Model Engine Maker

Supporting => Vehicles & Models => Topic started by: Ed on April 22, 2014, 06:17:57 PM

Title: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on April 22, 2014, 06:17:57 PM
Is anybody building the Tom Thumb steam train engine that's in Live Steam magazine? I plan on starting as soon as I get some materials. Ed
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on April 28, 2014, 01:17:09 PM
Finished drilling the side frame's . Ready to move on with the build. Ed
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Jo on April 28, 2014, 01:32:45 PM
Ed, any chance of some photo's of your progress?  8)

Jo
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on April 28, 2014, 04:21:32 PM
Some pictures would be great Ed. I let my subscription to Live Steam lapse (on purpose) over a year ago so it would be nice to see where you are headed on this project.

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on April 29, 2014, 01:56:44 PM
I'll take some pictures after I make some more parts. All I have now is 4 pieces of flat iron with holes drilled in them. Ed
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 03, 2014, 06:50:23 PM
After a couple of weeks of fun this is how far I've came.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: zeeprogrammer on May 03, 2014, 07:30:56 PM
Cool project!
I hope to keep up with this one.

More pics! More pics!  ;D
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 06, 2014, 02:08:43 PM
I hit a little snag. The building materials list for the 7 pedestals calls for 3/8x2x2.75. I cut and machined the material to that size. After finishing the material looking at the drawing it shows the material to be 3/8x2x2.375. mow what to do I re sized the material to the smaller size hope I'm right. You know the fun part of this is learning. I need to read ahead and figure things out. The best part of this build is learning to be a better machinist. Next step is figuring out how to open up the pedestal to the .75 opening and be right in the middle of the part. Ed
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 14, 2014, 04:18:08 PM
The making of the pedestals. A lot of time put into making these,a lot of steps.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 22, 2014, 01:47:39 PM
The 8th pedestal is finished.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: wagnmkr on May 22, 2014, 01:56:06 PM
You are doing a fine job on this. I have wanted to buy a set of the original plans for a while but have had no luck so far and no replies to emails to the suppliers. Getting all the back issues required and the subscription for the rest of this current build is cost prohibitive here in Canada.

I will be watching this for sure.

Cheers

Tom
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 29, 2014, 02:18:42 PM
Grate supports are finished.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 29, 2014, 02:19:31 PM
The start of the couplings from cast iron.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on May 29, 2014, 05:00:27 PM
Ed, In your 1st and 7th photos a the beginning of the build you show two separate frames that seem to have different pedestal spacing. I was just curious as to what the second and smaller frame is for and how it  fits into the overall model?  Something like a tender perhaps?

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on May 30, 2014, 01:55:01 PM
You are right the smaller is the tender the longer is the engine.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on May 30, 2014, 01:59:32 PM
Thanks Ed,  the work so far looks great BTW...I am still following along with interest here!

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on June 10, 2014, 01:46:19 PM
The coupling's are finished.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on June 19, 2014, 02:09:19 PM
The plates are to size. They are made up of 3/16 " sheet pilling for seawalls. wasn't wide enough so had to have them welded up to size. Keeps getting bigger.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on July 09, 2014, 04:00:04 PM
After 2 weeks of milling, 5 1/4"x 5 3/4" x .350 deep ,020 at a time. The ash pan is finished. The pan size is 6" x 6 1/2" x 1/2 ".
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Roger B on July 09, 2014, 07:39:46 PM
"After 2 weeks of milling"  :) That's dedication  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp: I thought that 4 days flycutting the base for my horizontal engine was hard going  ::)
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on July 22, 2014, 01:50:15 PM
The grate is finished. This is how I set up to make all the parts the same size and the holes in the proper places.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on August 02, 2014, 05:49:17 PM
From this piece of cast iron to the 8 journal boxes.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on August 21, 2014, 02:17:09 PM
A little time out from life things to repair my metal saw. The nut that moves the vice jaw broke at the threads. My first try to weld cast iron. Just a little machinating then ready to start cutting out the wheels.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on August 21, 2014, 02:43:47 PM
Ed, sorry about the little vise mishap, but you seem to have that sorted out. Happy to see you back on this project also. The grate, couplers, and journal boxes look great!!

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on September 07, 2014, 02:09:53 PM
This is how I made the wheels. One down 7 more to go.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on September 17, 2014, 08:18:15 PM
The wheels ans axles are finished. Now making the blanks for the gears.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Roger B on September 17, 2014, 08:26:00 PM
That's a lot of work  :ThumbsUp: I can appreciate that  :cheers:
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on September 27, 2014, 02:38:18 PM
How my gear blanks were made before my lesson. After all this is a hobby and I'm in it to learn. Pic 1 turning the gear blanks. Pic 2 repairing the blanks.I made to the wrong size was able to salvage all blanks. pic 3 the material I used all cast iron. No pic of distorting the blanks when my set up to cut the teeth failed.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on October 10, 2014, 07:17:50 PM
The transmission is finished.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on October 11, 2014, 01:34:27 AM
Still following along Ed. The tranny looks good...maybe its about time for another family shot so we can see how it all fits together :)

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: fumopuc on October 11, 2014, 05:38:06 AM
 Hi Ed, that is a very interesting project. I have found the time to look for some more Information about this train  in the net. Here in Europe it is not so well known. I will following along.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on October 14, 2014, 02:23:10 PM
The wheels and axles are installed.It keeps getting bigger.Looking like something now.Sorry photo's aren't too good,flash on auto sometimes don't work well.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on October 23, 2014, 02:03:02 PM
The wheel cranks are finished. The jig in the magazine is a very good idea. Even tho I have a rotor table I used the jig to make the parts. The jig is wearth the price of the magazine.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on October 23, 2014, 05:20:43 PM
Looking good Ed!  You are making slow but steady progress, wish I could say the same on my current project.

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on November 13, 2014, 02:26:50 PM
1/4ing the wheels.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on November 13, 2014, 02:28:05 PM
A lot of steps and time to make these small parts. Now just waiting on the next Live Steam magazine to make the next parts.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on November 13, 2014, 03:45:32 PM
Nice to see some progress Ed. I hope the next Live Steam has lots to keep you busy too :)

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on January 20, 2015, 04:22:37 PM
The parts for the pump. Just need to to drill the small holes in the pins then put the pump together.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Roger B on January 20, 2015, 04:34:17 PM
Happy to see you back on this one  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp: Still following along.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: b.lindsey on January 20, 2015, 04:50:07 PM
Nice work Ed.  Did you blacken them yourself?

Bill
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on January 21, 2015, 01:55:09 PM
I painted the parts, not good idea have to scrape the paint off the cylinder to make it fit the cyl.
Title: Re: Tom Thumb Steam Engine
Post by: Ed on March 05, 2015, 02:37:43 PM
The parts from this mouths mag and the pump is put together. Now need to wait till May's mag for more plans.
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