The engine is designed to be a bridge between toy steam and a fully engineered model whist having a realistic appearance and giving good performance.
It could be made by a beginner with a small lathe. In my construction videos I am using a milling machine for some of the work but the engine could be made with just a lathe.
The flywheel is 3.75" diameter.
I am very pleased with the performance of the engine and mine ticks over smoothly on 3 psi of air.
I am offering 2 castings if you would like to make your own, the frame and the flywheel,
everything else is made from easily available stock materials.
The engine features slip eccentric valve gear so the engine will run in either direction. It has a double acting cylinder and piston valve.
Most small engines like this have either an unrealistically small diameter flywheel or they need mounting on a base with the flywheel overhanging it. I have designed the engine frame so the flywheel will clear the surface on which it is mounted.
Specification
Single
cylinder, double acting, reversible.
Piston
valve.
Slip
eccentric valve gear.
Bore
0.50”
Stroke 0.625”
Flywheel
diameter 3.75”
Overall
length 6.50”
Width 4.75”
Height 4.0”
Castings as supplied, ready to machine.
Part machined frame and finished flywheel.
Machined cylinder
Completed engine ready for painting
The engine connected to a generator.
Casting be also available.
Click HERE to watch the construction videos
Part 1 video of the series shows the machining of the engine frame.
Part 2 video of the series shows the machining of the flywheel
Part 3 Video showing the crankshaft and bearings
Part 4 shows how to make the cylinder
Part 5 showing how the valve chest is made
The cost of the castings, set of 12 plans and 7 page construction notes is £52.00.
The engine frame is an aluminium casting and the flywheel is ZL12 aluminium/zinc. This material can be machined to a mirror finish if required so the flywheel rim can have a realistic finish, it looks like a cast iron one. The castings are much easier to machine than cast iron and when painted look just the same.
The unmachined flywheel casting weighs 480 grams so it is nice and heavy to give the engine a good performance.
I can ship worldwide. UK post is £3.00 other counrties please ask for quote.
If you would like any castings please contact me at the email address shown below.
Comparison of flywheel weight with an aluminium one.
Aluminium 213 grams
ZL12 480 grams
Testimonials
"I had to contact you to let you know how impressed I am not just with the castings I received from you, but also with the quality of the documentation I received with them. So nice to read instructions that are well written and actually make sense, and the drawings are about the best I've had for a long time. Very encouraging indeed, I spent a pleasant hour reading through them"
Norris UK
"It was a pleasure to build, marvelous little engine, easy to follow drawings, good quality castings, goes like the clappers, and the instructional videos are brilliant. Well done Mr Myfordboy!"
Nick UK..
"The castings look good and the drawings very detailed ,thank you very good service."
TRACTION ENGINE
"I had to contact you to let you know how impressed I am not just with the castings I received from you, but also with the quality of the documentation I received with them. So nice to read instructions that are well written and actually make sense, and the drawings are about the best I've had for a long time. Very encouraging indeed, I spent a pleasant hour reading through them"
Norris UK
"It was a pleasure to build, marvelous little engine, easy to follow drawings, good quality castings, goes like the clappers, and the instructional videos are brilliant. Well done Mr Myfordboy!"
Nick UK..
"The castings look good and the drawings very detailed ,thank you very good service."
Colin, Ireland.
"Castings arrived this morning . very nice work. thank you."
Emma, Australia.
"I received the castings, drawings and construction notes today. They look great."
Herb, USA
"Thank you, the castings were first rate and very well thought out, also the plans are easy to understand.
"I received the castings, drawings and construction notes today. They look great."
Herb, USA
"Thank you, the castings were first rate and very well thought out, also the plans are easy to understand.
First rate job."
Ray, UK.
"I’ve just received your package (Castings and plans) today. Everything looks good. I’m very impressed."
"I received the castings and plans today. They look great, you have clearly put a lot of work into the plans."
Steve, UK."I’ve just received your package (Castings and plans) today. Everything looks good. I’m very impressed."
Ray, USA
"Up until 18 months ago I had never used a lathe, managed to get a Taige off e-bay, I only have a small workshop so I could not have a bigger one if I wanted to and when your learning this one won't rip your arm off.
I must say thank you for your part in the build, the castings were spot on and the plans clear and easy to follow,"
John, UK
TRACTION ENGINE
The steam engine has been a great success so continuing the theme of simple quick models to make I am working on a traction engine using the same engine components.
The smokebox and chimney are one casting and I will be making castings for the wheels and flywheel.
The simple boiler is gas fired and uses parts from a cheap pencil blowtorch.
