Thanks Neil
I couldn't work out how to put the picture into a post, so have started an album Dave W, and put a picture in there, not a very good one I'm afraid , will take some outdoors to give a bit better lighting, at the moment its tipping it down outside!
It is a pity that 2 1/2" gauge is a bit forgotten these days, the engines are cheap to build, easy to transport, and great fun to drive, there's quite an art to keeping the fire going, but rewarding when you get it right ( the push of shame if you get it wrong!). Although the wide firebox engines such as Flying Scotsman, Fayette, and Ayesha are a bit more manageable.
There's quite a bit more of the loco done than in the picture, just need to find time to put it together and build the boiler, which is easy to write but we all know how long that takes, BTW the strange bits sticking up from the steam chest covers are supports for the running boards, they still need milling off to the correct height.
Will post some more pictures as things (slowly) progress.
Dave