Hi All. I am new to this forum and I realise its mostly for G scale modellers. However, I wonder if anyone can help me? I acquired an old 16mm scale 32mm gauge Merlin Mayflower loco a couple of years ago and am having problems. It had clearly not been run or well maintained for years and a whole number of niggles came to light from the gas burner to a water leak to valve timing and so on. Although I can do basic stuff and managed to fix some of these problems more keep presenting themselves and I think the loco needs to be fully stripped down and refurbished. This service used to be offered by Rhos Helyg works but no longer. Does anyone know of a person/business that can do this please? Andrew
Rhos Repair service for 16mm Merlin steam loco
- Thread starter AndrewLee
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- live steam loco repairs
Mayflower is a thing of beauty and well worth trying to get working again. Timing is a bit tricky but somewhere in my okd 16mm stuff I may still have them. Water leak presumably steam leak also could be a bigger problem unless just in pipework which can be resolved with o rings or plumbers tape. Paul’s suggestion to consider joining the 16mm society is sound. Plenty of advice and help in that society, there are even local groups in Hampshire and West Sussex that may be close enough to join meetings. I tried to post the link but was running slow today so search this:-
Narrow Gauge Railways in your Garden - Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers
Join our growing membership of 4,500 worldwide, modelling narrow gauge railways in 14-16mm/foot scale, often in the garden and using real live steam locos.
www.16mm.org.uk
Rhos Helyg Loco Works
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Yeah, good luck with that. After 20+ years of dealing with all sorts of stuff I have decided on retirement to only work on locos produced by a reputable manufacturer, and Merlin was definitely not one of those. Owners love their Merlin locos - until they stop working. For those of us then asked to fix them they can be a nightmare. Poor design (e.g. steel axles in brass frames with no bearings, plastic pistons, etc.), poor materials (e.g. side rods stamped out of thin plate), poor manufacture (are there two the same?), no spare parts available. They were almost designed to wear out and become shelf queens, just awful.
I would probably have turned the job down anyway as it may well have snowballed in to one of those where I think I have been underpaid and my customer thinks I have over-charged. It is possible to lose many working hours on one of these, for little benefit.
Simon Whenmouth at Anything Narrow Gauge may be able to help. I could only repaint it for you though!
I would probably have turned the job down anyway as it may well have snowballed in to one of those where I think I have been underpaid and my customer thinks I have over-charged. It is possible to lose many working hours on one of these, for little benefit.
Simon Whenmouth at Anything Narrow Gauge may be able to help. I could only repaint it for you though!
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Hi folks. Thank you for the various suggestions (and dire warnings). I have contaced Simon Whenmouth to see what he says and I will try Abbeybach too. I am a 16mm Association member so putting it out there as well. I realise this may be a case of good money after bad and I might have to scrap said loco and write off the cost, which makes me sad as it was a sixtieth birthday present. But we live and learn. The stubborn part of me wants to keep wrestling with the bugger until it yeilds and works agian. But maybe that way madness lies! Andrew