Model Engine Maker
About MEM => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: alan on August 25, 2013, 05:23:07 PM
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Hi everyone. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Alan, I currently reside in Kent. I have lurked in the background for some time, but after a visit to the Guildford show I got my motivation back after seeing a young lady demonstrating on a Cowells lathe and surrounded by some beautiful engines. My current workshop consists of a Boxford AUD mark 3 and an early Cowells lathe and and a Modig milling machine. I am now looking to scratch build an engine. Look forward to my future on this site
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Welcome! Would that be Kent Ohio? If so there is an engine show coming up in Zanesville in October. Anywho, looking forward to seeing some pictures of your future projects.
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Welcome Alan, glad you decided to join in!
Steve...I think he may be talking about Jo's recent demo...not Ohio :)
Bill
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Hi Alan and welcome. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Vince
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Hi Alan
Welcome!
Steve, I suspect Kent, UK, judging by the "after seeing a young lady demonstrating on a Cowells lathe" :D
Simon
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:hi: Alan,
A young lady.. I have no idea who that might have been :noidea: They were not all mine, the three most impressive ones belonged to other forum members ;)
Any chance of some pictures of your Cowells? For some reason I might have an interest in them :embarassed: And that Modig sounds rather sexy.
Jo
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:hi: Welcome Allan!
Don
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The Modig is one real sexy Swedish lady. I hope to have some photographs soon but in the meantime can you think of any engine I can scratch build as I am new to this scene.
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How new is new? You have more lathes/mills than many of our members and they strike me as rather nice machines for a beginner to own.
Are you looking for a simple barstock engine, something more challenging or an engine from castings with the little challenges that castings bring?
Jo
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I have been a model engineer for about twenty years but never built a stationary engine only gauge 1 locomotives and tooling, so a simple barstock engine to start or perhaps something more challenging?
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Hi Alan, welcome to the forum.
Cheers, Hugh.
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I have been a model engineer for about twenty years but never built a stationary engine only gauge 1 locomotives and tooling, so a simple barstock engine to start or perhaps something more challenging?
It sounds like you could build whatever you wanted. Stationary engines are just like the ones with wheels: a bunch of fiddly bits; some pieces that require really good fits with other pieces; and lots of appearance parts.
There are people here like me that have only been at it a couple of years and others that have spent a lifetime at it. Some of us just have basic tools while others appear to have bought out a couple of machine shops. More machines can make things easier but in the end it comes down to how much time and care you want to take.
Alan
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Welcome to the nuthouse Alan. :cheers: Its certainly fun here and educational with all the greats of model engine building here :Lol: Lots of help available and always freely given and in my mind, small as it is , this would be the best forum anywhere.....but then I am biased
Pete
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Glad to see you Alan. :ThumbsUp: There are a myriad of engine plans available on-line. Some very interesting models ranging from IC to Diesel with hot air and steam in between. Can you narrow it down just a wee bit for us, something you could do with your eyes closed kind of thing or something with a kazillion fiddly little pieces (yes some builders like them and we all know who you are) or just a nice relaxing build with moderate challenges. The Elmer Verburg engine series is probably one of the most reproduced series of engines on the planet, although they are restricted to steam/air power. All of his engines are well within the grasp of most builders. They can be left in their as-drawn state which is sometimes a bit mundane in nature (I mean that in a good sort of way) or they can be blinged out to the max with just a few minor changes and become show stoppers. And, they are all built from bar stock. This site has them available for easy download, have a look and see if there is anything you might like to try.
http://john-tom.com/html/Engines.html (http://john-tom.com/html/Engines.html)
BC1
Jim
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Thank you for such a warm welcome from the members. I am very interested in building a Corliss engine from bar stock. I am currently looking for drawings, but in the meantime I have many accessories to make for the Cowells.
Alan
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Tell me more :naughty: What are you thinking about making for your Cowells ;D.
Jo
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Welcome Alan.
A Corliss engine is a great idea! There are plans available on this forum for a very nice engine that a couple of members have going in various stages. I have taken a slightly different direction to suit my own equipment and personal preferences. With your equipment and experience with locomotives, you will very likely bring your own slant on this subject. I have only one bit of advice to offer. Go as big as you can. My own engine has a 7" flywheel due to limitations of material and equipment and that sets the scale for the whole project. When it got down to the very small parts, I found that I had to deal with fasteners of #0-80 size which is territory I would rather not enter. If I had it to do over again, I would have worked harder as a young man and retired with more resources so that I would have a 14" lathe.
I look forward to your contributions to the forum.
Jerry
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Welcome Alan!
Dave
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Hello again Alan, to save you from a bit of searching, here is a link that features what is being called the MEM Corliss engine drawings and is a very nice model that our administrators devised and drew up for the members. It is/has been the subject of a couple of threads here that outlines to a certain degree of detail the machining of it. Best of luck and be sure to take pictures and post up your build as we all would really enjoy seeing another one come to life.
http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,1285.0.html (http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,1285.0.html)
regards
BC1
Jim
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I don't know anyone with 14 tool holders :noidea:, I have 18 but my excuse is I also have two Cowells lathes :naughty:
I have one of the expensive Cowells tail stock holders and to be honest I prefer my own which slide on a 3/8" arbor fitted into the tailstock rather than the original Cowells which fit over the tailstock barrel. The problem being you need a little bit more length to get over the saddle width.
Jo
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Hi Alan
I went to the Guildford show as well and thought it was great, what part of kent do you live in? i'm near maidstone and have just finished Elmers #17 pumping engine with plans from the Tom Tom site.
Geoff
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Hi Geoff, I hail from Hythe near Folkestone. I am just starting to build a Corliss engine but an enforced break, extra baby-sitting duties as my grand-daughter has chicken-pox, Be back soon
Alan
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Hi Jo, a photo of my Cowells lathe as requested: a couple of questions, is the MEM Corliss engine design from a prototype of freelance? I am looking for material for the fly-wheel, any ideas. Just found a nice lump for the cylinder. I am acting on your suggestion as far as the die holder for the Cowells is concerned.
Alan
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hi Alan,
I have added a smaller photo of your lathe to your post for our members .
The MEM Corliss was designed by Maryak, it is loosly based on the engine we use as a logo. If you go to Vince's ( http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,1526.0.html ) or Arnold's ( http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,1333.0.html ) threads where they are building the engine they have ideas that may help you.
:ThumbsUp:
Jo
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Hi everyone, I'm back, due to some glitch I was deleted from the site, it wasn't painful!
Since I've been off I have found a lump of steel for my cylinder and a large lump of cast iron for my fly-wheel.
I would like to embed a photo of my Cowells lathe in my next post, can anyone tell me how I can do this?.
Alan
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Hi Alan
Have you discussed the deletion with the mods or Admins?.....I'd like to know why you were "deleted"....
Welcome back!
Dave
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The account has not been deleted. Only Alan's original introduction thread and posts which for some reason shows he deleted it himself.
Alan: would you like me to reinstate them?
Jo
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Hi Jo, yes please, I would like to be reinstated, however, please don't reinstate my last post with the attachment as that's what caused my problem.
I do apologise, I must have had a senior moment!.
Would also be good if you could help me on the other item I mentioned.
Thank you
Alan
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There you go.. and I have merged the new thread ;)
Welcome back :cartwheel:
If you want to embed a photo it has to be hosted somewhere else and you add [ img ] ...web address [ /img ] removing the gaps infront and behind the "img" and adding a real web address in between, again no gaps.
Jo
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Thank you Jo
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Alan
What diameter flywheel are you making for your Corliss engine.
Once I have my new one for Agnes finished I will have a spare spoked flywheel 11" diameter x 2.5" wide.
Phil
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Hi Phil the diameter of my flywheel is 7.5" x 1.5" slightly smaller than yours , but thank you anyway.
alan