News from the Summerlands Chuffer Team
Website News!
About a year ago, my son convinced me that I should change from my old iMac to an iPad with keyboard. The downside of this was that editing this website became a nightmare - so I didn't. Now I have a new MacBook and so am learning how to do it all over again! Watch this space......
The Garden Railway Club
A few months ago, Google decided to pull the plug on the Garden Railway Club that a number of us had created as a free resource for the hobby. Thanks to some very clever fellow enthusiasts, this contest has been saved - though it cannot be updated. I am afraid that links from this site to the garden Railway Club no longer work, so you will have to visit Gardenrailwayclub.co.uk which will take you to its new home. The contents are listed down the left hand side and there is lots to read if you have spare time.
Fitting Notes Progress
All of the Fitting Notes from the old website have now been transferred over and I have added a new one for the Accucraft Saxonian VIK, kindly supplied by Alan Regan, and one on the Bowande 16mm Quarry Hunslet (see below)
Making Contact!
The contact form at the foot of the page is now working so you can either use that or contact me, Chris Bird, at summerlandschuffer@gmail.com or Nigel Garrett at enquiries@dp-supplies.co.uk
Accucraft Peckett
I have had a number of enquiries about a Chuffer for the new Peckett but sadly we are not able to list a version for this loco. Although it has pretty much the same chimney and smkebox dimensions as the Large Quarry Hunslet ((see below), Accucraft are concerned that a Chuffer up the chimney might cause overheating in this particular loco, where the "blast pipe" type exhaust helpos to draw the heat away. I have also had reports of variations where the exhaust fitting is at an angle, of offset under the chimney which makes fitting more of a challenge.
Chuffer for Accucraft 16mm Large Quarry Hunslet
The slimmest Summerlands Chuffer ever, at under 3mm diameter has been developed for this new Large Quarry Hunslet with its tiny chimney. The SCAC51 really does the business - keeping the loco so much cleaner and adding a pleasant chuff. I must thank Peter Ingall for twisting my arm to design it, and both Dave Mees and Ian Pierce for testing and approving it.
Chuffer for Bowande 16mm Quarry Hunslet
Using the same 3mm Chuffer body that works so well in the Accucraft Large Quarry Hunslet, I was able to design one for the new Bowande locos. The SCBW2 was tested for me by John Sowerby - so a big thank you to him!
Chuffers for Accucraft Sabrina & Talgarth
The most recent generic locos from Accucraft UK (now sadly discontinued) needed a new Chuffer as the old SCAC2 used for Ragleth et. would not work properly. The new Chuffer for both locos is the SCAC50
Chuffer for Accucraft Dolgoch
Over 7,800 Chuffers Sold!
Since the old website was frozen, we have passed the 7,800 Summerlands Chuffers supplied - to countries across the globe. Thank you to all our customers and fellow enthusiasts!
Free Chuffer Design Service
Since the first Summerlands Chuffer in 2009, I have offered a free design service for new, unusual or scratchbuilt locos. In the past month I have done four new ones and always enjoy the challenge. Do get in touch if you would like me to look at your loco - I will need some measurements and photos, but there is no committment until you are happy.
Chuffer Advertising
Each quarter, for the past twelve years, I have been producing an ad for 16mm Today featuring photos from my railway with caricature figures from Rob Bennett's Busybodies and ones supplied by Si Harris at Model Earth Design.
Here is the latest:
A few years ago I ran one which said "Size Matters" because when it comes to Chuffer design, it really does. browsing through my old photos I came upon this one of my little Mamod and, of course, when it comes to loco size, it doesn't matter. Provided that there is enough space in the chimney, we can do it - just look at the new 16mm Quarry Hunslet Chuffers!
And below are some more recent ones:
This page will give all the latest news and tips about Summerlands Chuffers.
Last Autumn, the old website was frozen by the service provider and although it still works, it cannot be updated or edited in any way. My difficulty was finding a website software that could create something similar - and I confess that after struggling a few times, I lost the will!
At this point Scott Yates came on the scene and has saved the day. A professional IT man, he was creating a new website for the Weymouth & District Model Engineering Society, when he realised that it would be perfect for us too (Nigel and I are both members). He spent some hours replicating our old page style and made it look better. Then he taught me the works and even did the swap over - so a big thank you Scott!