New member.

[Swarfy]

Hi all, I'm John, just joined.
I'm a semi retired design engineer in England interested in all things steam!
I started building a Stuart beam engine in about 1977 whilst doing my engineering apprenticeship, I finished it in 2022 so only 45 years in the making!
I've got quicker since then and have completed a couple of Stuart 5A's and a number 1.
Currently working on a number 9 and have a Williamson,  Major Beam and Bolton triple castings waiting under the bench.
All of them rescued, unfinished projects found on eBay.

[Sanjay F]

Welcome from Brentwood Essex UK John and a very nice Stuart No.5a engine you have there and I can see you have added your own touches.

At least you finished the Beam engine however long it took and like a lot of us have a healthy amount of retirement projects. I'm not quite at that age yet but have a stockpile and have recently finished the Williamson engine, the build is on the forum.

I look forward to seeing your projects and enjoy the forum 

[Kim]

Hi John,
Welcome to the forum!
Kim

[Roger B]

Welcome to the Forum   

[Michael S.]

The engine looks outstanding. Lots of detail. Are those two threaded holes in the valve chest cover? Like on original steam engines, for forcing the cover off?
The gear drive is a good idea.

Michael

[Swarfy]

Thanks for the welcome!
The photo is my first 5A.
Yes Michael, they are tapped holes to assist with removing the cover.
My second 5A castings came without the normal standard/trunk guide but did include two standards for the number 1 engine. So I used those to make it something like a number 5 but with the 5A cylinder.

[Michael S.]

Very nice, John! 👍

[Sanjay F]

Here's picture of my crusty old Stuart No.5 which I restored last year, as you can tell I left it with its original paint and patina and slip eccentric 

[Swarfy]

That's a nice engine Sanjay!
I did think I'd fit slip Eccentric gear to mine but as I was already making a full set of reversing gear for the first 5A decided it wouldn't be that much more effort to make two sets!
How wrong was I!!

[Chipswitheverything]

Welcome John, very nice engines that you have featured, and more to look forward to in due course ...  The No 5 with the two No1 engine standards is appealing:  as Sanjay's restored engine would suggest, that was perhaps the older design before the trunk guide was used later on?   I'm among many of the Forum members who have tackled a few ( or more ...) Stuart engines and written them up on the forum in our posts.  Currently doing a bit of work on a Triple engine. Dave

[Swarfy]

Thanks Dave, I think It was your superb Major Beam engine that inspired me to join the forum!