The Home Machinist!

I see on DLS want adds an engine described as a "Little Engines Wendy". Did Little Engines ot one time sell a kit, plans or castings for a Wendy?
Scotty

I will say "No", neither in 1 1/2" or 1" scales. This must have been kit bashed together with some LE castings.

The true Wendy was a kit from a Canadian company named MEG, IIRC? I think they went under after only a few were delivered...

There is another ad on the same site right now that refers to "tiny engines" when I believe it is a "Little Engines" loco...

Kimball McGinley wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2019 3:24 pm There is another ad on the same site right now that refers to "tiny engines" when I believe it is a "Little Engines" loco...

It's Little Engines, only tiny-er.

Steve

I built a boiler for one 20 years ago.


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Tony and Dougal Hubner designed MEG, and I know of at least 2 up here (Steve's @ VIME, and one at Kingston Ont), plus Harlock on here has one. That's 3 finished locos, which isn't too bad. I don't believe they "went under", but I don't think they are active, which is rather a different position. They were available in anything up to bolt together or RTR, but I think the intent had been to supply drawings and hard to machine (wheels/cylinders/motion) as ready machined parts. I know Dougal was active on Youtube not too long ago.

James

I visited Jack Sauter the “ North American” rep in the DC area in the late 90 while i was building my Wendy boiler. The plan was he would help you in the States if i remember. There is also an o gauge design from them as well as a speeder both of which i have drawings for.


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I think Dougal was a good designer with an eye towards “ easy to build”. I drove Jack Sauters Wendy and it was awesome. I was able to bank the fire break for lunch and come back without needing to re attach a blower. My family is trying to talk me out of finishing Wendy as it is too big....


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The other odd thing about that engine is it does not have a traditional firebox.

https://auctions.discoverlivesteam.com/ ... 1572529400

Those descriptions are very indicative of someone who doesn't know jack about what they are selling! Look at that MEG locomotive, the drivers, smoke box, cylinders, etc... Doesn't look like there is a single Little Engines casting on it anywhere to me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've never seen or heard of LE selling anything for a MEG in the past 35 years or more. It may be a great locomotive in good shape, and it looks really nice, but I'd be leery of buying it without inspecting and test-running it first. The other "tiny engines" locomotive has a picture in there where you can clearly read the words "Little Engines" on the casting.

A lot of Australian Designed locomotives have that marine style boiler on them. They are a lot easier to make, which is why some people use them. I've seen several of them run, and they all seemed to do OK and the locomotive ran fine.

Does anyone know how different the designs are between the two available model?
Is Sweet William (Jack Buckler design) the same thing as the MEG (Dougal Hubner design). They look very similar. Save valve gear and such.

JP

johnpenn74 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2020 10:39 am Does anyone know how different the designs are between the two available model?
Is Sweet William (Jack Buckler design) the same thing as the MEG (Dougal Hubner design). They look very similar. Save valve gear and such.
JP

I am not sure if you meant "save" and "same" in your last sentence, but as someone who is building a Sweet William they look very similar to me. At least regarding the chassis and valve gear. I can't prove it but I would guess that the MEG design is actually the Sweet William engine redrawn up in CAD to aid in lowering the cost for reproducing the parts. I suppose there must be some differences or else there would be legal issues, but I don't know what they are.

Regarding the clunky saddle tank, obviously it must either be cheaper or easier to build than the rounded one that is more pleasing to the eye on a Sweet William because it sure doesn't look better!