Stuart Williamson engine from castings

[geoff5269]

I have been wondering what to make next and decided on this engine as I already had the book about it. I thought of scratch building it and started looking for a ali tube to do the column but then realised I might not be able to bore the inside taper nearly 6" deep.   So I bought the castings from Stuart for £400. So today I started cleaning up the column which is cast iron and found it is slightly oval but generally it looks good. There wasn't much in the way of plans, only 2 A3 sheets so I'm pleased I have the book.
I found a picture of a finished one by Andy AGB engines on flickr, I think it useful to start a thread with a picture showing the aim of the work.
Geoff 

[geoff5269]

Andy's picture didn't appear so I try again
Geoff

[Jo]

The Williamson is one I keep hoping will turn up as an orphaned set of castings.

I am told the governor is fun something to look forward to making

Jo

[jeff l]

I'm happy to see some one doing a build on this engine .
I have a 1970 casting set the only difference with it is that the column is cast in Aluminum and it poor to say the least .

[geoff5269]

I Have started machining the column, trimming the ends and boring the holes, The book suggests working in the lathe holding one end in the chuck and turning the other unsupported end. I didn't want to risk this so I used the mill it was still tricky. The shape is slightly oval by 2mm so I am just cleaning up the mouldings with a file. I can see most of the popular engines and casting kits were designed many years ago in inches and writers didn't think a home workshop would have a milling machine so the lathe did everything. Surly it's time for these plans to be updated.
Here's some more pics
Geoff

[crueby]

That column has a wonderful shape. Great start!

 

[geoff5269]

I am getting on quiet well so far although machining cast iron is a bit messy, Have completed the base and entablature and am now polishing up the column with a minidrill and flap sanders which work well. You have to spend plenty off time studying the plans before you start machining and find a way of aligning the top and bottom before you drill the fixing holes.
Geoff

[gbritnell]

Hi Geoff,
It looks to be a very attractive engine. I haven't looked at the Stuart line for quite a few years and had forgotten about this engine.
I'll be following along to watch the progress.
gbritnell

[jeff l]

Hi Geoff, You are off to a great start!  Jeff

[b.lindsey]

Very nice looking model Geoff and you are coming right along with it. Looking forward to following along with your build.

Bill

[Gas_mantle]

Looks good Geoff 

It's nice to see someone doing a build log of one of these, I've always thought it's an attractive engine but it seems to be less common than most of the other Stuarts.

[scc]

Excellent so far,  I shall be quietly watching and learning..           Regards         Terry

[Chipswitheverything]

Enjoying your excellent build log, Geoff, this is a nicely unusual Stuart engine to feature.   Re Jo's comment about hoping to find the bits of this engine, thirty years ago, on a local market stall, I came across two untouched, still packaged sets of castings, for this Williamson engine, and the Stuart turner Triple.  They were thirty quid a set, so I just bought the set for the triple....     Dave

[Jo]

Re Jo's comment about hoping to find the bits of this engine, thirty years ago, on a local market stall, I came across two untouched, still packaged sets of castings, for this Williamson engine, and the Stuart turner Triple.  They were thirty quid a set, so I just bought the set for the triple....     Dave

Left them behind 

Jo

[scalemodel]

That looks some nice machining geoff, ive built afew stuarts about 15 years ago and still like looking at them now.

Im pretty sure anthony mount has built a version of this engine which will be appering in the magazine and castings etc.

Jonathan