Old new member

[Casting Iron]

Old new member here.

I was here in what seems like eons ago, and lost contact quite a while back.

With a little help from a friend, I am here once again.

So much has transpired over the years, and I don't even know where I left off.

I do recall posting here that I was diligently trying to learn how to do foundry and machining work, and learn how to make engine castings, but had not yet figured it all out.

I got a wild hair one day in 2019, and told my wife "I need to attend NAMES, because what if something happens, and NAMES just suddenly goes away forever ?".
Most prophetic statement.
I had a blast at NAMES, and was looking forward to attending again.

COVID has changed a lot.
My wife got seriously ill two years ago, and luckily is in remission now; this has been rather life changing for us.

I suddenly found myself swamped in work projects, about 2.5 years ago, and so swamped that the foundry and physical engine work have been put on hold.

I have made some nice 3D models, with the intent of casting a few engines.
The latest is the 3D model for a Ball Hopper Monitor, which was created from prints in an old Baker brochure, and with a number of photos and measurements sent to me by a full sized 4hp Ball Hopper Monitor owner.

I struggled with learning foundry work for a number of years, and have finally mastered the art of casting gray iron (some say you don't "master" iron, but I can cast it successfully, without defects or hard spots).
I had to build a 2nd lower mass furnace, and learn how to tune an oil burner for optimum heat.

I finished the green twin oscillator that I worked on for so many years.
I had to learn 3D modeling, 3D pattern printing, and casting work before I could even start on this engine.
I made most of the patterns for this engine (had one pattern 3D printed commercially), and cast the parts in aluminum 356 and gray iron for the flywheel.
And I lucked out and got it published in a six part series in Live Steam Magazine.

So I have come a long way in the hobby, and have much to share if there is an interest.

JasonB has been a constant resource for me for many years, and gotten me out of more than a few tight spots in engine design (thanks Jason for all the help).

My goals in life are to promote the model engine hobby, promote home foundry work, and stay alive long enough to retire, so I can get back to making some engines.


Pat J

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[crueby]

Welcom back!  I remember enjoying that article on the Green Twin!

[Dave Otto]

Welcome back Pat!

Dave

[Kim]

Hi Pat,
Welcome back!
I remember that series too.  Well done! 

Kim

[Art K]

Pat,
Welcome back, Baker still is just down the road from me in Evansville Wi.
Art

[Casting Iron]

Thanks to all for the warm welcome.

That green twin build was very challenging to say the least, but it was not so much about building an engine as it was about learning how to do 3D modeling, casting work, etc.

It was a lot to bite off for a first engine, but luckily I was able to pull it off.

And writing a magazine article was challenging too; where is the book that tells you how to do that ?
And what if you make mistakes ?  Then you have a large number of people with torches and pitchforks who wish to do bad things to you.
I sweated a lot writing that article, and making those drawings.

There were two working engines (my green and my buddy and member here "woodguy's" gray) built from the drawings, and both engines ran well, so that gave me some confidence.

This is woodguy's engine.
I have lost touch with him over the years, and am not sure what he is up to these days.

It is good to reconnect with some folks that I remember from the past.
Its never too late to do a little reconnecting.

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[crueby]

Is building a model of the ball hopper engine the next project?

[Casting Iron]

I got very deep into steam engines for many years, but in recent years, I have seen some very nice IC engines, and I have gotten the bug to build one of those.

I have looked at quite a few IC engines, and modeled some of them in 3D, and of all the IC engines I have seen, I find the Ball Hopper Monitor to be the most intriguing, perhaps because of its odd "like something from outerspace" look.

I will post a few 3D images of where I am on the Ball Hopper Monitor in a new thread.

But to answer your question, yes, I would like to cast a Ball Hopper Monitor next.

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[Jasonb]

If you want a short cut that Monitor that I build is now in the US and up for sale again

[Casting Iron]

That would be a great engine to own, especially knowing it was built correctly.
I like the Pacific kit a lot.

This is bad timing for me, as my wife would definitely kill me, and it would hurt.......a lot.

What sort of money are we talking about ?
LOL, my wife has the fb access, and so there is no sneaking around if that is where it is listed.
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[Jasonb]

$4,000 and yes I saw it on Facebook a couple of days ago. Should have gone for it when it was in the UK, shipping would not have cost you $2K

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1487152564752018

Talking of FB get your good lady to open Littleloco's page and look at all Todd's photos, lots of pattern making & casting there.

https://www.facebook.com/littlelocos

[Casting Iron]

Yikes, that is rather steep for me by any measure.
Granted the Pacific are rather rare, and rare cost money, but that is far more than I have every paid for any model engine, and more than I have paid for most of my full sized engines.  There will be someone who will snag it I am sure.

I will cast one; that is the fun of it anyway.

I will have to bribe the "war department" to get to that Littlelocos site.
She basically starts with the phrase "we don't need that, and we aren't buying anything" when I ask her about fb.

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