The Home Machinist!

Can anyone direct me to a set of plans for an 1880’s or thereabouts wooden 3 foot (narrow- gauge) flat car? I will be building in 2-1/2” = 12” scale, for 7-1/2” gauge, but I can convert from any plans. I was inspired by Jack Bodenman’s recent work, but I am sure he just built as he went… Although a ...

Yes, I have met many people this way. Nowadays, I often wear a shirt from one RR museum when visiting another. One year when I visited the Nevada RR Museum in Carson City, I happened to be wearing a T-shirt bought the previous day at the California State RR Museum. They tried so hard to impress me t...

I have also read of using alternate layers of plastic sheet (black delrin, for example) between the metal leaves to soften them up.
The all bronze ones sound even better, however...

Thanks for setting me straight guys! Wow, that injector could end up with a total of 7 or 8 valves!
Water - 2.
Steam - 1 or 2.
Bleed - 1 (somebody said 2 but I don't get it...)
Check - 1 or 2.

Did I miss any?

Now piping up my first steamer. I have never used injectors but have one for my Loco. Would a needle valve work, or should I just use a ball valve? I guess my real question is: Will I need to throttle the water to get it to work? (I have Coles globe valve on the manifold for steam supply) As I under...

Notice how the article states "electric motor" whereas he clearly starts an I.C. engine with a rope pull! And, you hear it put-putting along...

I see lots of angle checks sold for boiler feed water and I have a pair to install on my little Porter. However, I sometimes also see a shutoff valve either before or after (in direction of water flow) the check. These checks need to be orientated as designed, right? These typically have the water l...

Thanks Mike - I'm going to keep those ME photos for later detailing!

Thanks guys!: I will raise them enough to be able to whack them if needed. The dome lifts off, so I can get to them in short order - just have to deal with the whistle cord. No worries about corrosion, copper boiler, but I will figure out a drain path anyway. I have the castings and drain tube to ma...

On my little 0-4-0, I have two of the Coles/Bagley safety valves set to thread into the top of the inner (real) steam dome. I am concerned because the outer (visible) steam dome is big enough so that they will not show at all when viewed from the side. Will I need to get at them when running? There ...

Many guys are now using commercial ball valves mounted in the smokebox. Just be sure to get Stainless Steel and Teflon packing. The rod runs through a hollow stay.