I’ve been working hard for the last two weeks determined to get my engine finished for a club run on New Years Eve. When I decided to build a loco, I knew nothing of metal working or steam locomotives. I learned as I went and there was a lot to learn. I found the machining straight forward, I enjoyed making the boiler, I hated the sheet metal work, I didn't much like the painting and lining- lots of headaches here- and the last job was to make the builders and nameplates using the laser printer toner method of etching. I ran the engine in an unfinished and unpainted state, without tender, for several months before stripping for painting and finishing. I therefore knew that it runs extremely well. Thanks to Julian Atkinson for drafting calculations which I followed to excellent effect.
Along the way I built 3/5 of a Blowfly loco, including boiler, for a young enthusiast, and a couple of gauge 1 locomotives. Also tooling and jigs as needed, of course.
The most urgent job now is to make some extension controls. Yesterday I simply could not reach the regulator over the tender. My back is very problematic and inflexible, and I had no hope. Hitting the regulator with the shovel got old very quickly and I did only a few laps.

Thanks gents for the kind words. It took 15 years to build. I first set up a workshop buying a Hafco Chinese 300 swing by 900 geared head lathe with 6” 3 jaw, 8” 4 jaw, 10” faceplate, QCTP, tail stock chuck, live centre etc, and DRO. It was a package deal and cost $A4000 in 11/2006. I bought a Sieg SX3 mill drill. I got ER 32 collets and 5C collets for the lathe. An 8” bench grinder. For heating equipment, a Sievert 2944 big burner, a 2943 burner and an oxy-propane set with a heating tip. I was not going to be short of heat, the cause of so many problems. If that sounds like a lot of money, I have no children, so imagine how much I have saved there.

Once again, thank you gentlemen for the generous compliments. Although fully lined LNER green is a lot more work, I figured that once it is done, you enjoy the benefits for years after. The Fox transfers for the tender lining alone took two weeks. I had the foresight to buy twice as many lines and corners (and they are not cheap) as I needed, reasoning that I would stuff a lot up until I got the hang of it. Just as well as I used almost all my spares.
A mate is finishing a much more impressive loco, also his first, but in all black, so it doesn’t have the visual impact.