The Showcase > Vehicles & Models
My scaled down version of the steam traction engine "Minnie"
Zephyrin:
I think I've already mentioned the misfortune that happened to my little steam tractor...
Made in 2001, this small model is at 1/19 scale, a reduced down version of “Minnie”, from the Len Mason’s book. Hence my farm traction engine is pretty small, and was built on the small Emco Unimat SL1 lathe. The rear wheels, with a diameter of 100mm, were the maximum for this little lathe, with a riser under the headstock of course!
But unfortunately, my "home-made" wheel foundries made of unknown alloys have not withstood the passage of years, because of the "Zinkpest", in a few years the wheels became swollen and disintegrated then fallen to bits!
I don’t mix anymore recycled metals for casting now…
I have just finished the overhaul: mainly a front wheel and a rear wheel completely redone;
I first machined rear and front wheel rims from good quality aluminium, and recycled the old brass parts of the hubs, and the steel spokes and rim irons (strakes ?), in good condition.
Then spokes were screwed on the hub and riveted on the rim. The 2 rows of spokes on the rear wheel were pretty tricky to rivet, as the visible part of the rivet head is the crushed one…
This tractor is now in good shape and runs very well with a small air compressor.
In accordance with the prototype, the absence of differential gears on the rear wheels makes the turns difficult, as well as the gear shifting without synchromesh, which makes the gears squeak a little...
The steam test will follow, as I have to fix first the broken water level and to change the butane filling valve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev-OBQX0Awg
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jAunaSNrpXePn9zT8
Some pictures of this repair:
gbritnell:
Beautiful job on the mini Minnie. Excellent rebuild on the wheels.
gbritnell
b.lindsey:
Great to see the little Minnie restored to her former glory. Very nicely done on the wheels too!
Bill
Kim:
Very nice little traction engine! Those old wheels do look like they have seen better days. Nice rebuild on them!
And thanks for showing us your riveting tools. I enjoy seeing how people do that. I struggled for some time to get my rivets to look tolerable. You'res look great!
Kim
Ye-Ole Steam Dude:
Hello Zephyrin,
That is so cool watching that little dude run over everything, beautiful job. :ThumbsUp:
Have a great day,
Thomas
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