The Home Machinist!

I'm going to echo a lot of what has been said- start with a stationary engine. Expect that a S-10 or similar (and it really doesn't matter which one of the 1"x1" or so engines you make) will take >200 hrs of shop time to make. That includes mistakes...a good machinist doesn't make mistakes...

Lots of knocking of fine threads- which I don't remember ever having issues with. I've melted nuts off, I've done the olivers into cheese, and I've failed to clean enough to get a good job of silver soldering- but never have I had issues with the threads after unless I made a total hash of it. Usual...

Usually, the idea is to divide the work up into 1/2's, or 1/3rds if in a triple expansion engine, but, in this case, part of the reasoning was that the tender engine would be light on its feet. The issue of scale effects also comes into play, in that the thermal losses are going to be proportionally...

The most efficient is a compound, without a doubt. Ideally, with independent valve gear on intake and exhaust... Superheat, and reheat are of vital importance to the whole scheme. If you can reheat the steam then that will add a considerable change in n to the plant. The problem was that prior to ab...

In 10mm (Gauge 1), I know that the comments on positive results from compounding have been noted. I have an article somewhere around at home about a Webb compound that worked much better once it had started compounding. (yes, that is the crazy 2-2-2-2 loco, with no connecting rods between the middle...

Sorry, it's 4929 km too far for me.

(I'll be in Ontario in mid May, but have to come home for June...kids & School kind of reasoning...)

James

There is at least one that I know of- Dave Bray in Toronto has one that is 4 3/4" gauge, he may come on here occasionally, but is not a regular like Don Carr or my dad. So it is certainly possible to make one in 4 3/4". If you message my dad (or Don Carr) they likely have Dave's postal add...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6945127487_bdfbc97302.jpg vime 20070617 09 by Peach James , on Flickr (3 1/2" Caribou here on Vancouver Island's track, the passenger is a bit bigger now...) https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7161336220_ed443fcf8b_m.jpg Brit3MLS by Peach James , on Flickr ...

Another (inactive) one here- VE7LGO. Granddad was one too- as well as John Crook, and probably lots of others. I think they all tie together, and have tied together, within ones brainspace of what we as people find interesting. I had a little handheld, that went missing ~2 years ago, and I haven't b...

In Western Canada, the BCSME (British Columbia Society of Model Engineers) may have now finished the refurbishment of their raised small-gauge track at the Burnaby Central Railway, near Vancouver, BC. http://bcsme.org/ I do not know specifics. ~RN The last I had heard, BCSME did not have a 3 1/2&qu...

Vancouver Island Model Engineers has 4 3/4" track



(a little closer than NY state)

Greg, I have a photo taken in 1997 in OR, of a full sized (well, OK, 3' gauge) loco with the wheel being turned in place. (Charlie Meyer's HOSS/4077 Porter Air Loco). He did it by using his garden tractor to turn the wheels, and a south bend tool post bolted onto the frame with some angle. So, yes, ...