Hi Guys,

Has anybody out there built a Slim Sam from Stan Bray's book "Making Simple Model Steam Engines"? I only ask because a friend tried and failed. I tried and, once redesigned, succeeded. So I would welcome your views on this "..a perfect introduction to model engineeriong for the uninitiated and ideal relaxation for the more experienced engineer."

chriStephens

Hi Guys,

Jeff, first off the crank disc radius was greater than the space between the bearing and the base, easily over come by reducing to an appropriate dimension. Second, the ports in the upright are uncovered because the cylinder base is too narrow, corrected by making it wider. Another fault that i corrected was to make the piston longer, this reduced the tendency for it to rock in the bore and try to lift the cylinder off the upright. I also added a bush in the upright for the crankshaft which was clearly shown in the photos but not in the plans. Your method is, I am afraid, the correct one as the engine cannot be built according to the plans. I have not raised the issue anywhere save for the original question two month ago, I was wondering how many other folks were also disappointed in what I had thought to be a competent author and designer. Clearly i was mistaken.

John, I think the appropriate answer to his question is "someone who can at least read a caliper" or perhaps, "someone who has the ability to do simple arithmetic and knows that you can't get a quart in a pint pot" or maybe just "someone who is disappointed in how the mighty have fallen"

I have to say that for a book to be aimed at beginners, as I said it "…is a perfect introduction to model engineering or the uninitiated…" I am somewhat appalled that this book was not sufficiently proof read by the author before publication or that no errata (plural because there are more than one errors) sheet was added. From my experience I have found that beginners will try to follow plans exactly because they don't, yet, have the confidence or experience to "wing it". A book from such a prestigious author as Mr. Bray should, in my opinion, be above reproach which regrettably cannot be said of this volume.

Clearly the models can be built, there are after all photos to prove it, but why could not accurate drawings have been produced? I will say however that I derived great (or should that read some) pleasure from building this motor, but most of that was from overcoming the faults, I always enjoy an engineering puzzle you know.

I might also say that if this book had been written by an amateur that i would have had more compassion for the author, but someone who has the attitude that this author seems to have, from the above comments, deserves none. If, however, the author was trying to do the old Meccano trick of deliberately putting faults in the plans to inspire thought in his readers then I might review my opinions.

I do not know the chap and have had no dealings with him but model engineering does owe him a certain amount of appreciation for his past work, but "how the mighty have fallen" does seem fitting. So much so that there was a discussion, albeit somewhat frivolous, about "Sale of goods" and "fit for purpose"!

So if any of you folks want to write a book, please make sure that you check what the publishers have done with your work, because of course you sent them perfection, didn't you? If you do do a "Meccano" please put a note to that fact in your preface or introduction and perhaps offer a prize, maybe a fistfull of old swarf, to the first to point the error out.

Rant over, normal service will be resumed shortly.

chriStephens