so, what is the "skinny" on Cheddar Models locos?

 

Greg -- My understanding, which is admittedly meager, is that there are two groups of Cheddar locomotives: the Ivers which are mediocre-to-decent, and the 'higher end' Cheddars which are excellent. I owned a 32mm gauge Iver for maybe 8 years and it was always a frustrating loco. It had a very clever design (early -- earliest? -- application of a ceramic burner, a removable gas tank which purportedly facilitated fueling ease) and the build was substantial, but it was awkward to run. The burner howled like a banshee, and the r.c. controlled throttle simply refused to get dialed in. The loco was always racing and stalling, racing and stalling even with trimming inputs. I was happy to sell it on. I've heard that the 45mm gauge Iver was a more well-mannered version. Both come with oscillator-valved cylinders. The 'higher end' Cheddars have fixed cylinders; though I've never owned one I understand that they perform splendidly.

 

that diagram is interesting, but hard to read from the post...

if you have that in higher resolution form, could you email it to me?

Interesting stuff...

 

that diagram is interesting, but hard to read from the post...

It's the only copy I have. I googled "cheddar automatic boiler control" and found it was often used in steam boats. There's even a new one on eBay:
Pardon Our Interruption...

 

Wilesco hat a "Gasatentuator" I had 2 of them,they worked very well:
Screwed into the boiler was a pressure tube with a membrane (adjustable)which regulated the gasflow(plumbed between gastank and jet)if properly adjusted the boiler pressure drops(full throttle)gas flow increases to keep up the pressure.
The only minus: out of water out of luck p.s Cleavedon in GB got them online

 

One of the Cheddar ABC Mk2 boiler control units is actually on ebay at the moment. Not cheap!

 

I found it the other day... looks like sensors for water level and to start/stop a pump...