Hi Matthew,

Welcome to the forum, many helpful members on here. What are your interests when it comes to Model Engineering?

Thor

Welcome!

Where are you located? It might be possible that if you need hands on, or face to face, help someone might be close enough to visit.

Do find a local model engineering society and join.

As well as this forum, you will learn a lot there, and have the company of like minded people.

If you haven't got any, some books may be great help, such as books by Stan Bray, Ian Bradley, Sparey, harold hall, David Clark, Dave Fenner and Neil Wyatt will answer many of your questions (And some that you haven't even thought of! )

As reference books you will certainly need a set of Zeus Charts, and you will often find a need to refer to Tubal Cain's "Model Engineer's Handbook"

As a beginner, take time to learn the basics, and walk before trying to sprint..

Make your mistakes on relatively cheap material, rather than an expensive casting.

Learn by making simple tools (Centre Height Gauge, Tap Wrench, Die Holders, – hand held, or better, Sliding Tailstock ones ) You will learn and have tools that you can use for years to come.

Go for it!

Howard.

Welcome to the party Mathew, most of what you may need to know is here – somewhere ! Noel.

Google "Elmer Verburg Free Plans". Lots of good bar stock engine designs by this author, with beginners in mind. Stan Bray and Tubal Cain also have some "simple steam" designs but Elmer's are easier generally and with few or no drawing errors. Elmer's plans are in inches – just multiply his inches sizes in the drawings x 25.4 to get mm sizes. For reference , .125 inches = 3.175 mm

Hi everyone.

I have recently joined this forum and find it very useful.

I am a retired maintenance fitter (73) and like to try my hand at any skills, although not always with the best results !!!

I have a reasonable workshop set up, Colchester student, Tom Senior, pillar drill and am fairly proficient at using them. Plus a fair amount of small tools.

I live near Droitwich , Worcestershire, and not far from the Bromsgrove society of engineers, where my mate is a member, so I will have to go along and meet them.

I am not a specific "model engineer" as such but just like making things.