Model engine compilation - video

[Ralphxyz]

Well I just added it to my list of things to make, one of these days.

Fascinating seeing the balanced pennies.

Ralph

[MountainMan]

I found a bunch of free plans that you can download for steam engines if anyone is interested...just thought I would share.

Plans for Everything, Mostly Free

[Frank S]

This looks like the video of the crank and other parts being made

[rasta]

I'm going to guess the maker of this masterpiece is/was a watchmaker. The plethora of slotted screws where model engine makers would have used studs or SHCSs leads me to that conclusion. Regardless, the engine is a masterpiece; the crankshaft alone belongs in a museum.

2520 hours to complete corresponds to 315 eight hour days (and who can do that kind of work for 8 hours/day, day in and out?). More realistically, at 40 hours/week, it's 63 weeks or a year and a quarter of full time work.

The most appalling thing to me is that, if this engine came up on Antiques Roadshow, it would be appraised at only a tiny fraction of a soup can poster made by some demented scribbler or a scrap of paper with some stupid rock/sports personality's signature on it.

hi Marvhope that this time I have your name right )
This fellow believe it or not is a Ship engine mechanic, lives in a small Galician town in the northern part of Spain, all the plans for this engine and all of the other ones that he has made , were done by himself, (no CAD here) he would be about 76 now...And he has made all this marvellous stuff with the help of a pedestal drill and a old bench lathe...there are many Youtube files about him .. he is one of the best I have seen considering how he made this stuff.
Regards
Mariano

[Beserkleyboy]

Frank, thank you for sharing that...a truly remarkable man! ....now I'm feeling a bit inadequate...oh well, at least we can enjoy and respect this magnificent work! Cheers

Jim

[Frank S]

After watching several of his videos I couldn't help but notice the complete lack of ultra precision set up tooling for making the many parts in multiples.
To complexity of some of these would be difficult at best on a multiple axis machining center. He may have had a mill but I don't recall seeing one. Almost everything was made on the old lathe and the drill press or by hand filing in a vice.

[Beserkleyboy]

Frank, I noticed that as well. No apparent layout or centre punching prior to drilling cylinder sleeve bolt holes. Also noticed that the cross sectional shape of the rods was not consistent. And still using a old school vernier caliper! And, yes, the hand filing and lapping of parts ....I took a bicycle frame building course from Albert Eisentraut, in Oakland, CA in 1975. I remember questioning him on measurement, and he chuckled and said that his tube dimension could be + or - 3mm. I was gobsmacked! I thought it was all super precise. He also taught us to use our fingers and eyes to 'feel' small differences in parts, like .002"...And another wise man (lumber and woodworking mentor), had a good saying, 'If it looks right, it is right...' which allows for things being out of level/plumb. But I still try to keep my woodwork + or - .5mm....cheers
Jim

[MountainMan]

Ok I have to admit...I am really into these little engines. Does anyone know of a good starter kit available to buy for my 10yr old son? He loves to tinker like his dad

[MountainMan]

I downloaded some plans to build one myself. For my son I seen this kit https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...g=s4343sdfd-20 Has anyone ever bought one? Just curious if it's easy enough for a young boy.

[mklotz]

I downloaded some plans to build one myself. For my son I seen this kit https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...g=s4343sdfd-20 Has anyone ever bought one? Just curious if it's easy enough for a young boy.

A 10 year old with moderate mechanical skills should have no problem assembling that kit. I stress "assemble" as opposed to "build" or "construct" since it's all finished parts and the assembly is very simple.

Frankly, he would learn a lot more by actually building, with your help, a simple oscillator, the typical starter engine. Little Machine Shop sells an example...

https://littlemachineshop.com/projec...tingengine.php

or choose one of Elmer Verburg's oscillator, e.g...

http://www.john-tom.com/ElmersEngine...blerBoiler.pdf

A steam boiler in the hands of a child can be a dangerous mix. Running these engines on compressed air is much safer.