As anyone who knows me would tell you, I don't do steam locos. I tried - many years ago - to restore a 5 inch steamer and, probably due to inexperience, I made a bit of a hash of it.
Well, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and I think I've built up a modicum of skills and experience, so when I got a phone call a few weeks ago I changed my mind.
It turned out that a previous member of my model engineering society had passed on and his son was emptying his workshop.
Among the bits was a partly built Titch in 7 1/4 gauge, complete with a commercially built boiler. Well, I just couldn't resist.
For those who haven't seen one, this is what a 7 1/4 Titch looks like (I borrowed the pic from Steam Workshop's website, hope they don't sue!).
Well, what I got didn't quite look like that, but I can always hope that it might when it's finished.
By the look of this lot, I think he might have started a second one too!
That boiler number - as well as the quality of the work - is what makes me think it must be a commercially made one.