word of caution would be the work involved  in keeping the whole outfit in the condition you see here - the previous owner  managed to get cleaning down to a day's work after rallying for the weekend,  with, in his words \"an early start, a full day's work and a short lunch  break\".\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  Hydraulic test @180psi for 120psi working, 27-Sep-2011\u003cbr\u003e  Steam test 27-Sep-2011    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019785359701,"sku":"5188","price":22500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/5188-1.webp?v=1779907162","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/6-inch-scale-ruston-proctor-tractor-with-trailer-stock-code-5188","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}