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Introduction for yet another newbie....

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YammyScoot:
Hello all MEMer's

Scott here from the Pacific Northwest in Washington St.....Leavenworth more specifically.  I have been a long time lurker and have been slowly piecing my hobby machine shop together.  Studied Manufacturing Engineering in school (I still haven't got to drive a train) where I took the requisite machine shop classes and that is what peaked my interest in machining.  Subsequently, started my professional career working for SKF bearing in the automotive industry where I was fortunate enough to get to work with first class people and REALLY first class equipment which solidified my interest in machining and machine tools.  Fast forward a few decades I am finally getting to circle back and create my hobby machine shop to build model engines as I approach retirement.  Im guessing like a lot, I started with a mini lathe and round column mill to tinker and work on my skills before deciding I wouldn't destroy a "proper" machine and now am the proud owner of a vintage 1967 round dial Deckel FP1 and a 1973 Monarch 10ee.  Both of these are simply a joy to run as they just simply do without much fuss.   I am still working on the tooling for both but have had a lot of fun searching and have pretty well rounded tooling packages for both.  Next on my list is a dividing head for the Deckel.....sighs.

I want to start with a steam model engine and really like the Stuart Models and in particular the Victoria and the Major Beam just because they are cool!!  I would like to ask the collective wisdom here on suggestions or recommendations on what might be a good starter project?

Scott

CI:
Welcome Scott, glad to have you here.

Many start with a simple oscillator steam engine.
If you are not familiar with building model engines (I was not when I started), it takes a while to get the feel for machining, drilling, tapping, etc. things on a small scale.
Don't worry too much about it being perfect, rather get the feel for it, and then move on to more challenging engine types.
That is my 2 cents anyway.

Pat J
.

Dave Otto:
Welcome to MEM!

Dave

mklotz:
Engines made from castings are usually more visually like their full-size models.  Sadly, machining castings introduces another level of complexity beyond that needed for engines made from bar stock.  My recomendation is to start with a few bar stock types until you feel comfortable with your skills and then advance to castings.

A great reference for all sorts of bar stock models is Elmer Verburg's book, "Elmer's Engines".  Sadly, the book is out of print and used copies sell for big money.
However, a full copy of the book in pdf form can be downloaded here...

http://www.myheap.com/images/stories/Metalworking/Resources/downloads/ElmersEngines_byElmerVerburg.pdf

In it you'll find plans for everything from simple single cylinder wobblers to multi-cylinder double acting rope drive models.

Attached are some photos of Elmer engines I built when starting out.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlW3sv9ZKxs

Roger B:
Welcome to the Forum  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp:

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