McOnie’s oscillating engine

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McOnie’s oscillating engine

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Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
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  • #584688
    Zan
    Participant
      @zan

      In 2008 Anthony Mount started his build of this engine. The casting kit was from Cotswold Heritage ltd, who now seem to have vanished. Last accounts filed were for 2015.

      Does anybody know if the castings are being provided by any other company. While some parts can be fabricated, the mainframes look decidedly difficult.

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      #3482
      Zan
      Participant
        @zan

        Who supplies the castings?

        #584702
        Pero
        Participant
          @pero

          Hi Zan

          Not sure of their current status but they were operating in October 2017 when I made my last kit purchase – Sir William – which was subsequently received with no issues.

          I did do a quick search when I saw your post and the only direct reference I found was an undated note to say they were updatng their website.

          Perhaps an email or phone call might help to clarify matters. The last contact details I have available are :

          info@modelsteamenginesuk.com

          Sorry, I don't have a phone number but I am sure someone on here will be able to help.

          Best of luck

          Pero

          #584706
          JasonB
          Moderator
            @jasonb

            You might want to contact GS Models, they seem to have a couple of the other Cotswold kits listed and it's possible they took over the moulds or it could just be old stock but worth a try.

            I have seen it done from scratch so all things are possible.

            #611593
            mark chandler
            Participant
              @markchandler81131

              I bought a McOnie from them in 2019 or 20.

              #691120
              Paul Smitherman 2
              Participant
                @paulsmitherman2

                Try posting  A wanted ad in the MEW (sales &  wants )   Worked for ME I suspect that there are a lot of casting kits out there which have never been started , WHY?  Because there are  thirty two computer generated drwgs  which is enough to put most people off the project , COMPUTERS , Don’t get me started on that subject , two or three fullsize drwgs with all relevent dims on would have been fine .

                WHY  O WHY do we need thirty two drwgs who knowes But I suspect enough to put off most modelers

                Regards C/P

                #691171
                Zan
                Participant
                  @zan

                  Thanks. Still not found them. 32 drawings?  They are on A4 at full size [most)take the paper area and it’s not so many   4 x A1……

                  #691214
                  JasonB
                  Moderator
                    @jasonb

                    Smaller A4 sheets makes it easy for most people to make a workshop copy rather than have to go and get big sheets scanned. And once you have them on your computer easy to look at them in the comfort of your house without having to scroll around a big sheet. Also easier for the supplier to produce then on the office printer or photocopier.

                    This is why I tend to produce my drawings on A4 as they are easily shared over the internet and just about everyone with a computer will have means to print that size drawing. I do try to group related parts on the same sheet where possible. I’ve also purchased drawings electronically and was able to print out the A4 sheets rather than have to take a memory stick to a printers.

                    As long as the information is on the drawings I’m happy and even don’t mind those that put ONE PART per sheet.

                    There are also a large number of models that have been built from just the drawings that were printed in magazine articles which would be well over 32 so plenty of model engineers would seem to be happy with more than a couple of big sheets.

                    Failing that a roll of Sellotape should sort you out.

                    #691319
                    Martin Connelly
                    Participant
                      @martinconnelly55370

                      Modern digital cameras allow a copy to made of large format drawings that can be looked at in close up on a computer. The trouble with large sheets covered in lots of different parts is that it is poor drawing practice to start with to have too much clutter on a sheet. It is easy to get mixed up and make mistakes. This is unlikely to hurt anyone in the model engineering world but in industry a mistake can have fatal consequences.

                      Another thing about individual parts being on separate sheets, with many parts at a 1:1 scale, is that it makes it easier to look at mating parts next to each other to make sure you understand clearly what the drawing is instructing you to do. Some of the older kits with everything on one or two sheets are less clear than they need to be and sometimes result in drawing errors tending to be carried over for years because someone does not want to put in the work to correct an old drawing with lots of parts. At least with 32 separate sheets if an error or omission is found it is easy to correct just that one sheet and send out a replacement. My final bugbear with large sheets is the number of times a dimension fall on a fold in the paper and ends up being damaged to the point of illegibility.

                      Martin C

                      #691334
                      Paul Smitherman 2
                      Participant
                        @paulsmitherman2

                        Hi Zan ,many appologies I stand corrected not 32 drwgs BUT 38 many apologies forgot the first six which are GA drwgs, Mostly !! Isee someone is compaining that dimensions fall in the crease where it folds  never never fold drwgs. only roll em original engineeering drwgs were always on linen Not paper and rolled on a batton,  I Have a friend who has many original LNER drwgs from his days at Stratford drwg office , Lots of locos that were drawn but never saw the light of day , Drwgs as good now as day they were drawn (all on linen)  REGARDS PAUL S

                        #691482
                        Zan
                        Participant
                          @zan

                          Well I can say Mounts drawings are outstanding. Currently I am building Galloway Non dead centre engine   I just made a load of parts to the drawings without any assembly until two weeks ago when the “finishing fitting” had to be started with assembly.  All the parts fit and I have found only one part with a problem.  Don’t know if it’s Mounts fault or mine. His drawings are fantastic.

                          Some rather strange dimensions for parts only became obvious once the parts were assembled   It’s a very exciting build , the motion is hypnotic with so many levers moving at different rates and directions

                          The drawings fit nicely in a A 4 folder and are easy to access   They slip into ck

                          lear walkets  to be used on the machine, and in the file the blank of the previous drawing contain my sketches and notes on how to make the parts   Very very easy to handle.  With Mounts  parts list with part numbering and drawing numbers all given in a pair of sheets which also indicate the materials  required finding part drawings is very very easy.   I once tried to build a loco to clarksons of York design.   Now they were BAD BAD BAD,!!   Blurred, mixed up.  Unclear with a huge number of missing dimensions. I did complain, and got a reply… they are only fir guidance, it’s up to the builder to sort out the exact details.    Strewth!!! !,,  I cannot fault the excellent design work Mount has undertake with this design

                          linnen drawings were for multiple productions of the same build at a time when reproduction was by tracing and very expensive. This method is now completely obsolete.  I did a factory visit to see injection moulding tools being made. No drawings used. It was all by 3 d modelling with  g codes sent  direct to the machine  the 3d models were only there to enable the machine operator  have a clear insight to what he was about to produce

                          Thanks to cad and computer drawings things are these days a lot simpler

                          #691526
                          JasonB
                          Moderator
                            @jasonb

                            Must be a Loco thing, I’ve a construction background and it was always usual to fold drawings after all who wants a drawing that keeps trying to roll itself back up every time you get it out to look at.

                            I’ve made several engines from Anthony’s drawings too and found them to be good, mostly I use the ones from his book or magazine articles. Both easily scanned/copies and printed onto A4. These days as Zan mentions I’d model in CAD and some parts would go straight to CNC with no drawing needed. I also 3D model parts for people that I email to them and they just put it through their slicer software and print it out often a pattern that is then ready to cast.

                            As an Example I’m just doing the CAd model for someone who has an old Gardner engine that is missing it’s valve block, they can’t use CAD well but do have access to a 3D printer so I’m modeling it from some photos of another engine some with a calliper or rule included in the shot. As some sizes were missing I sent some 1:1 CAD files as PDFs which the guy printed on paper and cut out and was able to offer them upto his engine to see if things fitted OK. After a few revisions I’ll produce >STEP files which he can 3D print from. I did do an A3 sheet that showed all elevations but the A4 ones with one vie won each have been more useful.

                            17

                            Gardner Valve

                            370090910_1081222203194805_4993688848992774481_n

                            #691582
                            Martin Connelly
                            Participant
                              @martinconnelly55370

                              It’s easy to say never fold drawings but when they are supplied already folded you have been given something that was beyond your control. The total number of A4 sheets I have for this McOnie engine is 43 as there are 38 drawings and 5 others with information included.

                              Martin C

                              #691798
                              Paul Smitherman 2
                              Participant
                                @paulsmitherman2

                                Thank you Martin , this is one of the problems with COMPUTER FORUMS  people never read the postings correctly and then go off onto something not even remotly linked to subject , ie:- we are now into Anthoney Mounts drwgs (dont ask ) the original request from Zen was I BELIEVE FOR CASTINGS  OF THE SAID ENGINE TRUST HE MANAGED TO FIND SAME ???  OVER TO YOU ZEN

                                Regards C/P

                                #691800
                                Zan
                                Participant
                                  @zan

                                  Nope still not got them. But there’s plenty of other stuff. I’m going to have a go at tugs marine condensing engine. No castings needed on that. But a load of very  interesting milling anc cnc work.  Still hoping for the oscillating castings though

                                  re the discussions, one of the great things about this forum is the way things can deviate   You often get some good information…

                                   

                                  #691819
                                  JasonB
                                  Moderator
                                    @jasonb

                                    Zan, the current issue of ME has the start of another scratch build of that marine engine, it’s the blue one top right of page. Does not look as nice as Ramon’s though.

                                    CNC would make easy work of the McOnie side frames and it would make a great model if enlarged a bit to suit whatever flywheel diameter you could manage

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