flywheel61
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Thunder Down Under - Flywheel 61's brief biographyThunder Down Under? Well the rattling of small steam engines in motion anyway.
It's a bit late as I've already been a member of the forum for about two months, but I thought I'd better tie up a few loose ends.
I'm Chris, 61, (that's the 61 part in Flywheel) married with two grown up children, and I live in Toowoomba, Queensland, the biggest non-state capital, inland city in Australia. The city is about 75km west of the state capital, Brisbane and about 700m above sea level, which makes it a lot cooler & less humid than the coast, population around 100,00 and also called the Garden City, even despite the drought.
"She who must be obeyed", is still working but I've been retired for about eight years, due to a work related injury and before my retirement I was a Ranger with National Parks in New South Wales (another state) for about 25 years. I came to Toowoomba (means two swamps in the local aborignal language) more than seven years ago and as a result of being at a bit of a loose end did a Diploma in Photography & Arts Degree in Journalism & Anthropology to keep ot of trouble.
As a child, like most of us at my age, Meccano was all the rage for boys, but I nor my parents could never afford to buy a Mamod steam engine to run my carefully built contraptions. I guess not having a steam engine stayed deep in my mind as shortly after coming to Toowoomba I saw two Mamods in an antique shop in a small town about 30 km away and the hobby/odessey started from there. Most of you will have seen my collection, which is, unashamedly, all Mamod bar one Bowmans. I don't have a lot of knowledge about repairs/refinements, apart from parts replacement, but I'm learning fast courtesy of the forum.
The last few months, since joining the forum has been very pleasurable, thanks to everyone for contributing.
Cheers 
Chris
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Mamodman123
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ITs great to learn more about you Chris! A lot of people buy these engines because they never had one as a child 
Continue to enjoy the forums
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James
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Good to read Chris, thanks mate
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Manxman
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Yea, always nice to know a bit more about people and I'm glad you are enjoying the forum.
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SPOKESMAN
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Good to hear the background Chris!
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tmuir
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If you dont know much about fixing them Chris then I guess its about time to buy a cheap dead one and fix it up, with help from the forum of course.
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Sandman
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Hope you continue to enjoy the forum Chris.
It's been great to hear of your background.
Quite a scholar by all accounts.
As one who took early retirement myself, I find the hobby a godsend.
Keep up the good work.
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sparky
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cheers chris i enjoyed that mate 
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flywheel61
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tmuir wrote
| Quote: | | If you dont know much about fixing them Chris then I guess its about time to buy a cheap dead one and fix it up, with help from the forum of course |
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Already happening Tony, a near mint SE2A arrived the other day, whistle jambed in collar & whole lot turning in boiler. Lots of advice forthcoming on how to fix it - desoldering, resoldering etc. Thanks mate.
Cheers
Chris
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yosa
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Thanks for the background Chris. Puts some flesh on the bones. Good to know you mate. 
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sparky
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| flywheel61 wrote: | tmuir wrote
| Quote: | | If you dont know much about fixing them Chris then I guess its about time to buy a cheap dead one and fix it up, with help from the forum of course |
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Already happening Tony, a near mint SE2A arrived the other day, whistle jambed in collar & whole lot turning in boiler. Lots of advice forthcoming on how to fix it - desoldering, resoldering etc. Thanks mate.
Cheers
Chris |
thats a good start mate hope you enjoy it and we will all be willing to help you out
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flywheel61
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Must be the age, I seem to do a lot of things back to front (also have a tee shirt which says, " I'm not forgetful, just having a senior's moment"). I decided I should have run the SE2A before pulling it apart. Found out it runs wuite quite well and an at a reasonable speed, only a small leak around the whistle collar but slows down a fair bit when whistle is used. It's in very good condition so I think I'll concentrate on fixing the SE3 with the end cap made out of a welch plug first as it's not in as good a condition. Better to use that one asd a learning exercise.
Cheers
Chris
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flywheel61
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Sandman wrote
| Quote: | Hope you continue to enjoy the forum Chris.
It's been great to hear of your background.
Quite a scholar by all accounts.
As one who took early retirement myself, I find the hobby a godsend.
Keep up the good work |
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Thanks SM, I know what you mean about early retirement, a couple of good hobbies helps to pass the time & keeps you out of trouble & out from under the wife's feet. As far as the education was concerned it was more of a practical issue, wanted to be a 'grey nomad' & travel OZ writing articles & takings pics from newspapers & magazines, make a bit of petrol & camping money, but didn't work out at the time. Probalby going to have another go in a couple of years
Cheers
Chris
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Steve_S
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Very interesting to read about you Chris.... and I look forward to hearing how you get on with the SE3!
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SPOKESMAN
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Look forward to a pic or two of the SE2a - very underrated little unit.
We dont see enough of them on here!
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Wallace
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Great to hear the full story Chris.
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flywheel61
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Yosa wrote
| Quote: | | Thanks for the background Chris. Puts some flesh on the bones. Good to know you mate |
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Thanks mate, don't know about putting flesh on the bones, though, I think I need to take some off. 
Cheers
Chris
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oldstuff
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Glad to read your details, Chris. Most of all, glad you're here with us!
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flywheel61
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old stuff wrote
| Quote: | | Most of all, glad you're here with us! |
Thanks Chuck, so am I at leat a lot of the odd looks I get have subsided now I can say that there are people all over the world who are into model steam other than railways. OZ is a big country and it's good to have a couple of other locals on board plus all the help, support & fun we have on this forum.
Cheers
Chris
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