This model is based on an original oscillating Steam engine which was displayed under steam by Hick, Hargreave & Co at the Great Exhibition in 1851 where it powered a Ryder forging machine. They claim it was capable of producing 2nhp. It is fairly typical of the type of engines of those days as they were much lighter than the more common beam engines. They found favour in ships as they can, when fitted with valve gear, be run in either direction.
The castings being used to construct this model were originally available from Woking Precision Models. While Woking have long gone the castings are now available from Hemmingway:
http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/Hick___Son_Ocsillation_Engine___G_K_King.htmlFor our engine I have acquired a set of Orphaned Castings:
But the observant of you may be as suspicious of these castings as I am..
1, That base plate looks to have come off an engine that got as far as being painted
2, The metal the frames are made of are a totally different colour than the other castings. I might go as far as suggesting they may have been cast in someone's backyard.
3, The two pivot castings look original as does the partially machined Flywheel.
4, The set is not complete
and originally they should have been made in Cast Iron:
5, I don't have any drawings
But there is a partial set in Model Engineer so I will be working from those and drawing up what is missing.
As you know I like a challenge
Jo