Hi Jason, The lathe was bought with a vertical slide . I had a vertical slide on my ML4 for milling mainly because of the cost of a milling machine. My fathers friend built a Minnie when the article was first published and at the the time I thought it a nice sized engine. I know you really need to go to 2/3" to make a drivable engine. I only wanted some thing to use the lathe for and get back to model engineering now I am semi retired. With regard to Blackgates, they are a bit easier for me to get to for bits and I used to find them a bit cheaper than Reaves. I notice they have moved from Drillington. I think the book would a be a wise investment next. Perhaps the articles for the roller from the ME.

Still thinking about the Minnie and I mentioned it to a Model Engineer that I work for part time. He recons the Minie will pull an adult on level ground in low gear. I certainly havnt heard this before and am a bit sceptical. As I said this will realy be my limit size wise due to the workshop equipment on hand.